- Joined
- Apr 1, 2014
Here is my two cents. In the golden age of figure skating, I think the public's view of the sport was this:
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/97/29/aa/9729aa6f9f11363991e28266a47f89c3--ice-skaters-vintage-posters.jpg
Men's figure skating?
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f1/89/eb/f189ebbf053b513c496dc7e6cefacd5e.jpg
(Don't laugh. Mr. Frick and Mr. Frack are both in the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.)
As for men's costumes, who wants to watch a man skating at all, no matter what he has on (except for comic relief).
Personally, I don't think figure skating will ever have the mass appeal it once did no matter what we do. Cultural tastes evolve. We are no longer so much into beauty contests and Las Vegas girly shows as we once were.
As for sponsorships, the last U.S. figure skater who had any cachet with the great unwashed public (especially with children) was Michelle Kwan. She had many sponsorships. The three biggest in terms of money (besides the USFSA/ABC TV) were Disneyland, Coca-cola and Chevrolet, all over a million dollars.
I think figure skating has the potential to gain appeal the way that has in Japan, and the way it used to be in North America, in many new markets: South Korea and China are both up-and-coming regions for the sport. I think the ISU should focus on these new markets (which haven't developed the same stereotypes of the sport as North America and are "fresher" so to say). Instead of trying so hard to chase the past.
Unfortunately, I can see them doing the opposite.