I'm curious about whether it might be logistically easier to simply have an additional GP event, rather than increasing the number of spots at existing events. IMO, increasing the number of spots just for the ladies division just for Russian ladies would be silly and unfair, and increasing the number of spots per event becomes a logistical nightmare. (Ice dance in particular really could use more GP spots, IMO). And increased entries per discipline per GP event makes the GP season suddenly kind of grueling. I've always liked that GP competitions don't go on and on for hour (unlike Nationals events and ISU Championships, which are great in their own way, but not every week!)
What about an event just two weeks prior to the GP final, where the highest-placed skaters/teams who only had one spot get to compete, thus giving them a chance to get into the final? Or maybe have a majority of those skaters with a few "wild card" skaters thrown in (i.e., skaters who medaled at one event and bombed another). THis would make the event worth watching for the wild card skaters alone, even if the highest-placing skaters-with-one-event are pretty boring and not necessarily GP-final worthy.
This also gives some not necessarily GP-final-worthy one-event skaters motivation to do their best at their assigned event - they might get to go compete again!
Would such an event taking place in a country like Japan where figure skating is hugely popular, be financially beneficial enough to mitigate the expense/hassle?
