U.S. Figure Skating announced the selection of Orleans Arena in Las Vegas as the host for 2019 Skate America, Oct. 18-20, 2019. The international event will be the first of six stops on the International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.
The competition will mark the first Skate America event to be held in Las Vegas. Orleans Arena, which is adjacent to the Orleans Hotel and Casino, hosts prominent sporting events concerts and other types of performances. Tickets for Skate America will go on sale later this spring.
"U.S. Figure Skating is excited Skate America will head to Las Vegas next season," U.S. Figure Skating Executive Director David Raith said. "We think this will be an outstanding destination for both American and international figure skating fans.”
“The Orleans and Boyd Gaming are excited to host the 2019 Skate America Competition. This continues our proud tradition of hosting Olympic style events, and we cannot wait to have these world class athletes competing in our venue” Rex Berman, Executive Director of the Orleans Arena.
“Las Vegas is excited to add Skate America to our incredible line-up of sporting events,” said Lisa Motley, director of sports marketing and special events for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “We’re happy to welcome some of the world’s greatest skaters to the destination and look forward to showing the sport and its fans an amazing time.”
The event will feature three days of competition in ladies, men's, pairs and ice dance. The field will include 60 competitors, including Olympic- and World-level athletes.
Past Skate America titlists include reigning World champion Nathan Chen, five-time World champion and two-time Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan, and Olympic champions Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton, Evan Lysacek, and Meryl Davis and Charlie White.
The complete list of athletes selected to compete at 2019 Skate America and all other 2019 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events will be announced in June.
Recent Skate America events were held in Hoffman Estates, Illinois (2014 and 2016) and Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2015), Lake Placid, New York (2017), and Everett, Washington (2018).
The 2019 ISU Grand Prix Series will also include stops in Canada, France, China, Russia and Japan. Skaters earn points throughout the Grand Prix Series to qualify for the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final each December. The 2019 Grand Prix Final will be held Dec. 5-8, in Torino, Italy.
For more information about the event and to sign up for ticket updates, please visit
www.2019skateamerica.com.
