- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
Maureen - he got a letter from the event stating which practices are allowed with the pass.
Practice pass poo
- Thread starter sk8addict
- Start date
I also got the practice schedule from one of the Xcel people whom I have been talking with over the last year about various topics.
Tuesday January 22nd 6:15am-7:35 Junior Men Practice is the only one scheduled for Xcel.
everytime I go to the St. Paul website that I figured I just missed this info somehow.
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
According to Joesitz' post on another thread, the reason people can't go to the practice sessions at Pleasant Arena is lack of seating capacity.
The Xcel Center is St. Pauls big entertainment complex, seating 20,000. (Rascal Flatts, not Rachael Flatt will be performing there in October, LOL.)
As far as I can tell, the Pleasant Arena is just a local club. They host kids and adult recreational hockey games, have learn-to-skate classes and open skating sessions, etc. (Eliot Halverson trains there.) I would imagine that they have practically no seating for spectators at all -- maybe only a few hundred. (?)
The Xcel Center is St. Pauls big entertainment complex, seating 20,000. (Rascal Flatts, not Rachael Flatt will be performing there in October, LOL.)
As far as I can tell, the Pleasant Arena is just a local club. They host kids and adult recreational hockey games, have learn-to-skate classes and open skating sessions, etc. (Eliot Halverson trains there.) I would imagine that they have practically no seating for spectators at all -- maybe only a few hundred. (?)
If this is so the usfsa and the St Paul committee knew it when they gave the Championships to them 3 years ago. They sold us tickets with the pass 2 years ago, they told us our seats, we bought non-refundable airline tickets, then they tell us that the men's final has been moved to Sunday afternoon,and only then did they tell us our practice passes were not what we purchased and the only option was to give up our seats or not go.
I would gladly stand for practices and this was not an option given to me. We have been in some pretty dumpy practice hockey rinks with the glass up in the past and never complained and there have never been very many of us at practices.
If they host hockey games, thier families come to watch. Where do they watch from? Make no excuses for them. They took advantage of us knowing it all the while and have no guilt. Until the new NBC tv deal came up some of the competitions were scheduled to be in Pleasant Arena.
Have you bought your All-Event tickets for Cleveland? What are thier arenas? Does their all event include a practice pass? What practices are included?
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
I don't know about Cleveland, but IIRC at Spokane, all the practice sessions were open and included in the practice pass price. The secondary venue was quite a nice facility with seating for almost 3000, and within walking distance (a long walk) from the main arena. It was closer to the hotels than the main arena was.
For the Spokane event, as I recall, the main problem was that you couldn't book your own hotel room. You had to go through some agency which stuck you wherever they liked.
For the Spokane event, as I recall, the main problem was that you couldn't book your own hotel room. You had to go through some agency which stuck you wherever they liked.
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
I agree, we aren't given teh option... if we're paying for practices we should be able to see all that we want...
oh well maybe there's a way to sneak in
(probably not but one could hope)...
oh well maybe there's a way to sneak in
(probably not but one could hope)...
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2003
Nationals practices
The flyer that I picked up in St. Louis for the 2008 Nationals listed the Xcel center and Ridder Arena about 10 miles away. It was only on July 24 that the announcement was made about the switch to Pleasant Arena (which according to the internet seats 300). I agree that the LOC really took advantage of the all event ticket holders. They knew when they made this change that they would not be able to accommodate us - but obviously didn't care.
Cleveland is listing the Quicken Loans Arena (formerly Gund) as the main arena which seats probably 20,000 and the Cleveland Convention Center Public Hall less than a mile away as the secondary venue. They are advertising ALL practices. What makes me nervous is that the Public Hall will have a temporary ice surface and someone may decide that the skaters won't like it and then it will be switched to another real arena. I only live about 25 miles from Cleveland but because of the current mess with St. Paul I am holding off on ordering tickets for Cleveland until next summer at the earliest.
Maureen
The flyer that I picked up in St. Louis for the 2008 Nationals listed the Xcel center and Ridder Arena about 10 miles away. It was only on July 24 that the announcement was made about the switch to Pleasant Arena (which according to the internet seats 300). I agree that the LOC really took advantage of the all event ticket holders. They knew when they made this change that they would not be able to accommodate us - but obviously didn't care.
Cleveland is listing the Quicken Loans Arena (formerly Gund) as the main arena which seats probably 20,000 and the Cleveland Convention Center Public Hall less than a mile away as the secondary venue. They are advertising ALL practices. What makes me nervous is that the Public Hall will have a temporary ice surface and someone may decide that the skaters won't like it and then it will be switched to another real arena. I only live about 25 miles from Cleveland but because of the current mess with St. Paul I am holding off on ordering tickets for Cleveland until next summer at the earliest.
Maureen
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
Hmm. Now I really am curious about the change. The Ridder Arena is part of the University of Minnesota sports complex. It's a new, nice facility which seats several thousand.
The U. of Minn. women's hockey team plays its home games there, so I wondered if some sort of scheduling conflict might have come up, or if negotiations between the University and USFS fell through somehow. (But the Lady Gophers don't play that week until Saturday.)
There must be some sort of explanation. It can't be the deliberate goal of USFS to annoy, anger, and swindle their most ardent fans.
Well, they have.
I'm going to ask St Paul to at least give all the all-event ticket holders free bus passes. We'll see where their hearts are.
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
ooooo I like that
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
I doubt you'll get one
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2003
Nationals practices
I don't know Mathman, it seems the USFSA just doesn't care very much about fans. The letter I received mentioned consulting with event officials, skater, and coaches - not a word about fans - in making this change. I am all for having all the competitions at the Xcel Center, that is just fine with me. My problem is that I would rather watch Championship practices than any Novice event and some Junior events. Someone at FSU mentioned that a new football stadium is being constructed near Ridder and that the parking was a mess so perhaps that was part of the reason. The bridge collapse on I-35W happened after the announcement was made about the change in practice arena so that wasn't part of the change.
Anyway I am not taking the refund, but I did just email Mark Dzuik who had sent me some shuttle info months ago. I asked him about a free pass and about how long it should take to get from my hotel to Xcel. I am hoping to get answer to my question (which was why I included it). If I hear anything I'll post it.
Maureen
I don't know Mathman, it seems the USFSA just doesn't care very much about fans. The letter I received mentioned consulting with event officials, skater, and coaches - not a word about fans - in making this change. I am all for having all the competitions at the Xcel Center, that is just fine with me. My problem is that I would rather watch Championship practices than any Novice event and some Junior events. Someone at FSU mentioned that a new football stadium is being constructed near Ridder and that the parking was a mess so perhaps that was part of the reason. The bridge collapse on I-35W happened after the announcement was made about the change in practice arena so that wasn't part of the change.
Anyway I am not taking the refund, but I did just email Mark Dzuik who had sent me some shuttle info months ago. I asked him about a free pass and about how long it should take to get from my hotel to Xcel. I am hoping to get answer to my question (which was why I included it). If I hear anything I'll post it.
Maureen
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2003
Nationals practices
Just an update. I emailed Mark Dzuik and got a reply that he is no longer with the St. Paul Visitors Bureau, so I sent another email to his replacement - no reply. I did get a reply from Jon Johansen who is the box office supervisor at Xcel and he advised me to contact the USFSA. I did sent them an email asking about a free shuttle pass, but no response.
Sk8addict do you have any information about Championship level warmups at Xcel? Nothing is posted about practices or warmups on the St. Paul website, but I thought you might have some info.
Apparently the hotels for fans are sold out. They only had about 580 rooms - which really surprised me. Someone on FSU advised staying at Mall of America or the airport and taking the bus in - there is a stop right by the Xcel center. The LOC is sending people to other hotels, but none of them are on the shuttle. Don't know if the rates are reduced, but it would probably mean renting a car, since the hotels are 4 -10 miles away.
Maureen
Just an update. I emailed Mark Dzuik and got a reply that he is no longer with the St. Paul Visitors Bureau, so I sent another email to his replacement - no reply. I did get a reply from Jon Johansen who is the box office supervisor at Xcel and he advised me to contact the USFSA. I did sent them an email asking about a free shuttle pass, but no response.
Sk8addict do you have any information about Championship level warmups at Xcel? Nothing is posted about practices or warmups on the St. Paul website, but I thought you might have some info.
Apparently the hotels for fans are sold out. They only had about 580 rooms - which really surprised me. Someone on FSU advised staying at Mall of America or the airport and taking the bus in - there is a stop right by the Xcel center. The LOC is sending people to other hotels, but none of them are on the shuttle. Don't know if the rates are reduced, but it would probably mean renting a car, since the hotels are 4 -10 miles away.
Maureen
Maureen,
I'm having hotel problems too...the number of rooms you quotes is absurd! I'm sure they have plenty of rooms in the officials and media hotels...any word on if they will open then up and how to find out? I'm subscribed to some kind of lodging list on the nationals site but never get the updates I asked for. So far, the LOC and USFSA has really bombed this nationals.
I'm having hotel problems too...the number of rooms you quotes is absurd! I'm sure they have plenty of rooms in the officials and media hotels...any word on if they will open then up and how to find out? I'm subscribed to some kind of lodging list on the nationals site but never get the updates I asked for. So far, the LOC and USFSA has really bombed this nationals.
xcel warm ups
Wed. Jan 23rd-Championship Dance CD war-ups 11:15am-12:25pm
Friday, Jan 25th Championship Men Sp warm-up 5:25pm-6:35pm
Sat Jan 26th Championship Ladies warm up 8:00am -8:40am Groups 1&2
Sat Jan 26th Championship Ladies warm up 3:50pm-4:30pm groups 3&4
Sunday Jan 27th Championship Men warm up 10:30am-11:40 am
I pray they will ley us in for the warm ups with our all- event HA! tickets.
Wed. Jan 23rd-Championship Dance CD war-ups 11:15am-12:25pm
Friday, Jan 25th Championship Men Sp warm-up 5:25pm-6:35pm
Sat Jan 26th Championship Ladies warm up 8:00am -8:40am Groups 1&2
Sat Jan 26th Championship Ladies warm up 3:50pm-4:30pm groups 3&4
Sunday Jan 27th Championship Men warm up 10:30am-11:40 am
I pray they will ley us in for the warm ups with our all- event HA! tickets.
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