Jump hype or soap opera: what can make the general public of the U.S. fall in love with figure skating again?

[noskates]

I'm probably going to sound like a broken record but this question has been asked sooooo many times and the answers don't vary much. Figure skating was popular when people could SEE it. Stars on Ice and the World Tour of Figure Skating Champions and the many pro competitions were televised in prime time and people could get to know the skaters and want to see them again. And you could actually attend a competition in the US and not have to pay an arm and a leg to get tickets. For many years Stars on Ice was held on Mother's Day in the SF Bay Area. Needless to say my family put the kabosh on me attending. And speaking of expensive ticket prices - have you checked out the prices for Stars on Ice? So what came first - the exorbitant prices or the lack of interest causing the prices to be raised because they had to meet the cost of producing the show. And even now, if a competition is shown on a major network it's so watered down you only get to see a small portion of the contestants and (this is my own gripe) listen to Tara Lipinski natter on and on ad nauseum about "grade of execution!" Or you have to pay for Peacock and they only hold the programs for 72 hours. Lack of exposure is a direct correlation to lack of interest. Simple as that.

 

[cailuj365]

I'm probably going to sound like a broken record but this question has been asked sooooo many times and the answers don't vary much. Figure skating was popular when people could SEE it. Stars on Ice and the World Tour of Figure Skating Champions and the many pro competitions were televised in prime time and people could get to know the skaters and want to see them again. And you could actually attend a competition in the US and not have to pay an arm and a leg to get tickets. For many years Stars on Ice was held on Mother's Day in the SF Bay Area. Needless to say my family put the kabosh on me attending. And speaking of expensive ticket prices - have you checked out the prices for Stars on Ice? So what came first - the exorbitant prices or the lack of interest causing the prices to be raised because they had to meet the cost of producing the show. And even now, if a competition is shown on a major network it's so watered down you only get to see a small portion of the contestants and (this is my own gripe) listen to Tara Lipinski natter on and on ad nauseum about "grade of execution!" Or you have to pay for Peacock and they only hold the programs for 72 hours. Lack of exposure is a direct correlation to lack of interest. Simple as that.

Bingo. People still love figure skating, whether it's a quad-fest or no jumps at all. It's just that it's not readily viewable to public anymore. I do think that's a unique problem with figure skating that other Olympic sports do not have. I would even take short clips of programs if they can't keep the full programs up.

 

[moonvine]

I assume you mean in the US. Skating is very popular in some other countries and unknown in others.

First we need leadership at USFS. Someone to stop making stupid videos about Jason not being able to pronounce the names of towns in Massachusetts and promote actual skating content with the music the skater used. Partner with OIP, maybe.

Make sure all competitions are available and leave them up forever. Including all Challengers where this is possible.

Bring some Junior GPs here. Somewhere easy to get to. Not Lake Placid or Colorado.

Also the kind of dominance we had in the 90s with the ladies. Sweeping the podium at worlds. Americans don’t like sports we are middling at.

I don’t think Ilia will do it because women are by far the most popular discipline. I don’t think Nathan moved the needle. I don’t think C/B and H/D moved the needle, nor Brandon and Alexa.

Selfishly I kind of like it as is. I can message skaters on insta and often they will actually answer me. Can’t imagine that happening in gymnastics.

The scoring system is terrible. Average fan will never figure it out. This is how I get invited into suites, to try to explain it. Bring back Skate Radio for live events (find a sponsor for it).

Bring back those professional comps they used to have (even though they are all professional now so not sure how that would work). People want longevity. They don’t want to see a skater for 5 minutes and have them retire.

*when I say “people” I mean average US casual fan. Not us who spend hours debating and discussing this stuff and paying for Challenger events.

Just my thoughts.

 

[TallyT]

Also the kind of dominance we had in the 90s with the ladies. Sweeping the podium at worlds. Americans don’t like sports we are middling at.

But how to achieve that, and would the price paid in other countries be worth it?

 

[DancingCactus]

I think the US has other problems at the moment.

 

[noskates]

I don't think women are always the most popular discipline. I think it depends on who is winning. Right now I bet people are more interested in Ilia than they are in Amber. and I was only speaking of the US. I don't really know what goes on in other countries other than they don't have the NFL and the NBA to compete with where television broadcast is concerned. And the USFSA can have the best leadership since sliced bread and it won't matter if the television big wigs aren't interested in airing figure skating. I don't know what the answer is to this but the answer to the question of why figure skating in the US isn't more popular is pretty obvious.

 

[el henry]

The header for this thread says "US".

So that is what I am addressing.

The leadership at USFS would loooooooove to have videos up forever, I am certain. And primetime specials. So how do we kidnap the head of NBC and make them a figure skating fan? I don't know. (and many folks love fluff, I do, but it helps to know the athlete. Or be watching "Up Close and Personal" during the Olys, so that eyeballs are on the screen anyway.)

 

[Anna K.]

The header for this thread says "US".

So that is what I am addressing.

I'm glad that you made the best out of the header.
I felt obliged to correct it though before this topic has spread all over the world

 

[Skater Boy]

I don't think women are always the most popular discipline. I think it depends on who is winning. Right now I bet people are more interested in Ilia than they are in Amber. and I was only speaking of the US. I don't really know what goes on in other countries other than they don't have the NFL and the NBA to compete with where television broadcast is concerned. And the USFSA can have the best leadership since sliced bread and it won't matter if the television big wigs aren't interested in airing figure skating. I don't know what the answer is to this but the answer to the question of why figure skating in the US isn't more popular is pretty obvious.

For whatever reason women's figure skating has garnered more popularity than men. No matter it seems who is the American threat in ladies overall the tv ratings suggest or favour women's skating. In part the endorsements tend to favour what consumers say tend to favour women - beauty, cosmetics. If a company is hiring a personality for its products like shaving cream, beer, cars they ar emore apt to go with someone from another sport but food, beauty, cosmetics and such tend to use more ladies. We don't like to say certain sports or things are for certain genders but consumer studies will show you the markets. i also think for whatever reason culture, distance but in skating right now you need personalites that stick out or are of interest to the pbulic. Kaori, Mone, Nina, Cheyon Kim, Alyssa, Amber, Bradie, Isabeau just don't have that je ne sais quoi. Skating in general has lost its glory and interest ie shows, made for tv specials. Jumps are not enough. In general tho ugh we also have lost the Russians and that is a huge pot of talent missing especially in pairs and ladies. I am not so sure Kaori would have 3 world titles if the Russians were competing. And the p airs teams are very mediocre even the Japanese who quite honestly were not up to the top Chinese and Russians. Right now youu have the amazing jumpster Malinin but in pairs, dance and ladies you are severely diminished without the Russians and I guess you could say in dance a lot of very good teams but not of the genius level of P/C; V/M; et al.

 

[Minz]

Honestly I’m not sure at this point. Over the last couple of years there’s been everything that could possibly (for better or worse) put eyeballs on US figure skating.

There’s been scandals, tragedy, viral stars, I’m not sure what else we could possibly do at this point that wouldn’t cost a heck of a lot more money than anyone has or is able to invest in the sport.

I do agree that a lack of ability to watch the sport is a problem. If the most diehard fans can’t watch, then how on earth is anyone else supposed to watch it?

 

[moonvine]

But how to achieve that, and would the price paid in other countries be worth it?

I don’t know that it can be achieved.

 

[moonvine]

For whatever reason women's figure skating has garnered more popularity than men. No matter it seems who is the American threat in ladies overall the tv ratings suggest or favour women's skating. In part the endorsements tend to favour what consumers say tend to favour women - beauty, cosmetics. If a company is hiring a personality for its products like shaving cream, beer, cars they ar emore apt to go with someone from another sport but food, beauty, cosmetics and such tend to use more ladies. We don't like to say certain sports or things are for certain genders but consumer studies will show you the markets. i also think for whatever reason culture, distance but in skating right now you need personalites that stick out or are of interest to the pbulic. Kaori, Mone, Nina, Cheyon Kim, Alyssa, Amber, Bradie, Isabeau just don't have that je ne sais quoi. Skating in general has lost its glory and interest ie shows, made for tv specials. Jumps are not enough. In general tho ugh we also have lost the Russians and that is a huge pot of talent missing especially in pairs and ladies. I am not so sure Kaori would have 3 world titles if the Russians were competing. And the p airs teams are very mediocre even the Japanese who quite honestly were not up to the top Chinese and Russians. Right now youu have the amazing jumpster Malinin but in pairs, dance and ladies you are severely diminished without the Russians and I guess you could say in dance a lot of very good teams but not of the genius level of P/C; V/M; et al.

Your average American fan wants to see Americans win medals. I don’t think they care if Russians are present or not.

 

[moonvine]

After watching John Oliver's show (Last Week Tonight) this past Sunday where he focussed on the very disturbing trends in sports gambling in the USA, it appears gambling on outcomes is what necessary these days to get the "public" to actively watch a sport.

There is lots to gamble on for sure in figure skating right down to which judge will be most biased, but if that is what is necessary to increase viewership, perhaps we should be happy with the status quo. It is a sickeningly predatory tactic to make money from vulnerable, addicted individuals. Also, please no soap operas or engineered dramas. To me they ring false and can turn away more people than attract.

Focus more on getting an informed and engaged fan base. The observation that many of the pubic don't understand the sport, can't recognize a jump or how many times it has been rotated, it an important one. I recall from a few decades ago when watching televised figure skating that there would be 2 minute infomercials where a skater would demonstrate a jump or spin or move, and a commentator (usually a judge) would explain the move and how to know if it was done well. Do these still exist in network broadcasts? Sorry - don't have television anymore.

I don’t know….are they gambling on gymnastics?

 

[el henry]

I don’t know….are they gambling on gymnastics?

I don't know a darn thing about gymnastics, but I doubt it. Don't you?

And they're not betting on figure skating either. FanDuel or BetMGM or all the other gambling sites sponsor every little football podcast (and big ones) you can watch. Not figure skating. If figure skating could attract those advertising dollars, maybe the comps could stay up more.

Right now, it's chicken or the egg. Money = exposure = money. If I knew the answer, I'd implement it.

 

[ice coverage]

... FanDuel or BetMGM or all the other gambling sites sponsor every little football podcast (and big ones) you can watch. Not figure skating. ...

For years, BetOnline has sponsored Polina Edmunds' figure skating podcast.

 

[gmyers]

Your average American fan wants to see Americans win medals. I don’t think they care if Russians are present or not.

We’ll see how the coverage is. First year in generations with no villains. Only love for all skaters and just love love love!!

It can’t quite be like the 84 Olympics because that was in America and summer and the exclusion of Russia won’t mean automatically more American winners

 

[Arigato]

i also think for whatever reason culture, distance but in skating right now you need personalities that stick out or are of interest to the public. Kaori, Mone, Nina, Cheyon Kim, Alyssa, Amber, Bradie, Isabeau just don't have that je ne sais quoi.

A skater could jump 7 quads and no one will give one whit. But the world did give one whit about a skater named Witt. That type of magnetic personality and presence is not one that is easily duplicated. She was loved around the world, no matter what country. Do you think a different type of personality who yelled, "I hate everyone! I hate this sport!" on camera would be good for the sport as a whole and attract major sponsors? I think not. I would hope for more of the former and less of the latter.

On a side note: In case anyone did not know, the first female IOC president was elected yesterday. Her name is Kirsty Coventry.

 

[el henry]

For years, BetOnline has sponsored Polina Edmunds' figure skating podcast.

That is correct, I had forgotten. I think the ad that Polina reads is probably part of the Bleav system, because I believe (hahahaha) that I have heard that ad from other podcasts hosted by Bleav. But I cannot link to one off the top, so right now the evidence is "trust me bro".

 

[Mathman]

This is how I get invited into suites, to try to explain [the scoring system].

And a new cottage industry is born! For 500 hundred bucks I get you you Moonvine to sit in your box! (Mathman, $1.98.)

 

[skatesofgold]

I'm probably going to sound like a broken record but this question has been asked sooooo many times and the answers don't vary much. Figure skating was popular when people could SEE it. Stars on Ice and the World Tour of Figure Skating Champions and the many pro competitions were televised in prime time and people could get to know the skaters and want to see them again. And you could actually attend a competition in the US and not have to pay an arm and a leg to get tickets. For many years Stars on Ice was held on Mother's Day in the SF Bay Area. Needless to say my family put the kabosh on me attending. And speaking of expensive ticket prices - have you checked out the prices for Stars on Ice? So what came first - the exorbitant prices or the lack of interest causing the prices to be raised because they had to meet the cost of producing the show. And even now, if a competition is shown on a major network it's so watered down you only get to see a small portion of the contestants and (this is my own gripe) listen to Tara Lipinski natter on and on ad nauseum about "grade of execution!" Or you have to pay for Peacock and they only hold the programs for 72 hours. Lack of exposure is a direct correlation to lack of interest. Simple as that.

Yeah, I'm really frustrated that Stars on Ice isn't even coming to the Chicago area this year.