Competition-spectator advice needed

[Ice Queen]

My friend and I are making plans to attend Skate Canada. This will be the first major competition for both of us. We had a few questions and would appreciate your input.

We are flying from the States and not sure if we should fly up the day before or day of the comp?

What necessary items should we bring to the arena?

We have 6th row seats is it real chilly at the Hershey Centre?

I know some of these questions might seem silly but we'd like to be prepared.

Thanks!:)

[blades]

8-)

the arena is very modern and comfortable...

the usual advice applies: dress in layers as it can be cold late at night when leaving the building...(i usually just bring a down parka...or a heavy leather jacket...seems to work for me)

due to it's location, i can take a "redeye" flight from seattle to buffalo (via pittsburg) very cheaply...rent a car in buffalo and drive up...usually arriving in mississauga on thursday moring around 11am...giving me time to check in, unpack, shower and get to the building for the start of the competition...

a rental car is almost a must...it's a long walk to food and lodging...the food at the building couldn't have been too bad, as i have no memory of it at all...;)

[roogu]

Hey Ice Queen,

I hope I'm able to answer your questions as best as possible seeing as I live in Toronto and was also at the last Skate Canada when it was at the Hershey Center.

As for flight, the arena is extremely close to the TOronto Airport .... probably a 15 or 20 minute drive or so (it might even be 10 minutes, especially the way I drive, LoL) .... so it probably won't be a problem if you fly up the day of. But if I were in your situation, I'd prefer to fly up the night before just to get yourself familiar with the surroundings. But then again, the price of hotels might be an issue.

6th row seats are GREAT seats at the Hershey Center ... actually, even last row seats are good seats just coz the arena is a great place and there isn't a bad view from anywhere. The arena is actually quite warm, last time, my friend nad I didn't even wear our jackets. But then again, we've spent our whole lives at the rink practicing so maybe we're use to cold temperature, hehe. I would say no jacket. But do bring a sweater just in case.

Necessary items? That I don't know about. No outside food is allowed I know that much.

[Catherine M]

Well I'm from the south and I was very cold, sitting in the stands, when SC was last held in the Hersey center so my advice would be to follow what blades had to say and dress in layers and bring a coat! I even had to go to the store and buy better gloves!

I had a rental car and would highly recommend having one as it was nice being able to go out and get real food and not have to rely on yucky arena food for nourishment. There really isn't anything near the arena that's not a 30 minute walk.

I'm pretty sure the door staff was pretty diligent about checking for outside food so if you plan to bring snacks in, make sure they are well hidden ie at the bottom of your bag and/or in your coat pockets.

I always try to fly in on the Wednesday night for a Thursday beginning events. You never know what the delays will be like the day of. For 97 Skate America, I had a 3 hour weather delay that Thursday and barely made it in time for the skating so since then I've always gone on Wednesdays and just paid for the extra night at the hotel.

Edited to add here's what I bring in to events:

pen
small notepad in case I want to make a quick note on a particular program
gloves
small bottle of water, smuggled in my coat pocket
granola or cereal bars, smuggled in my purse

That's it. I don't bother with a camera or binoculars anymore but if you have a pair of small binoculars, I would recommend them. In today's world, the smaller your bag/purse is, the better you will be.

[blades]

8-)

btw catherine...you going?

[Catherine M]

Originally posted by blades
8-)

btw catherine...you going?

No. I have two conferences around the same time that I must attend for work so I won't be attending any of the fall skating events. :(

[Jenny]

My experience at the Hershey Centre is that it's fine during the comp when the stands are full, but it's VERY cold during practices. Sometimes the concession stands aren't open during the practices, so you may wish to pick up a nice big coffee before you arrive.

Another thing you might want to pack is an American flag. It's great fun to root for your "home team" in another country!

And you certainly won't *need* binoculars from where you are sitting, but I always pack mine anyway for closeup looks at costumes, expressions in the K&C, and scanning the stands to see who's watching.

See ya there!
Jenny

[blades]

8-)

just checked with the delta meadowdale in missassauga...auto club rate is $99cdn /night plus 12% tax...(about $85usd total...)

that was the official hotel last time...however, neither delta hotel in the area has any rooms blocked for that week at this point in time...

[jeb]

The Hershey Centre is also fairly close to the airport hotels. I can't remember exactly which hotels were close by, by some of the major chain hotels were at the corner of Dixie and Matheson, which I would estimate to be about a half hour's walk from Hershey.

[Ice Queen]

Thank you so much for your advice/suggestions I really appreciate it. I'm glad Blades suggested the rental car too it will be so much easier. We're checking out the hotels now and have found there are alot to choose from. If anyone hears who the official hotel will be please let us know.

Looking forward to meeting you guys in Canada!

Nancy

[Meredith]

Ice Queen,

Don't forget to wear your crown! ;)

Meredith

[shopper]

as someone who loves the practises i would want to arrive in time for the wed. practises......
i found the arena very very cold but then again i am usually cold in most arenas.
all the seats are good so that won't be a problem....
the delta hotel is usually the hotel of the skaters however it is quite far from the arena...
as stated there is nothing within walking distance from the arena unless over a mile is a normal jaunt for you.

[cygnus]

Originally posted by shopper
as someone who loves the practises i would want to arrive in time for the wed. practises......
i found the arena very very cold but then again i am usually cold in most arenas.
all the seats are good so that won't be a problem....
the delta hotel is usually the hotel of the skaters however it is quite far from the arena...
as stated there is nothing within walking distance from the arena unless over a mile is a normal jaunt for you.

Well "over a mile" isn't really very far if it's just a little over the mile mark. I haven't been to the hershey Centre before, but with my road map and careful measurement the closest Hotel is the Holiday Inn on Britannia- about 1 1/2 miles- or a half hour (or less) walk- sounds perfect when you spend much of the day sitting. The Quality Inn is just across the Street from the Holiday Inn. A little further away in the other direction (Abt 2 miles-still walkable) are the Stage West and the Four Points On Dixie (?). A little bit further on are the Holiday Inn Express on Ambler and the Ramada Inn on Ambler- these are about 2 miles. The oft-mentioned Delta Meadowvale,which may or may not be the official Hotel is really nowhere near the arena- if you stay there you would have to rent a car or rely on taxis,as public transit doesn't seem to really be an option in this case.

I can't comment on the food situation- I hope the arena food is okay!

[Ice Queen]

Thanks for the hotel info Cygnus I really appreciate it.

Meridith, do you think it will be alright to wear my crown at the competition? ;)

[Meredith]

Originally posted by Ice Queen
Meridith, do you think it will be alright to wear my crown at the competition? ;)

Heavens, yes! It's tasteful but not distracting and will give the competitors direction when bowing. (Think Wimbleton in years past here.)

Have a wonderful time and take good notes, will you . . . for those of us who will not be there? :D