Built for the long-track speed skating events at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, the Utah Olympic Oval typically hosts speed skating, figure skating and hockey events on a day-to-day basis. The Oval will again host long-track events for the 2034 Games.
This week, staff are transforming the Oval for competition once more as the season opening ISU long-track speed skating World Cup comes to town. The venue with about a 5,000-person capacity will host 14 different events from Friday to Sunday. The Oval typically hosts either a world-class short or long track event each year.
Olympic Oval General Manager Todd Porter hopes to make the experience as strong as possible for all 340 competing skaters this weekend. He also hopes fans have a great time and learn to love the sport of speed skating ahead of this winter’s Milan Olympics in February, when many of the same skaters will be competing.
“We had a long track event like this two years ago,” Porter said. “Usually here in the United States, the longer distances aren’t as popular, and that’s what’s going on today (Friday). However, with that info, we pushed back those events’ start times from what we’ve normally done on Friday to start at 4 p.m. to hopefully pick up some of that late afternoon, early evening crowd that could get out of work and possibly come over to the event.”
Porter is expecting the largest crowds for the event over the weekend with the shorter-distance events, which has been the case in the past.
“Both of those days should be really exciting,” he said.
Porter also expects big crowds for the U.S. skaters.
“We have 340 athletes here from about 32 different countries,” Porter said. “And, this is an Olympic qualifying event.”
The ice at the Oval has been dubbed “the fastest ice on Earth.” Porter said 10 of 11 long-track distance world records have been set at the rink. He noted that fans should come out to see world records be broken, in addition to cheering on the U.S. and other fan-favorite skaters.
“Since we’ve had a lot of World Cups in past years, people are starting to understand what a World Cup is and what it means to these athletes,” Porter said. “We have seen some good ticket sales on our pre-sales. Utah is usually a big walk-up crowd, and we normally see a few thousand people here.”
Porter said weekend storms could make the ice even faster for the event, due to the low pressure they bring. Porter believes everything from the water used to make the ice, the altitude of Salt Lake City and even the meticulous setup of the facility goes into the record times many skaters set. The Oval tried out the ice last weekend with many skaters who arrived to town early and said they feel everything is “real dialed in.”
“First and foremost for us is that we can put on a race event for the athletes where they have no distractions,” Porter said. “There’s nothing they need to worry about outside of their own performances and getting themselves ready for each race. … Then (it will be a success), if we can have good crowds here to showcase speed skating, get people excited about the sport, the upcoming Olympics and then the Olympics that will be here in 2034.”
The Oval and its staff and volunteers take pride in skaters hitting their personal bests, even if they don’t land on a podium. They believe all the work they do in setting up such events helps these skaters.
“Other than if there’s a surprise in a month or two, which usually there’s not, what you’re going to watch this weekend will be the same athletes that are competing in the Olympics,” Porter said. “These are the top athletes in the world skating these distances this weekend, and there is a very likely possibility that world records will be broken.”
Tickets are still on sale on the Oval’s website, costing $20 for adults ages 13 and up and $15 for kids ages 6 through 12. Premium tickets are also available and prices for all tickets will rise the day of events. Friday’s action will include the women’s 3000m, men’s 5000m and men’s and women’s 1000m races, Saturday’s, the men’s and women’s 500 and 1500m races, and Sunday’s, the men’s and women’s team pursuit, 500m and mass start races. Friday’s competitions will run from 4 to 7:30 p.m., Saturday’s from 12:30 to 3 p.m. and Sunday’s from 1 to 4 p.m.