They simply switch NHK and the usually last COR this year because the GPF will be at Russia. It really does not make much of difference as far as event selections for the top seeds are concerned.Originally Posted by chuckm
eta. BTW, why is the season opening SA the only GP event without an announced location? Maybe it's because the USFSA expects the tickets to sell out in minutes with so many enthusiastic American skating fans who don't need to plan ahead?
Last edited by SkateFiguring; 04-13-2012 at 07:29 PM.
I think they can't find any city/local club that can afford to host it.
That can't be - surely that must have been decided by now? It seems like we whine about the location of Skate Canada International when it isn't announced shortly after the conclusion of the previous year's event, no? Even so, with all the organization needed, I can't believe they'd not have a decision by now.
IIRC in September of last year the USFSA sent out their usual call for bids for hosting 2012 Skate America.
http://www.usfsa.org/Content/eventho...nformation.pdf
I believe the deadline for bids was some time in October of 2011. Nothing further was announced. As far as I can tell, no satisfactory bid was received. Since then there have been discussions on the Internet about who the USFSA might be able to strong-arm into hosting it. (Lake Placid? Colorado Springs?) But nothing official so far. There may also be hold-ups regarding sponsorship and television deals.
Anyway, yeah, I'm not looking for the event to set any attendance records this year.
Location for last year's SA was announced in March 2011. It seems more and more evident that USFSA is having some trouble finding the location or they may be lack of bidding cities to host SA in 2012.
IIRC, the next location for SC was announced right around the time for SA 2011. For the looks of it, Canada has more promising atmosphere for figure skating than US.
All recent skating events in the US have had very poor attendances, in no small part due to the lack of promotion since it seems often even the locals, including the hospitality industry, are unaware of them taking place. This is very discouraging for any future interested organization to bid for the events.
All the organizers involved should try the hardest to promote the event and the sport, giving away tickets if necessary. Full attendance looks good, attracts advertizers, draws new fans, and who knows which little kids may be inspired to be the next World Champions.
Maybe they should hold it at a shopping mall with a skating rink on Black Friday so attendance will be good.
The USFSA needs to stop treating its marquee events like local club comps and get some professional organization behind them. In this age, it's hard to find a club with the resources and the skills to take on the building rentals and other expenses of organizing a big competition with the hope of turning a profit somewhere in the future. Who has this kind of cash sitting around in their bank accounts? And then they have to have even more resources and skills to promote and advertize ticket sales.
The reason why being at NHK next season is so important for Hanyu is because NHK is being held in his hometown of Sendai. Hanyu would presumably want to skate in front of all his family and friends (and be a symbol of hope for his beleaguered hometown, etc, etc), but given that Takahashi is both the highest-placed Japanese at Worlds and the reigning Japanese National Champ, Hanyu probably won't be the host pick, thereby forcing him to do 3 GPs if he wants to skate at NHK next season. But I do agree it's probably a bad idea for Hanyu to do so....his stamina is not the best and there's no need to exhaust himself like Brezina did.
They could just have Hanyu skate in the exhibition. Problem solved!
There you go.for claphappy!
This year's NHK trophy is in Sendai. That is the special condition. There's a possibility Takahashi chooses not to do NHK. Judging from worlds, the ISU and the international judges seem to be ready to promote Hanyu. If Takahashi chooses to face Hanyu at his home town, the result could be humiliating. Even the JSF may consider evacuating Takahashi from NHK trophy. Takahashi's role (as a ticket sales mascot) is not needed this time.
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