What would it take to bring back professional figure skating competitions?

[el henry]

The theoretical pro circuit would need both: the Alysa Lius to bring the audience in, and the Jason Browns to pique further interest. (just to name two absolutely at random)

The pro circuit would not replace the GP or the Olympic cycle for fans who prefer the latest and greatest in jumps. Those fans complained about cheesefests then and only watched "Real Competitions" and they would probably continue to complain about cheesefests now But I see no harm in doing that which could expand the skating audience.

 

[chepe]

That's right. So you'd have to convince these former World and Olympic champions and medallists that taking part in a fluff competition where they can very probably badly lose (only one winner, remember?) is somehow better for their image and PR, and more efficient way to earn money for their budgets, than simply starring in a show skating a program or two for the same pay... Unless you pay them substantially more than they could make from a show, I don't see them rushing in. Currently competing athletes and less decorated pro show skaters, maybe. Real former greats, no.

Well, skaters of the '90s had this same choice and many did participate in pro competitions. Even though they might lose 'very badly'...
And I suppose sometimes they did, seems that in 1998 pro Worlds, ISU allowed 'amateurs' to take part, resulting to Yagudin and Kwan winning, respectively.
Most athletes like competing and challenging themselves. Figure skating is not like fighting sports, where athletes may attempt to protect their image and avoid matches where they risk losing. And depending how the field is set up, 'losing badly' is not a big risk. Say a competition of 8 skaters, you bring in three top names, and five less well known ones. So the big names have an excellent chance of getting a podium placement, unless they really flop their programs.

Anyways, I agree there would be challenges setting up a "pro competition". Biggest Korean and Japanese names are likely hard/impossible to attract. Letting contemporary active top skaters to compete might make a result foregone conclusion a'la 1998. It's not clear how many skaters retired from active competition want to return, even if the rules would be less physically demanding than in ISU events.
I wonder if 'mixed concept' could work, first you do the competition part, then intermission and resurfacing, followed by 'gala'.

ATP Champions Tour was successful in 1990s, because it provided an entertaining alternative for (then-really boring) proper ATP tour. A professional figure skating competition would need to develope a similar sort of niche.

 

[noskates]

Convince them to participate? Surely you're joking. They got paid for participating in these so-called cheese fests whether they won or not and they didn't have to worry about URs or wrong edges or whatever. Pro competitions had a lot more loosely regulated "restrictions and rules" and were fun. The skaters got to wear what they wanted and skate to what they wanted and have a good time in the process. There was life after the Olympics. Skaters who didn't have the technical prowess to gold medal on the international level still could use their talent to entertain.

 

[skatingfan4ever]

One factor that hasn't been mentioned yet in this thread is how tough the current demands of ISU competitions are on the body and mind. I remember in the 90s and early 2000s it was a source of pride for some non-amateur skaters to maintain all their triples for as long as possible, even at pro competitions or SOI. But those skaters weren't attempting quads or triple axels with the same frequency as now, both in competition and in practice. Not to mention the contortionist spin and lift positions that IJS all but mandates. So, even if a given skater would enjoy the concept of a pro competition circuit, would their bodies be up for it? Or do they feel "done" by the time their ISU careers end? That's an individual decision for each skater, obviously. So a pro competition circuit now would have to be marketed in a way that would entice/appeal to the skaters themselves also. Would there be enough skaters that would be interested?

The Peggy Fleming Trophy was a nice idea (a short-lived artistic competition with fairly loose requirements), but it drew from current ISU competitors and only lasted for a few years, unfortunately.

 

[ladyjane]

The Peggy Fleming Trophy was a nice idea (a short-lived artistic competition with fairly loose requirements), but it drew from current ISU competitors and only lasted for a few years, unfortunately.

I liked that trophy, especially during COVID when it was very difficult to find interesting competitions because there were few. I recall not understanding the points, but not really caring about that. Skaters did have to put 1 jump in iirc, but also a 'signature move'. No quads, the jump had to be a triple or double. Choreography and presentation were very important.

 

[ice coverage]

Speaking of Peggy Fleming Trophy ...
2026 Broadmoor Open is offering a competition with the name of "Artistry on Ice."
The name no longer is Peggy Fleming Trophy, but the 2026 event stems from the old Peggy Fleming Trophy at Broadmoor Open, and the format of 2026 "Artistry on Ice" is modeled after the old Peggy Fleming Trophy.