Thanks to forum members at KC

[CoyoteChris]

Thanks to all the 5 forum members I met at KC, and especially MFarone and sabinfire. You and my other friends make skating events worth all the work.
I promise to not reveal your names and pics but you just might find your pics in my photobucket album....

And a shoutout to all here who put in their hard work to make events more enjoyable.

http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/CoyoteChris303/library/KC skating?sort=3&page=1

 

[sabinfire]

KC was a lot of fun! Glad I made the last-minute plans to attend, even if it was just for the weekend. Crowd was great, met new folks, arena location was convenient for event-goers.

San Jose next year is sounding better...

 

[Arriba627]

I thought KC did a great job. Arena personnel were helpful and food offerings went a little above and beyond the usual stuff. The crowd was appreciative and encouraging. Loved having a hotel within walking distance of the arena. The free street car was great for getting to nearby restaurants, etc...It seemed easy to purchase San Jose tickets while there, so just did it! I'm sure it'll be great! Nothing like seeing things in person.

 

[moonvine]

I'm going to have to meet up with yall sometime! Not next Nationals as I won't be there Too far to travel.

 

[CoyoteChris]

I thought KC did a great job. Arena personnel were helpful and food offerings went a little above and beyond the usual stuff. The crowd was appreciative and encouraging. Loved having a hotel within walking distance of the arena. The free street car was great for getting to nearby restaurants, etc...It seemed easy to purchase San Jose tickets while there, so just did it! I'm sure it'll be great! Nothing like seeing things in person.

KC Power and light district and those 15 eateries were fine, but needed an Italian place. The Constantina market was a great asset for eating healthy and other less healthy food and buying self medication. Arena had a wide concourse, padded seats and water fountains. We were allowed to take in water bottles. The men had pleanty of bathrooms (snicker snort).
The seats were interesting. The ones in our endzone were wide and had cup holders. They were narrower elsewhere. The pitch was great. My hotel was a quick safe walk of 5 minutes away plus any stoplight time. I was only panhandled twice and didnt see hoards of street people. This may not be specific to KC but there were multiple reports of people with disabilities being denied or put at the end of the line when they called for cab rides of short distances. One lady waited 2 hours. The ushers were clearly not trained to stop people from walking down to their seats during performances. All in all, KC did a good job of putting on the event at the main arena. The Supershuttle to and from the airport is wonderful for $18 each way as it is at other airports. The airport needs to be bulldozed to sand and rebuilt. Few seats, few eateries, few bathrooms.....The WWI museum is arguably the best donation funded museum in the country. But they only have room to display 20 percent of their items. They are going to build a new wing. The city isnt particularly appealing but there is construction going on everywhere and there are some very nice places to visit...many I did not have time to hit. On to San Jose!

 

[Arriba627]

^^^Found it so annoying that people were walking down the aisles during skater's performances. We got to thinking maybe it was a GOOD thing, that maybe these were newbies to figure skating who just didn't "get it". So we were trying to forgive them! It was SO distracting though and some people started getting perturbed (to say the least! ). On Sunday, finally the usher in our area held people back and only allowed them to be seated during breaks in the action.

The WWI museum was amazing. We only spent about 2-1/2 hours there and were wishing we could go back again. Maybe some day.

ETA -- Cosentino's Market was awesome!

 

[Mrs. P]

I succeed in the spot the Gs-er game!


For those who want to start talking and thinking about San Jose, lets go here: http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?60256-2018-U-S-Nationals-in-San-Jose-Calif/page8

 

[stella luna]

Thank you for posting. Great pics!

Thanks to all the 5 forum members I met at KC, and especially MFarone and sabinfire. You and my other friends make skating events worth all the work.
I promise to not reveal your names and pics but you just might find your pics in my photobucket album....

And a shoutout to all here who put in their hard work to make events more enjoyable.

http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/CoyoteChris303/library/KC skating?sort=3&page=1

 

[moonvine]

FWIW our usher totally did not allow folks to walk down to their seats during skater's performances.

 

[KatGrace1925]

I can't wait to meet you all next nationals! I am so excited to have it on my coast!!

 

[CoyoteChris]

I can't wait to meet you all next nationals! I am so excited to have it on my coast!!

Not only that, a tolerably warm part of the left coast....

 

[CoyoteChris]

FWIW our usher totally did not allow folks to walk down to their seats during skater's performances.

Well, at least there was ONE!

 

[KatGrace1925]

Not only that, a tolerably warm part of the left coast....

It's pretty wonderful here. San Jose is a bit colder than where I am from but so bearable. Everyone in San Deigo right now is suffering in the 40-60 degree weather we've been having and it's pretty funny to watch.

 

[lyverbird1]

Sounds like I'm going to have to go to US Nationals one day. Chris, it was lovely to meet you and many of our other GS friends in Boston last year. I hope some of the same people are making the trip to Helsinki. I can but hope...

 

[iluvtodd]

As always, it was fun meeting up with our GS members (CoyoteChris), and hopefully I got to see others (even though I might not know you by real name).

During the exhibition, there was an usher who wouldn't let people go to their seats until the performance was over.

Cosentino's Market was a great option for variety & healthy food choices, complete with seating!

 

[b-man]

I was fortunate enough to meet both CoyoteChris and MFarone in Kansas City. Both were great people and enhanced my experience in KC. In San Jose will try and meet a few more from GS.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Sounds like I'm going to have to go to US Nationals one day. Chris, it was lovely to meet you and many of our other GS friends in Boston last year. I hope some of the same people are making the trip to Helsinki. I can but hope...

AND, we can sit together! Check out this pic of me and some of my rat pack party animals from Jr. Ladies short I added to my album.
http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/CoyoteChris303/media/KC skating/c3_zpsktczjfts.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

 

[CoyoteChris]

I was fortunate enough to meet both CoyoteChris and MFarone in Kansas City. Both were great people and enhanced my experience in KC. In San Jose will try and meet a few more from GS.

b-man, where did you dissapprear to? We were worried about you....PM us if you like.....

 

[Arriba627]

Sounds like I'm going to have to go to US Nationals one day. Chris, it was lovely to meet you and many of our other GS friends in Boston last year. I hope some of the same people are making the trip to Helsinki. I can but hope...

More than slightly O.T. {{topic: }} but have their been any further developments regarding the new ice rink in Dublin?

 

[lyverbird1]

More than slightly O.T. {{topic: }} but have their been any further developments regarding the new ice rink in Dublin?

The first stage of the complex redevelopment finished in December so I'm hoping things will get moving this year on the new phase which is set to include the rink. There really is a growing interest in skating in the country with early morning lessons in figure and speed skating very busy in the temporary rinks this winter. The need is definitely there, will keep the boards notified of anything I hear.

PS, Chris. Great to see you and the trademark hat in your picture!