June 6, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jason Sands, Evansville Sports Corporation
Cell: 219-746-2481, jsands@evansvillesportscorp.org
10th Annual National Theatre On Ice Competition Coming to Evansville
1,700+ skaters to compete in U.S. Figure Skating sanctioned national
Evansville, IN – The Evansville Sports Corporation and the Greater Evansville Figure Skating Club have been awarded the 2017 National Theatre On Ice Competition. The event is scheduled for June 21-25 and will take place at The Ford Center with practice ice at Swonder Ice Arena. This national event is expected to bring more than 4,500 total visitors to the area and book in excess of 5,500 total hotel rooms in Evansville and surrounding communities.
“We are extremely honored that US Figure Skating has chosen Evansville as the host for this prestigious event and we are excited about the opportunity to show their participants, families and officials how our community pulls together to host spectacular events,” said Jason Sands, Executive Director of the Evansville Sports Corporation.
Theatre On Ice is a form of competitive figure skating that combines figure skating with theater and dance while incorporating music, choreography, costumes and emotion to play out a story. The programs and competitions are judged by U.S. Figure Skating judges.
The national event was secured through an extensive bid process that was coordinated by the Evansville Sports Corporation, the Greater Evansville Figure Skating Club, the River City Ice Theatre Team and Swonder Ice Arena with the cooperation of several other groups. It is expected to be the single biggest sporting event Evansville has ever hosted.
“Evansville had an impressive bid highlighting excellent facilities. We are excited to be working with them and have no doubt they’ll put on a great 2017 National Theatre On Ice competition,” said Lauren Whittaker, the National Vice Chair Theatre On Ice for U.S. Figure Skating.
2017 is a monumental year for the National Theatre On Ice Competition as it marks the 10th year for the figure skating competition. Previous National Theatre On Ice Competitions have been held in cities such as Birmingham, AL; Cape Cod, MA; Dearborn, MI and Troy, OH.
Danielle Crook, General Manager of Swonder Ice Arena said, “When River City Ice Theatre was created, we hoped that it would provide an opportunity to allow skaters of various ages and levels to skate together and increase retention within the sport of figure skating.” She continued, “We soon realized that participating in theatre on ice was one of the best decisions we would make as a club. Years later, we not only feel proud to be a part of the ice theatre community but are humbled to host such an outstanding event.”
Hotel rooms for the event were coordinated through the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau and South Shore Housing Authority. For more information on the 10th Annual National Theatre On Ice Competition, contact Jason Sands, Executive Director of the Evansville Sports Corporation or visit: http://2017nationaltoi.com/.
