2012 Skate America to be held in Kent, Washington (Oct. 19-21)
Here's USFS' press release today: http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=48048&type=media
Kent is about halfway between Seattle and Tacoma (close to the Sea-Tac airport!).
ETA this cool fact from the press release: "Ice dancer Ben Agosto, who now lives and coaches in the Seattle area, will serve as the event's honorary chairperson."
Last edited by Sylvia; 05-04-2012 at 04:40 PM.
http://www.2012skateamerica.com/
So excited! This is driving distance -- I might have to go!
Seems the Seattle area has been a popular place for Skate America -- they had Skate America in Everett (about 30 miles from Seattle) in 2008.
ETA: Please move to the Skate American forum if needed.
Opps, we posted at the same time!Originally Posted by Sylvia
The ticket packages aren't too bad...I'm going to try to attend.
Good for Kent! Thanks for the post. Watching the promo video, I can hardly wait!
Mathman, looks like Sylvia and I both posted at the same time. Can you combine our threads please?
Also, does this mean you're going? GS meetup?!
Done!
DorisPulaski beat me to it on the thread merge.
I might go. My sister lives in Olympia and I owe her a visit anyway.
I mean, I should go and visit my sister in any case, and if there happens to be a skating competition going on at the time...
Hey, 2 for 1 deals rock! I mean you're going to have to pay a pretty penny to fly to visit your sister anyway...might as well as get your money's worth!DorisPulaski beat me to it on the thread merge.
I might go. My sister lives in Olympia and I owe her a visit anyway.
I mean, I should go and visit my sister in any case, and if there happens to be a skating competition going on at the time...
More coverage:
http://www.ilovekent.net/2012/05/04/...nt-in-october/
Apparently Ben Agosto was at the press conference and part of the organizing team.
Medalist Ben Agosto encouraged attendees to buy tickets for the event, explaining that some of the competitions held in Washington State are among the most memorable of his career.
“When you see it live, it is completely different than seeing it on TV,” Agosto said. “There’s a big energy transfer between the skaters and fans.”
I am very upset to hear about this. This is three years in a row that Skate America has been in the west coast. If the USFSA is trying to alienate us East Coasters they are really doing a great job. I hope that everyone that is able to attend has a great time.
^ I think it was more of a question of finding someone willing to host it. If any east coast city/skating club had stepped up, they could have got it.
Despite the fact that Washington state has no prestigious skating club/coaching team to speak of, for some reason the skating clubs/local government/sports facilities seem to be willing to step up and make the event happen. It's note worthy that this will be the FOURTH USFSA event in Washington state in the last five years. (2007-Spokane U.S. Nationals; 2008 Everett Skate America; 2010 Spokane U.S. Nationals; 2012 Kent Skate America). California is the only other state to have more than one USFSA event within its borders during that same period (2011 Skate America and 2012 Nationals).
It might be that it's the only place in the country where they can find an arena near an airport with plenty of hotels what is available at that time.
I can't speak for other places, but it's true that Kent is quite close to the airport and there's a TON of hotels near the airport which would be within driving distance to the arena.
But Everett is quite a ways from the airport. The airport is 15 miles south of Seattle then Everett is another 30 miles north.
Spokane is pretty compact...
with only 800 people showing up, why should it be a concern?
btw, the Canadian fans are saying Skate Canana should be renamed Skate Ontario.
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