Although 2020 Skate America® will not have spectators sitting in the stands, competitors will still get to see the faces of their friends, family, and for the first time ever, their pets, smiling back at them from the stands.
U.S. Figure Skating's Virtual Event Program allows fans to purchase cutouts in their likeness to be displayed in the first five rows of The Orleans Arena during the 2020 Skate America® competition Oct. 22-24 in Las Vegas. All net proceeds from the sale of the virtual fan cutouts benefit the U.S. Figure Skating Memorial Fund. Since its inception in 1961, the Memorial Fund has provided more than $20 million in financial support to thousands of skaters, providing monetary assistance for training and tuition assistance for athletes attending institutions of higher education.
Alexa Knierim, 2018 Olympian and three-time U.S. pairs champion, is one of several athletes that will have a support network of cutouts of seated in the stands. Included in her virtual cheering section are her husband and former pairs partner Chris Knierim, her mom Tina and her niece Lucy. She also added in a special guest for her new partner Brandon Frazier, who will have his brand new puppy Chowder watching him from the stands.
Another familiar face you can expect to see in the virtual crowd is 2010 Olympian and two-time U.S. pairs silver medalist Mark Ladwig.
"Since retiring, I regularly attend Skate America® and U.S. Championships," Ladwig said. "With everything going on, this is my way to show support of the skaters. They are facing challenges on so many fronts and I hope seeing my face makes them smile and know I'm there in spirit (and cutout)."
Many dedicated figure skating fans and past Skate America® attendees saw the Virtual Fan Program as an opportunity to show their unwavering support for U.S. Figure Skating and Team USA athletes. Claudyne Hutchinson, owner of Silver Blade Tour and a long-time member of Friends of Figure Skating, is a familiar face at many U.S. Figure Skating events. Hutchinson, along with several past Skate America attendees, purchased virtual fan cutouts within 48-hours of the Virtual Fan Program announcement and are part of the Blue Scarf Group seated in the stands. Hutchinson is excited about being part of the virtual crowd and hopes that skaters will recognize their faces in the stands.
"Some of us wear blue scarves to different skating events and have met [the athletes] at Skate America," said Hutchinson. "Even though there is no audience, I think the skaters will appreciate seeing familiar faces in the crowd of fan cut outs!"
Hutchinson's sentiment is representative of the driving force behind the Virtual Fan Program and the reason why the staff at U.S. Figure Skating chose to integrate virtual fan cutouts into the plan for 2020 Skate America®.
"This program will allow that powerful bond between fans and skaters to continue to flourish and will give our skaters a sense of calm as they take the ice knowing how much their fans miss and support them." U.S. Figure Skating Chief Marketing Officer Ramsey Baker said. Baker and the staff at U.S. Figure Skating look forward to seeing the reactions from the competitors.
Don't miss out on your chance to participate. Use the links below to learn more.
Learn more about the Virtual Fan Program
FAQs about the Program
