USA Masters Games - July 2016

[Isk8NYC]

USA Masters Games competition
Ages 21 and over
Greensboro, NC

July 2016
Figure skating event information: http://usamastersgames.com/extra.asp?ID=6900

Open to any U.S. Figure Skating or international organization skaters
(Note that event takes place after the 7/1/2016 USFSA membership year starts)

One note: I don't see any sanction information online as yet, but it is really early in the process.

[dlbritton]

If anyone is planning on attending or competing we will have to meet somewhere for coffee or drinks. From the website description it will be at my home rink so I will be sure to get by at least one day.

[Isk8NYC]

Registration for figure skating events is now open!

http://usamastersgames.com/extra.asp?ID=6900

NB: You have to be a US Figure Skating member to compete.  Since the event takes place in July, after the USFSA membership period ends, make sure to renew early!

[dlbritton]

From "U.S. Adult Skating Committee" Facebook page:

This just in from the USA Masters Games - Games Fee Lowered to $60

"We heard you loud and clear! As a new event we highly value the input of our athletes and other constituents. You said we should keep Registration Fees as reasonable as possible to encourage broad participation. We listened, and as of today, all USA Masters Games individual Games Fees have been reset at $60 per person. This attractive Games Fee pricing will remain in effect to the close of Registration at midnight on Thursday, June 30, 2016.
For those who have already registered with a higher Games Fee, a refund of the difference will be coming to the credit card you used to register. Once the refund is processed, you'll receive an email confirmation.
So now that the Games Registration Fee has been adjusted back to a very affordable level, don't wait any longer, get going and get in the Games today."
http://www.usamastersgames.com/extra.asp?ID=6900

-----------------------------------
Spectator admission is $50.

Family & Supporters ($50)

    Family & Supporters Credential
    Admission to all sports venues
    Seats at Opening and Closing Ceremonies
    Nightly entertainment at the Games Village
    Access to discounted hotel rooms through the Housing Bureau

[dlbritton]

From FB page.

Heads up Figure Skaters – your competition has been consolidated to 3 days, July 23-25.
Check our website for more details. http://usamastersgames.com/extra.asp?ID=6900

[dlbritton]

Schedule for USA Masters Games skating (from Greensboro Ice House website).

http://www.greensboroice.com/LTS%20Flyers/USA%20Masters%20Games%20-%20Posting%20Schedule.pdf

[dlbritton]

Got an email from the USA Masters Games that spectators are admitted free for all events. Not sure what the Family and Supporters ticket is for then.

Update: Got another email explaining they did have a Family and Supporters pass but they stopped selling it (however it still appears on the site).
All events are free.  So I will be there Saturday morning.

[PrettySk8Dress]

I was at the Masters Games this weekend, and enjoyed competing in the ice dancing and Spotlight/Showcase events. However, the ice skating portion of the Games shrank down to just a day and a half of competition that was very lightly attended. I counted less than 20 people in the audience at the ice dancing part of the competition in a stadium that has 23,000+ seats. Even the Athletes Village, the Athletes' Reception, and the 'Dealers Room' were all like a ghost town, with less than a dozen people taking advantage of the facilities at the times that I was there. I overheard one person proclaiming that as to why that was the case, was because it is the first year of the Masters Games, and many did not decide to come to the inaugural event. Other comments heard was that there is an ISU ice skating competition going on at the same time in Vancouver, BC. Also, another comment overheard was that because the Governor of North Carolina signed into law a 'Legal to Discriminate' law and bathroom bill ( HB 2 ), that many athletes and ice skaters decided not to come to North Carolina to compete in the only state in the USA to have such obtuse non-protection from discrimination of any kind, as well as facing the possibility of being arrested when they step out of a public restroom.

[dlbritton]

I was at the Masters Games this weekend, and enjoyed competing in the ice dancing and Spotlight/Showcase events. However, the ice skating portion of the Games shrank down to just a day and a half of competition that was very lightly attended. I counted less than 20 people in the audience at the ice dancing part of the competition in a stadium that has 23,000+ seats. Even the Athletes Village, the Athletes' Reception, and the 'Dealers Room' were all like a ghost town, with less than a dozen people taking advantage of the facilities at the times that I was there. I overheard one person proclaiming that as to why that was the case, was because it is the first year of the Masters Games, and many did not decide to come to the inaugural event.

I was spectating both days but did leave Saturday before the pairs and dance events. I did see all of Sunday.  What skate club are you with, I am sure I saw you on Sunday.

It was pretty lonely in the stands. Besides coaches, family and "idle" skaters sitting in the stands I doubt there were more than 10 "fans" in the audience ( me being among the 10) .

Part of the low attendance was the organizers fault. Originally spectator tickets were $50 for the entire games with no option for individual tickets. Somewhere along the line they decided to admit spectators for free but that was never shown on the website. In fact as recently as Friday afternoon the site still showed the price of a "Family and Supporter" ticket as $50 but I was informed in an email from the organizers that you could not actually purchase that ticket.

Locally there was virtually no advertising of the event so I am sure few locals were aware of the games. I was somewhat disappointed more skate families from the local rink were not there. Most of the adult skaters from the rink were either competing or volunteers.