2009 Worlds in LA - Alert

[Joesitz (RIP)]

The buzz I've been getting is that the various skating tours have already started their drive to book hotels in downtown LA. No doubt they will be seeking the best seat locations at Staples Center as soon as tickets are available. There is no news yet on ticket availability.

If you are planning to go to this preOly Worlds, you may consider booking a hotel room as close as possible to the Staples Center, now! Be sure wherever you book that you have public transportation nearbye to the Center. Booking a room in a hotel can always be cancelled if you decide not to go. Get confirmation on that.

Once tickets become available, google Staples and get a layout of the arena so you can pick out the Seat, Section that you want, and buy immediately.

LA should be warmish weatherwise in March, but no snow and freezing temps.

I'm sure the best seats will be reserved for Arnold and Maria and the hollywood entourage.

All the Divisions will be hot tickets. The competitions are all close including Pairs.

Joe

 

[nymkfan51]

Joe, most hotels don't allow you to book much more than a year in advance, so there is probably no way around this. The tour operators will be able to block those rooms well in advance of when we will be able to. I'm guessing the LOC will have deals with several hotels, though.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I didn't know that 51. I think then that fans who do not go with a tour group, should look into booking a hotel around midMarch 2008. I wonder what ESPN or ABC will plan for this? If LIVE, how many will they show? If Ladies are on at 8pm PCT, then EDT will begin at 11pm. They should show ALL the skaters at beginning at 11pm EDT.

btw. Will you be involved for this?

Joe

 

[nymkfan51]

I'm hoping to be there, but I won't be involved officially ... just as a fan.
I am going to start researching hotels at the beginning of 2008. There are a select few who take reservations about 13 months in advance. I will be happy to share any information I find with the group here.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I think the best thing to do is to google where the Staples Center is and proceed in that area for a hotel. I believe Staples is downtown.

 

[PAskate]

If you are planning to go to this preOly Worlds, you may consider booking a hotel room as close as possible to the Staples Center, now! Be sure wherever you book that you have public transportation nearbye to the Center. Booking a room in a hotel can always be cancelled if you decide not to go. Get confirmation on that.

Actually when US Nationals was in LA, there was only like 1 2 hotel truly in walking distance to the Staples Center. There is however a metro stop right in front of Staples. People might want to look at hotels that are outside of downtown LA but are on the same metro route.

 

[Tonichelle]

I have family in the area so my room is already booked

 

[Tinymavy15]

i live in LA, and am really excited about this. I hope that i can see Caroline there at home!!!!!!:chorus: :yes:

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Try these for size:

Wilshire Grand Hotel - 4 blocks from Staples, but pricy. It's deluxe.

Western Bonaventure Hotel - 7 blocks - check price.

Los Angeles Marriott Downtown - 8 blocks - check price

Holiday Inn City Center - 1 block - strolling distance from Staples. check price

Joe

 

[PAskate]

Try these for size:

Wilshire Grand Hotel - 4 blocks from Staples, but pricy. It's deluxe.

Western Bonaventure Hotel - 7 blocks - check price.

Los Angeles Marriott Downtown - 8 blocks - check price

Holiday Inn City Center - 1 block - strolling distance from Staples. check price

Joe

I stayed at the Marriott for LA Nationals - they may call it 8 blocks, but it's not walkable at night (up a hill as well).

 

[Lanie]

I will be there...but I live in the LA area, so no worries for hotel or anything.

 

[hockeyfan228]

On the Staples Center site FAQ, the answer to the first question "Where is Staples Center located?" has a link to "Freeway Directions."

The third-to-last question is "Can I take public transportation to Staples Center?" rolleye: ) According to the answer, Staples Center is on the blue line near Pico Station, and there are many buses that stop by the arena.

This is the Metro page from which you can download (PDF) system maps or link to each line map.

I had no idea there was a shuttle from LAX to the Green Line.

 

[Tonichelle]

thanks Hockeyfan....

 

[Tenorguy]

Joe - many thanks for starting this thread and to everyone planning to travel to the 2009 Worlds competition, Welcome to Los Angeles!

For those who haven't been before, LA can be a confusing city to visit: it's sprawling, there are mini-downtowns throughout the city, and taking/finding public transportation is something best left to the locals or the really brave and physically fit. Public transport is indeed there and available, but its not what I would call "sensible" or intuitive as in NYC or San Francisco. Here's the website for public transportation: http://www.experiencela.com/GettingAround/

I know the competition is far off, but please do yourself a favor and buy tickets to a performance at the Disney Concert Hall (about 2 miles north of Staples Center) here is the site: http://wdch.laphil.com/ Disney Hall is an extraordinary building and wonderful place to hear acoustic music of all kinds.

Here's a site to guide you through a walking tour of downton plus it shows an excellent map of the area (one of the best I've seen of downtown): http://www.usc.edu/dept/geography/la_walking_tour/

Here's a hotel website for hotels near the Staples Center. http://www.hotelsnear.net/losangeles/staples_center_hotels.html. NOTE: they are building several hotels right now and these new hotels directly accross from Staples should be ready to take reservations I'd say in 2008.

Staying downtown is one choice (it is convenient to the Center, but downtown is NOT romantic at all). My suggestion if you can afford it? Shutters at the Beach in Santa Monica http://www.shuttersonthebeach.com/home.html
This is a pricey choice but a fine hotel with beautiful views of the Pacific.

Of course its early for all of this specific information, but if I can be of any help with getting you familiar with LA prior to your arrival, I'd be more than happy to help. I'm really looking forward to meeting some of you at the events!

Feel free to pm me and I can get you more detailed information. PS - Its usually beautiful in March - its about 75 degrees full sunshine.

Tenorguy

 

[Spun Silver]

What nice hospitality, Tenorguy! Thanks. You're making me think about going to Worlds! (I'm on the other side of the continent.)

 

[silverfox]

Try these for size:

Wilshire Grand Hotel - 4 blocks from Staples, but pricy. It's deluxe.

Western Bonaventure Hotel - 7 blocks - check price.

Los Angeles Marriott Downtown - 8 blocks - check price

Holiday Inn City Center - 1 block - strolling distance from Staples. check price

Joe

I'm wondering if anyone remembers from 2002 in which hotel(s) the event headquarters was located, or in which one the skaters and coaches stayed? I'm asking because one of two situations may exist - one, they may not reserve rooms for non-skating related visitors, or two, the number of rooms in that hotel may be extremely limited.

 

[Tonichelle]

Silver - I'm in Alaska and just getting to Seattle is expensive! LOL but I'm going to worlds... who knows when I'll get another chance!

My best friend - who is into skating only for the guys she thinks are cute - and I are both going, and when we're not at some of the events we're planning to hit up Disney Land... should be fun (expensive, but fun)

I've been wanting to post about LA for a while... but it is a bit soon lol

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Tenorguy - What a great post. Thank you so much. I've been trying to find out where my hotel is in relation to Staples. I found it. Not too bad. I'm going with a tour so I have no choice.But for others on a budget. I would keep tabs on the availability of the hotels for less than $100. And to check also if there is public transport near you to get to Staples.

I have been to LA before several times, and I just think this non-planned city is really just a group of Suburbs looking for a city. My first trip, I took a tour of Hollywood. The guide assured us we will see a celebrity. We toured all the places where celebrities died from overdosing: Janis Joplin, River Phoenix and Balucchi.
After the death tour, we did get to Beverly Hills and Bel Air - quite beautiful. On the return to the hotel, the celebrity was George Hamilton riding in a Bentley and with a Hawaiian tan. What else?

The Getty Museum is worth a visit. Caution: Whereever you are, careful of where you are going. My last trip to LA was to get to a theatre for a new muscial that was going to open NYC in a month or two. I asked the desk clerk how I could get to the theatre, and how much would it cost? He said a taxi could get you there for $95 each way.

My advice. Rent a car and put your life on the line through the Freeway.

Thanks again, Tenogruy.

Joe

 

[Tenorguy]

Tenorguy - What a great post. Thank you so much. I've been trying to find out where my hotel is in relation to Staples. I found it. Not too bad. I'm going with a tour so I have no choice.But for others on a budget. I would keep tabs on the availability of the hotels for less than $100. And to check also if there is public transport near you to get to Staples.

I have been to LA before several times, and I just think this non-planned city is really just a group of Suburbs looking for a city. My first trip, I took a tour of Hollywood. The guide assured us we will see a celebrity. We toured all the places where celebrities died from overdosing: Janis Joplin, River Phoenix and Balucchi.
After the death tour, we did get to Beverly Hills and Bel Air - quite beautiful. On the return to the hotel, the celebrity was George Hamilton riding in a Bentley and with a Hawaiian tan. What else?

The Getty Museum is worth a visit. Caution: Whereever you are, careful of where you are going. My last trip to LA was to get to a theatre for a new muscial that was going to open NYC in a month or two. I asked the desk clerk how I could get to the theatre, and how much would it cost? He said a taxi could get you there for $95 each way.

My advice. Rent a car and put your life on the line through the Freeway.

Thanks again, Tenogruy.

Joe

Joe and Spun Silver - you are very welcome! You are so right regarding needing a rental car: Los Angeles has areas that are perfect for walking, they just happen to be 20 miles apart! Joe, I see you took the Death Tour - always recommended!

Being that the competition is so far off this gives people lots of time to plan. I'd be happy to continue putting links in a folder when the time comes closer - LA as you say is a non-planned city and to get the most out of it one needs careful planning to get around the city and its many venues.

Several higher-end hotels are going up as we speak directly accross from Staples so people will within a year have more options in hotels; when they become available I will post links to these new hotels.

Be sure to drive to Malibu on a sunny afternoon - you won't be dissapointed!

Now the big question - who will we see at Worlds 2009? Can Sasha make a full comeback? Irina, Michelle, Mao, Kimmie, Lambiel, Hughes, Kostner, Yun-Na?

 

[nymkfan51]

Tenorguy ... I would really appreciate it if you could keep us posted on those new hotels going up. I would like to stay very close to the Staples Center if possible ... I've been to LA so many times, so I won't be doing any sightseeing. It will be skating, skating, skating for me!!! I'm assuming there are places to eat around the Staples Center as well?

Thanks for your help!