Article on Worlds from Boston Globe

[moonvine]

Talks about some of the changes.

Figure skating needed a boost. The world championships in Boston provided it, for both the US team and fans. - The Boston Globe

In what was likely a preview of next winter's Olympics, Team USA established itself as the team to beat, all while fans were treated to a whole new experience.

www.bostonglobe.com

 

[msteach3]

Yes, yes and yes. It was a blast being in that arena. Good job ISU and SC of Boston. It was an experience I’ll never forget.

 

[Arriba627]

That was my 6th Worlds. Definitely the one that engaged and connected with the audience the most. It was great fun!

I am hoping that at some point they publish some statistics, as they did in 2016 -- from which countries were the attendees, daily attendance numbers, etc.

 

[R.D.]

I actually have mixed feelings over the changes I observed. On one hand, I can understand wanting to create a more interactive atmosphere and adding the warmup intro and interviews partially accomplished that, I think…but at the same time, most of the skaters were tired (understandably) and had nothing truly impactful to say. Language barriers were occasionally an issue as well. Reminds me of when they interview players and coaches during games in pro sports - you’re just not going to get enough out of them to make the effort worth it, in my opinion. Still, many skaters expressed appreciation for the audience reception which was nice, I guess. Also, the quotes displayed from each skater when they came on the ice for their skate elicited some interesting audience reactions at times.

Besides, I don’t think there was necessarily anything wrong with the “old” format that needed fixing, per se (judging system aside, obviously). The audience is already engaged via the skating on the ice - and back in 2016, there were numerous activities happening on the concourse that, in my view, accomplished the same task, perhaps in an even better way. For example, the small medal ceremonies and the Ice Desk segments all took place on the Loge concourse in 2016. Not so in 2025, however.

Still, it is clear there was a large effort to keep up “with the times” so to speak from both a technological and a cultural standpoint. I understand that and I think they did a good job with the overall setup of the arena. Very modern feel to it all.

So overall - I’ve been to many ice shows over the years, and the only two competitions I’ve attended have been World Championships in Boston, in 2016 and this year. This one came across to me like a sort of hybrid where they wanted it to “feel” more like an ice show, even though it was a competition. If that’s what they were going for, I think they more or less hit the mark. But there was just something special about having all those concourse activities back in ‘16, that it was a disappointment to me that they were not there this time around.

Having said that, don’t get me wrong at all - it was still a very fun time!!

 

[Tutto]

I watched home on my phone (still haven't TV sorted after moving home recently), from what that limited experience could offer I think it was terrific, the crowd was awesome, so supportive. So many standing ovations. I know FS is not a major sport in the USA, far from it, but it felt like it was in Boston. Well done!

 

[RobinA]

But the loud music, interviews, and flashing lights don't seem to have made the programs any more interesting.

 

[Diana Delafield]

Talks about some of the changes.

Figure skating needed a boost. The world championships in Boston provided it, for both the US team and fans. - The Boston Globe

In what was likely a preview of next winter's Olympics, Team USA established itself as the team to beat, all while fans were treated to a whole new experience.

www.bostonglobe.com

Almost all sports seem to be packaging themselves this way for filming now, from the Paris Olympics down to the most niche of the niche sports. Skiing has for long used the three current top skiers standing around in a line waiting to get pushed off by later skiers. While looking for a particular equestrian event on Youtube, I stumbled across a sport I'd never heard of, one of the "circus sports" where someone stands in the middle of a ring with an elaborately decorated horse on a lunge line, and a girl in a sparkly leotard does acrobatic stunts on the horse's back, to music. Points being earned displayed up in the corner, a sort of K&C (for the acrobat and "lunger", not the horse), fans booing the judging, etc etc. A friend in Israel with family in Russia forwards videos to me from Russian TV, one recently being a made-for-TV competition in which the skaters performed their show programs. The only difference I saw between it and the usual competitions was that they used spotlights, like in those skating movies where they get that detail wrong.

From what I saw of the Boston set-up, I would have had to keep covering my eyes, swirling spotlights tending to make me seasick. And I agreed with one of the commentators (can't remember who) who said they hoped that carpet was thoroughly and frequently vacuumed because the skaters were walking out without their guards on. (Was it Katerina Witt who once ran out when announced for the medal ceremony and tripped over the step, ending up sprawled on the ice? I applauded the ones in Boston who had the sense to walk and step, not run and leap onto the ice.)

 

[Arriba627]

I am hoping that at some point they publish some statistics, as they did in 2016 -- from which countries were the attendees, daily attendance numbers, etc.

I saw on Jackie.Wong's Twitter that over the 5 days, there were 110,000+ people in attendance.

 

[cailuj365]

The new changes looked AWESOME! I really liked them all. Even the set up from Montreal Worlds from last year looks antiquated now. The energy and crowd attendance were fantastic. Great job, Boston!

 

[Skater Boy]

Gone are the days of Dick Button and his attacks on lack of pointed toes and dirty boots and Peggy Fleming in relatively conservative but glittery evening wear Now you have coaches in ripped jeans and Johnny in over the top oufits and Tara in sexy cocktail wear. You have the ISU trying to make skating relevent with the RD and e have BOston and others getting more interactive. More flash and trash to bring in the young ie allowing back flips - I am not sure it tis all working. What happened to good skating a rivalries. The Battle of he Carmens or the Battle of the Brians. Yagudin v. Pllushenko? Tara v. Michelle? Michelle versus Irina?

 

[cailuj365]

Gone are the days of Dick Button and his attacks on lack of pointed toes and dirty boots and Peggy Fleming in relatively conservative but glittery evening wear Now you have coaches in ripped jeans and Johnny in over the top oufits and Tara in sexy cocktail wear. You have the ISU trying to make skating relevent with the RD and e have BOston and others getting more interactive. More flash and trash to bring in the young ie allowing back flips - I am not sure it tis all working. What happened to good skating a rivalries. The Battle of he Carmens or the Battle of the Brians. Yagudin v. Pllushenko? Tara v. Michelle? Michelle versus Irina?

You seem stuck in the 90s and 2000s. It's 25 years later. Culture changes with time. Doesn't mean that it's "trash." You don't need to have rivalries either to make a sport great, just great moments and great athletes.

 

[moonvine]

You seem stuck in the 90s and 2000s. It's 25 years later. Culture changes with time. Doesn't mean that it's "trash." You don't need to have rivalries either to make a sport great, just great moments and great athletes.

I enjoy rivalries. Much as I enjoy Ilia it would make things more exciting to have someone push him (not even necessarily beat him).

 

[cailuj365]

I enjoy rivalries. Much as I enjoy Ilia it would make things more exciting to have someone push him (not even necessarily beat him).

I definitely agree, though I was more thinking about the ladies here. There wasn't really a "rivalry" storyline, but Alysa's win and Kaori's skate were both just such great moments.