Continue posting your comments and ideas here, and periodically I'll summarize the list of people going and any important information that has come up since my last summary. That way people won't have to worry about missing anything.TIME FOR AN UPDATE: SEE AN IMPORTANT 'HEADS UP' IN THE HOTEL SECTION!!!I'VE NOTED 'NEW INFO' UNDER EACH SUBJECT...THE YAHOO GROUP: (Much the same info, but in case I miss anything)
sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/SaltLakeCityShortTrackEvents-07-08/ ----------------------------------
NOTABLE WEBSITESwww.utah.com/lodging/saltlakecity.htm - hotel info
www.saltlakecity.com - visitor info
www.rideuta.com - public transportation - Click on *route finder* on the left column... that takes you to a page which shows:
UTA System MapsNEW INFO:
www.usspeedskating.org/ - event info
www.olyparks.com/UOO/Events.asp - event info
(if any of these links don't work, please PM me)
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HOTELSI still need to check out the hotels that Toehold, Floridafan and Lily mentioned (see my previous update), and I'm soooo sorry that I haven't yet... and I WILL! But I'd appreciate any info y'all dig up on that...
NEW INFO:
I called both the Red Lion and the Little America (they were listed as the 'official' hotels for the Long Track WC in November) - The
Red Lion confirmed that they are the official hotel for the World Cup in Feb, but they are unaware of the Dec event - the Little America is unaware of EITHER event. My guess is that since the Nationals are only for U.S. athletes, and most of those U.S. athletes already live in the SLC area, there may be no need for an 'official' hotel for the Dec event.
The Red Lion is a 'large-scale' hotel, with dining and full facilities, rated '3 diamonds' per AAA. The Little America is a '4 diamond', but more expensive, and roughly the same area.
HEADS UP I just found out tonight that the Red Lion has a special rate of $89 per night for the
Feb World Cup - ask for the Short Track Special. This rate is better than the Group Rate I was quoted earlier today. They have a free shuttle to/from the airport. The hotel assured me that we're not taking rooms from skaters, 'cause rooms have already been blocked for them. Keep in mind, though, that the 'skaters' we're talking about are most likely the international competetors, NOT the U.S. athletes (just a guess, 'cause most of our U.S. athletes are living in the SLC area). I WENT ON AHEAD AND MADE A RESERVATION AT THE RED LION FOR THURS THRU SAT NIGHT - I JUST DID IT TONIGHT, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT ROOMS ARE GETTING SCARCE. If you find something better you can cancel by 4pm the date of check-in. Personally, I'm
very excited about this option for the Feb event...
For the Dec event, I was quoted a group rate of $104 from the Red Lion, for single or double occupancy (1 king or 2 queens). But that requires at least 10 committed rooms. If we don't have enough for a group rate, the AAA rate is $118 (Thurs) - $100 (Fri-Sat) for a standard room. For a view room (w/balcony) it's $131 (Thurs) - $113 (Fri-Sat)
There is a brand-new Hilton Garden Inn across the street from the Red Lion - a guy from the Yahoo Group works there. He quoted $79 per night. I have an E-mail in to him for more details (i.e., are those rates for Feb? Dec? Airport shuttle? Group rates?) This might be an option if Red Lion fills up for Feb, and it might be an option for Dec.
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GROUND TRANSPORTATION: Lily had a good suggestion - let's check out public transportation links to/from airport, hotels, Oval, just in case the weather's crappy (see the rideuta.com link above). If the forecast is good, we should be able to rent cars at the last minute, and if it's bad, we can opt for the public transportation (which is crap, per my info) or cabs.
I looked back at info from last year's Nationals... there was a shuttle that ran from the 'official' hotels to the venue (see 'HOTELS' above for my thoughts the 'official' hotel) - they asked that spectators allow competetors, officials and volunteers to board buses first - I wonder if they are going to have the same options in SLC? The Red Lion says there ARE shuttle arrangements for the skaters, etc, but obviously we can't count on it being available to us as well.
NEW INFO: Per several hotels I called - public transportation to the Oval is 'horrible at best' - from ANYWHERE.
Cab fare is estimated to be about $40 each way from downtown hotels. Other than cab-sharing (maybe a minivan-type cab that can carry a few more people), I don't know what options there are if weather is bad and we don't have our own cars.
TRAX runs too far east, and the bus route is said to be too far away from the TRAX route to make an easy connection. In my last update, Lily said there appears to be a bus route that goes right by the OVAL,
route #348, which also goes near the SLC airport and also downtown to Temple Square (for sight-seeing).
Does anybody know if this is the same bus # the whole way? Or would we have to transfer?I've also gotten some info that the area around the Kearns Oval can be dicey with regard to safety. If that's true, we may want to take that into consideration if we need to walk to bus stops, etc.
There is a 'free zone' with TRAX in the city center, and the Red Lion & Hilton Garden Inn are within 1-1/2 blocks of the Free Zone. This means that there's no fee for the transport. This gives access to shopping and downtown sightseeing. I'm told by the Red Lion that the walk to TRAX is quite safe.
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WILL APOLO SKATE?I know that many of you are interested in seeing Apolo skate. I just want to remind you that we DON'T know if he is competing in either of these events. If the Long-Track WC is any indication, the PRELIMINARY roster isn't due 'till 2 weeks prior to the competition, and the FINAL roster isn't due 'till even later...but consider this:
A) No one I've ever known has been disappointed by attending a ST event, even if Apolo isn't competing. It's an exciting sport, and there are tremendous athletes competing from different countries, many of whom WILL be medalists in the next Olympics. Apolo has given his heart and energy to bringing attention to his sport, and we would honor
him by honoring his teammates, even if he's not competing... BONUS: We'd get to (finally) meet each other!
B) Since Apolo LIVES in SLC, it would be reasonable to think that he would be
attending one or both of these events in support of the US and his teammates. It might be a great opportunity for people to see him when he's not in 'competition mode'. However (as Ms. Lily wisely advised me), if he's not competing in Nationals (Dec 21-23), it might be a good excuse to go to Seattle for Christmas - so who knows?
(now see 'C' below)
C) I've heard that Apolo DOES want to compete at the World Championships in March, meaning that he MUST compete at Nationals in SLC (Dec) to qualify...so - again - who knows?
We'll get info to you as soon as possible about this, but keep in mind that delaying your travel plans could mean higher prices and limited lodging availability...
NEW INFO: Sorry, nothing...
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TICKETS:VIP Tickets: Last year at Nationals in Cleveland they offered VIP tickets ($150), all-inclusive for all sessions, which included preferred seating, VIP hospitality and food, and some other incidentals. Non-VIP seating was no more than about $35 for an entire day. Something in my memory banks says there was also an opportunity to purchase tickets to the banquet that the skaters attended - I don't remember if this was for the Nationals or the World Cup - anybody know for sure?
Word from the Oval is that for the Long-Track event in November there is a sponsor who picked up the tab for the event, and as a result, general admission is free. It's not known if the same thing will happen for the ST events...but cross your fingers.
NEW INFO: Nothing.
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
NEW INFO:December Nationals:According to what Lily was told over the phone, they hope to have the races over by 1pm. on Sunday. If you're booking flights, though, it would be wise to schedule as late in the day as is comfortable. You'll want to be there for the medal ceremonies, won't you?
As for Friday and Saturday, count on a full day of racing - warmups start at 8:30 or 9:30, and races on Saturday start as late as 6pm.
CHECK THE CURRENT SCHEDULE INFO:
usspeedskating.org
...click 'Competitions, Events & Results'
...click 'Event Schedule'
...scroll down to 'December' and see US Senior ST Championships (Dec 21-23)
...click 'Schedule'
Nothing yet on February...---------------------------------------
GROUP DINNER (TIMING)
I still think that since we don't know the event schedule, the best time for that would be the Thursday night before each competition starts, but that would mean everyone would have to be there an extra night. We would need to decide this before people start making their travel arrangements...
NEW INFO Red Lion says there's a sports bar & grill across the parking lot from them called 'Jerseys' that would be great for a group dinner.
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HERE ARE THE RESPONSES I'VE GOTTEN SO FAR:
(I'll put 'firm' by anyone's name who has actually made reservations)
WHICH EVENT?
Mtnme: February
Lori: February (firm) AND 'possibly' December
Lily: February and December (firm)
Skaterswaltz: December
GROUP DINNER:
Mtnme
Lori + (?)husband(?)
Lily + (?)husband(?)
Skaterswaltz
(There are a number of OZ regulars who are committed to one or both events)
IF YOU HAVE PM'D ME ABOUT THIS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO OFFICIALLY ADD YOU. (I don't want to divulge info in PM's without permission)...
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I have gotten a response from Matt Kooreman (event coordinator) from the Oval. Unfortunately, he doesn't yet have any definitive info for us. He said he will contact me as soon as he has info. My questions to him:
1) Public transportation (namely a shuttle from the 'official' hotel)
2) Will there be VIP tickets?
3) What is the registration deadline for skaters, and when will a roster come out?
4) Do you anticipate a shortage of seats in the Oval for this event?
from tomorrow (Tues) thru Sunday. 
from tomorrow (Tues) thru Sunday. 
~Lori
Hey, I'd settle for him to just update his flippin' website! -preferably with a schedule....(tee hee 
- typical male-can't commit...) giggle,giggle,snicker, laugh
