Fifty-six athletes will compete at 2020 Guaranteed Rate Skate America, the first event of the 2020 International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, Oct. 22-24, at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Due to the impact of COVID-19, the ISU Council determined that the Grand Prix Series would be staged as domestically run events with participants at each event limited to athletes from the host country, training in the host country or in the respective geographical area. This season only, competitors will be ranked based on their total score at a Grand Prix Series event.
The event will be headlined by Team USA’s two-time reigning World champion Nathan Chen, 2020 U.S. silver medalist Mariah Bell, reigning U.S. pairs champion Alexa Knierim with her new partner Brandon Frazier, and reigning Skate America ice dance champions Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue. 2018 Olympians Bradie Tennell, Karen Chen and Vincent Zhou will also compete at The Orleans Arena. Past Skate America titlists include Chen, Hubbell and Donohue, 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 Team USA delegation includes 48 skaters.
Live coverage of 2020 Guaranteed Rate Skate America kicks off in primetime on NBCSN on Friday, Oct. 23 (8 p.m. – midnight ET), continues on NBC on Saturday, Oct. 24 (3-6 p.m. ET) and concludes in primetime on Saturday, Oct. 24 (9 p.m. – midnight ET) back on NBCSN. The entire event will also be available live and on-demand on NBC Universal’s digital streaming platform Peacock Premium. Terry Gannon will handle play-by-play responsibilities for the competition and will be joined by 1998 Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski and three-time U.S. champion Johnny Weir for the ladies, men’s, and pairs events. Gannon will be joined by 2006 Olympic silver medalist Tanith White for the ice dance competition.
The U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone Ice Desk will stream live from Las Vegas on the U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone. Rusty Kath will host the coverage with analysts Mirai Nagasu (2018 Olympic bronze medalist) and Joel Savary (coach, choreographer and author). A full streaming schedule can be found here.
In addition to Ice Desk, U.S. Figure Skating is providing the 2020 Guaranteed Rate Skate America Virtual Fan Experience to help fans feel close to the action from home. The site offers everything Skate America, from the full event schedule presented by Toyota, Ice Desk coverage, giveaways and more. Fans can even get a taste of The Orleans Arena with the Home Ice presented by HomeLight section offering recipes from past and present Team USA skaters that fans can create from the comfort of their own home. Once the competition starts, fans can also get an inside look at the fan cutouts cheering on Team USA in Vegas with the Fan Cam presented by GEICO.
Follow along this week on Fan Zone’s competition central.
NBC/NBCSN TV Schedule
All times Eastern; check local listings. Subject to change.
Friday, Oct. 23 | 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. | NBCSN (Live)
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 3-6 p.m. | NBC (Live)
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 9 p.m. - 12 a.m. | NBCSN (Live
Peacock Premium Streaming Schedule
All times Eastern. Subject to change.
Thursday, Oct. 22 | Official Practice | Begins at 1pm
Friday, Oct. 23 | Ladies Short Program | 7:06 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 23 | Men's Short Program | 8:56 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 23 | Pairs Short Program | 10:46 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 23 | Rhythm Dance | 11:25 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24 | Ladies Free Skate | 1:59 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24 | Men's Free Skate | 4:03 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24 | Pairs Free Skate | 8:43 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24 | Free Dance | 10:17 p.m.
Ice Desk Schedule
All times Eastern. Subject to change.
Day 1 Preview | 6:40 p.m.
Day 1 Recap | 10:25 p.m.
Day 2 Preview | 1:35 p.m.
Day 2 Midday Recap | 8:15 p.m.
