2007 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships Establishes All-Time Ticket Sales Record at 154,893, Sets Bar for Future Events
The 2007 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships came to a close Sunday afternoon in Spokane, Wash., with a sellout crowd for the Hormel Skating Spectacular. Throughout the course of the event, 154,893 tickets were sold, beating the previous record of 125,345 set in Los Angeles in 2002. The future of U.S. Figure Skating is bright in more ways than one: the level of talent and quality of skating at the event was as high as it’s been in years, with countless personal records set, difficult jump combinations achieved and new stars emerging.
“This U.S. Championships was one of the most successful in history in several respects,” U.S. Figure Skating President Ron Hershberger said. “Not only to set the attendance record but to smash the previous high proves that well-marketed figure skating events have limitless potential, and that the sport is vibrant and popular among fans of all ages. Beyond that, fans were treated to some of the best figure skating and most exciting competition in all four skating disciplines and at all levels: novice, junior and senior. Spokane has truly set the bar for the future of U.S. Figure Skating events.”
Kimmie Meissner landed a triple-triple combination in both her short program and her free skate on the way to winning her first U.S. title in a deeply talented pool of ladies, which included Emily Hughes and Alissa Czisny. Next year her competition will be even steeper, as young phenoms Mirai Nagasu and Caroline Zhang – who finished 1-2 on the junior level – potentially move up to the senior ranks.
Evan Lysacek made a career breakthrough in winning the men’s event Saturday, nailing a quad toe-triple toe combination before cleanly landing every element in his program to bring down the house at the Spokane Arena. Though it wasn’t Johnny Weir’s night, the rivalry will be back on at the 2007 World Figure Skating Championships in Tokyo, Japan, this March. And who could forget the inspiring performance of Ryan Bradley, the last skater of the night, who capped off the competition with a triumphant backflip to celebrate his silver medal. Knocking at their door soon enough will be the new U.S. junior champion Eliot Halverson, whose lyrical skating will be on display at the World Junior Championships next month.
In pairs, two new faces emerged: those of new U.S. champions Brooke Castile & Ben Okolski. Their spectacular triple twists brought Spokane Arena to its feet and established them as the team to watch in the future. Rena Inoue & John Baldwin’s signature throw triple Axel wasn’t solid in Spokane, but it will be in full force at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships next week in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the World Championships. Newcomers Naomi Nari Nam & Themi Leftheris will also compete at Four Continents, the home of talented U.S. junior champions Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker.
And while ice dancers Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto won their fourth U.S. title, more and more talented U.S. ice dancing teams continue to gain notice, including their training mates, Meryl Davis & Charlie White, who won the bronze medal. Before long, the two teams, along with silver medalists Melissa Gregory & Denis Petukhov, will be competing against the top two U.S. junior teams from this year’s U.S. Championships, Emily Samuelson & Evan Bates, and Madison Hubbell & Keiffer Hubbell.
New initiatives introduced at this year’s U.S. Championships included the Windermere Real Estate FanFest at the secondary arena, a “Figure Skating Friendly” campaign with local restaurants and shops, a one-year out celebration, numerous special events and increased opportunities for local sponsor activation.
Local media coverage of the event was unprecedented. The Spokesman-Review, a local sponsor, produced a special section for five days of the event that included a wrap-up on Sunday. KXLY-TV, a local sponsor and ABC affiliate, created a full studio set at FanFest and broadcasted live every day of the event for more than 15 hours of live coverage. The station did a special 90-minute preview show and featured “Hot Seat” interviews with 15 of the top senior competitors aired throughout the week and on the JumboTron at the primary arena.
National media coverage was strong for this post-Olympic year as well, as more than 20 major daily newspapers sent writers, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Tribune, Detroit Free Press, Denver Post, San Diego Union-Tribune and more. U.S. Figure Skating’s IceNetwork.com featured free behind-the-scenes broadband coverage of the event for the first time, including airing press conferences in their entirety.
The 2008 U.S. Championships will be held in St. Paul, Minn., Jan. 20-27, 2008.
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