Tickets Now on Sale for 2005 Marshalls U.S. Figure Skating Challenge, March 29 in Tampa, Florida
 |
| Michelle Kwan Photo by Paul Harvath |
(2/21/05) — Tickets are now on sale for the 2005 Marshalls U.S. Figure Skating Challenge taking place March 29, 2005, in Tampa, Fla. Confirmed to compete in the event are five-time World and nine-time U.S. champion Michelle Kwan, 2004 World silver medalist Sasha Cohen, and two-time U.S. champion Johnny Weir.
The event will showcase the best figure skaters in the United States competing head-to-head at the St. Pete Times Forum at 7 p.m. Scheduled to compete at the event are the top ladies and men's finishers from the 2005 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships (see below for complete roster). Many skaters, including Kwan, Cohen and Weir, will compete at the Marshalls Challenge immediately following the 2005 World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, Russia, March 14-20.
Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.com and the St. Pete Times Forum Box Office at 813.301.2500.
At the Marshalls U.S. Figure Skating Challenge skaters will compete for $200,000 of prize money, part of a first-time $600,000 pot up for grabs at three linked events throughout the 2004-2005 season. The introduction of prize money marks an investment by U.S. Figure Skating to increase the level of competition and intensity at the events. Prize money will be allocated to the top six finishers in ladies and the top six finishers in men's:
First Place — $50,000
Second Place — $25,000
Third Place — $15,000
Fourth Place — $5,000
Fifth Place — $3,000
Sixth Place — $2,000
The other two events that awarded $200,000 were the Campbell's International Figure Skating Classic in St. Paul, Minn., on Oct. 1, 2004; and the Marshalls World Cup of Figure Skating in Auburn Hills, Mich., on Dec. 3, 2004. Kwan and Timothy Goebel won the grand prize in Minnesota, while Russians Evgeny Plushenko and Irina Slutskaya won in Michigan.
Also appearing at the Marshalls Challenge will be U.S. pairs champions Katie Orscher & Garrett Lucash and U.S. ice dancing champions Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto. Both teams will perform an exhibition in between the men's and ladies competitions.
The event will be nationally broadcast by ABC Sports on April 16 from 4-6 p.m. EST. Times are subject to change; check your local listings.
Scheduled to Compete
Ladies
Sasha Cohen
Emily Hughes
Jennifer Kirk
Michelle Kwan
Beatrisa Liang
Kimmie Meissner
Men
Timothy Goebel
Evan Lysacek
Shaun Rogers
Matt Savoie
Johnny Weir
TBD
Exhibitions
Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto
Katie Orscher & Garrett Lucash
