REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 2014 & 15 U.S. INTERNATIONAL FIGURE SKATING CLASSIC AND U.S. CHALLENGE SKATE CONTACT Bob Dunlop, Senior Director of Events T: (719) 635 5200 E mail: Bdunlop@usfigureskating.org OVERVIEW U.S. Figure Skating, the National Governing Body for figure skating in the United States, is seeking proposals from a local organizing committee (LOC) to partner with U.S. Figure Skating to host the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic, a senior International figure skating competition to be held in 2014 and 2015. The U.S. International Figure Skating Classic and the U.S. Challenge Skate (a domestic Novice and Junior program) may be hosted as a standalone event or as part of an existing annual non qualifying competition. HISTORY U.S. Figure Skating established the event in 2012 to establish an annual international event serving U.S. Figure Skating in a number of key areas including: Increase opportunities for U.S. athletes, coaches and officials to participate in an international event without the expense of international travel. Budget relieving for the U.S. Teams budget as all senior international events are currently conducted overseas. Increase the opportunity for more U.S. athletes to earn ISU World standing points and or seasons best scores Further strengthen international relations with ISU and member nations BID TIMELINE Dec. 1, 2013 RFP distributed Jan. 17, 2014 Response to RFP due to U.S. Figure Skating Jan. 20 Feb. 21, 2014 U.S. Figure Skating reviews proposals to host and confirms details with finalists Week of Feb. 24, 2014 U.S. Figure Skating confirms site for 2014 & 15 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic. March 1, 2014 U.S. Figure Skating submits event date and location to ISU EVENT DATES Due to the annual international competition schedule, the competition dates requested are: September 10 14, 2014 and September 9 13, 2015 Proposals received for dates outside this window may be considered if prior approval is given before final submission. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL Please submit your proposal in electronic form no later than Friday, January 17, 2014 and include the following: Letter of acknowledgement from host club/organization indicating a commitment to comply with all U.S. Figure Skating and ISU requirements as outlined in RFP and subsequent ISU rule changes if required.
Confirmation of dates as listed above for 2014 and 2015. If proposing to attach this event with an existing non qualifying competition, please provide a draft schedule of events showing both international practice/competition and non qualifying events. List key members of LOC who will support event hosting. Provide a draft arena rental agreement indicating confirmation of the following: O Dates and ice surface hours for each day O Hourly rate or total arena rental cost O Arena agreement must include access to use all rooms O Arena agreement must include ability to cover existing rink boards at no cost O Arena agreement must allow Icenetwork.com to cover event at no additional cost O One hard wired internet connection at rink side position for live scoring O Wireless in arena for event needs including LOC, event staff & officials O Allowance to bring in outside food and beverage to feed officials and support event needs. Provide a draft host hotel (Hilton family property preferred) confirming the following: O Dates and proposed room block O Rates and concessions o Meeting rooms registration and hospitality (one night) Proposed entry fee to include one official practice (SP/FS) and 20 minute warm up prior to competition each day for all competitors. Unofficial practice ice sales are available only to the Novice and Junior competitors. Outline additional support (local sponsors, community partners, etc )
EVENT STRUCTURE The U.S. International Figure Skating Classic will include the following: Senior Ladies Maximum of 18 entries Senior Men Maximum of 18 entries Senior Pairs Maximum of 12 teams Senior Ice Dance Maximum of 15 teams The U.S. Challenge Skate will include the following: Junior Ladies Maximum of 12 entries Junior Men Maximum of 12 entries Junior Pairs Maximum of 8 teams Junior Ice Dance Maximum of 10 teams Novice Ladies Maximum of 12 entries Novice Men Maximum of 12 entries Novice Pairs Maximum of 8 teams Novice Ice Dance Maximum of 10 teams U.S. Figure Skating will work with the LOC to manage the following areas: ISU member federation communications (competition announcement & forms). Identification/invitation to required U.S. and international officials. Overall compliance with international Skating Union (ISU) requirements. U.S. Figure Skating will delegate the actual hosting of the event to the local organizing committee with a maximum requirement of two (3) U.S. Figure Skating staff onsite for event assistance. The LOC would be responsible for all event related expenses with the understanding that they would receive 100 percent of the entry fees. REPRESENTATION OF ATHLETES REQUIRED Per ISU Communication 1629, singles events must include a minimum of eight (8) skaters representing four different ISU member countries. The athletes placing 1 5 then qualify for ISU World points towards the ISU s World Rankings. For Pairs, five (5) teams must be represented by three (3) different ISU member nations to qualify for ISU World Standing points to be earned. For Ice Dance, six (6) teams must be represented by four (4) ISU member nations for ISU World Standings points to be earned. ENTRY FEES The LOC in consultation with U.S. Figure Skating will establish the entry fees for all competitors. The entry fee should be calculated to include the following for each discipline: Day One 30 40 min. Official practice session (SP/SD or FS/FD) Day Two 20 min. SP/SD Warm up session and Short Program/Short Dance Competition Day Three 20 min FS warm up session and Free Skate/Free Dance Competition Note: Unofficial practice is not allowed to be offered to senior athletes following registration/or first official practice scheduled.
RESULTS The ISU Judging System as described in ISU Technical Rule Single & Pair Skating 2010, Rule 352 and Rule 353 (Determination and publication of results) will be used. As such, U.S. Figure Skating will supply a mini system free of rental charge with LOC responsible for all shipping costs. ISU WORLD STANDINGS World Standing points will be awarded according to the World Standings Procedure. International Points Available Placement Points 1 st 250 2 nd 225 3 rd 203 4 th 182 5th 164 Assignment of Officials U.S. Figure Skating will work with the LOC to invite international officials to supplement LOC selected Technical Officials (Technical Controller, Technical Specialists, Video/Data Operator) to meet the ISU requirements in hosting an international competition. U.S. Figure Skating will invite such officials based on geographic efficiencies with the desire to identify international judges living in U.S. and Canada. The LOC should include in its proposal to host an outline of officials that maximizes the use of all officials (judges, technical officials, music, announce, etc.) including those assigned by the LOC, U.S. Figure Skating and the attending ISU member federations. It is understood that the invited officials will be expected to work both portions of the event. The LOC understands that all official s expenses are to be treated as an LOC expense. Panel of Judges A panel of five judges will be utilized for each portion of the competition. U.S. Figure Skating will work with the LOC to invite international judges to supplement LOC selected judges to meet the ISU requirements in hosting an international competition. U.S. Figure Skating will invite such judges based on geographic efficiencies with the desire to identify international judges living in U.S. and Canada. U.S. Figure Skating Approval of Technical Aspects As it relates to the Senior International competition, U.S. Figure Skating will work with the LOC to finalize the event announcement, event forms and event schedule to comply with ISU standards and communication requirements. For the U.S. Challenge Skate competition, U.S. Figure Skating s Athlete Development Committee will establish the criteria used to invite the competitors. The LOC is solely responsible for the planning and scheduling of the non qualifying portion of the competition if applicable.
Event Insurance The LOC is responsible at its sole expense to provide the appropriate insurance for all aspects of the events to include, but not limited to, D&O, Liability and any additional certificates of insurance as requested in event agreements (ex. arena, transportation, etc.). Medical Insurance Per ISU Rules, participating ISU members are required to provide medical and accident insurance for their athletes, officials and all other members of the member s team if requested. Awards Medals for place winners 1 3 in each discipline are required and shall be treated as an event expense. U.S. Figure Skating will work with the LOC to design and provide sources for production of the medals. COMMERCIAL RIGHTS U.S. Figure Skating will retain all commercial rights to all aspects of the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic and the U.S. Challenge Skate and such rights shall be the sole property of U.S. Figure Skating, except any rights assigned to the LOC by U.S. Figure Skating. a. Media Rights U.S. Figure Skating owns all rights for any media in any form for the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic and the U.S. Challenge Skate, including but not limited to television, radio, internet, broadcasting, video recording, webcasting, internet hosting, and photography. Any footage recorded may not be broadcast or webcast without prior written approval of U.S. Figure Skating and is subject to the terms and conditions set forth by U.S. Figure Skating. LOC Sponsorship Rights Notwithstanding the national sponsorship rights of U.S. Figure Skating, the LOC has the right to solicit local sponsors for the event in order to offset its expenses for staging the event, subject to U.S. Figure Skating prior approval and the following conditions: i. No local sponsor may be in competition or conflict with U.S. Figure Skating national sponsors or suppliers, unless such local sponsor is pre approved in writing by U.S. Figure Skating. ii. iii. Any local sponsor may only be recognized as a local sponsor of the event and not as a sponsor of U.S. Figure Skating. The placement of any in arena signage for local sponsors must be approved by U.S. Figure Skating in advance to avoid any potential sponsor or broadcast conflicts. U.S. Figure Skating Event Booth U.S. Figure Skating reserves the right to have one information booth onsite at no charge in a mutually agreed location. U.S. Figure Skating Advertisements U.S. Figure Skating reserves the right to supply to the LOC up to five (5) pages of national sponsor advertising, promotional ads and/or editorial content regarding U.S. Figure Skating activities to be
included in the event program at no charge. In addition to the above advertising, an event welcome letter from the President of U.S. Figure Skating will be provided for inclusion in the event program. MEDICAL & ANTI DOPING The LOC will ensure rink side medical coverage for all practice and competition sessions through use of local medical providers to comply with U.S. Figure Skating s Medical Guidelines. Anti Doping Testing is not required in any portion of this event. BUDGET PARAMETERS The LOC will retain all entry fees for the Senior International and as such is responsible for all expenses required to host the event and comply with ISU requirements including, but not limited to the following: Ice Rental/facility rental Ground Transportation o Airport arrivals/departures for officials o Event Shuttle for athletes, coaches and officials Per diem or meals for officials onsite Reimbursement of officials assigned as follows: o Mileage o Parking o Baggage fees o Out of pocket expenses (pre approved) Hotel room costs for officials Miscellaneous costs to include but not limited to: o Medals o Flowers o Shipping of U.S. Figure Skating requested/required equipment o Event signage o Event printing (announcement, signage, banners, etc )
ASSIGNED PERSONNEL EXPENSE CHART Event Staff Hotel Meals/Perdiem *Air Travel U.S. Figure Skating Event Staff (4) Event Officials (music, announce, ice tech) Airport Shuttle Event Shuttle USFSA USFSA USFSA USFSA NA LOC LOC LOC LOC LOC Judges LOC LOC Federation LOC LOC Referees LOC LOC LOC LOC LOC Technical Controllers LOC LOC LOC LOC LOC Technical Specialists LOC LOC LOC LOC LOC Data/Video Operator LOC LOC LOC LOC LOC Athletes On own On own On own On own On own * If applicable and must include baggage fee reimbursement
2014 U.S. INTERNATIONAL FIGURE SKATING & U.S.CHALLENGE SKATE SAMPLE EVENT SCHEDULE Wednesday, September 10 Official practice sessions Referees & Technical Controllers Meeting Initial Judges Meeting Thursday, September 11 Novice Pairs Short Program Novice Ladies Short Program Novice Men s Short Program Senior Pairs Short Program Senior Men s Short Program Friday, September 12 Novice Men s Free Skate Novice Ladies Free Skate Novice Pairs Free Skate Senior Short Dance Senior Ladies Short Program Senior Pairs Free Skate Senior Men s Free Skate Senior Men s & Pairs Awards Judges Round Table Discussion Senior Men & Pairs Saturday, September 13 Junior Ladies Short Program Junior Pairs Short Program Senior Ladies Free Skate Senior Free Dance Senior Dance & Ladies Awards Judges Round Table Discussion Sr. Dance & Sr. Men Sunday, September 14 Novice Free Dance Junior Ladies Free Skate Junior Pairs Free Skate Departures