ARLINGTON, Va. — A special figure skating event is set to take place in Washington, D.C., in early March, aimed at supporting those affected by the tragic midair collision that occurred near Ronald Reagan International Airport.
The event, titled “Legacy on Ice,” will happen on March 2 at the Capital One Arena, which serves as the home venue for both the NBA’s Wizards and the NHL’s Capitals. This somber occasion arises following the devastating news that 28 individuals from the figure skating community were among the 67 lives lost in the incident involving an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight that ultimately crashed into the Potomac River on January 29.
Ted Leonsis, the chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, spoke during a video conference, expressing this event as a powerful chance for emotional expression. “This has struck so many different people around Washington, D.C., in a very, very emotional way. We really want to make a platform for the entire extended community to come together,” he remarked.
Figure skating is particularly linked to this tragic event because many of the victims had just participated in a development camp following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. Collaborating on this tribute are Monumental Sports, U.S. Figure Skating, the DC Fire & EMS Foundation, and the Greater Washington Community Foundation.
Samuel Auxier, the interim CEO of U.S. Figure Skating, expressed gratitude for the support from the organizing team, emphasizing the importance of focusing the skating community on the healing process. “This will be a real highlight of getting this moving forward,” he said.
Renowned Olympic figure skater Brian Boitano is set to co-host the fundraiser. Performances will showcase notable talents, including 2024 world champion Ilia Malinin and two-time U.S. champion Amber Glenn, alongside other prominent figures in the skating world such as Tara Lipinski, Johnny Weir, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Scott Hamilton. Involvement is expected from members of the Skating Club of Boston as well as those from Northern Virginia and Washington, all organizations that felt the impact of the tragedy.
Michael Burg, an executive producer with a history of supporting figure skating-related benefits, reflected on the significance of the event. “It just triggered within me… we needed to do something,” he stated, drawing parallels between this tragedy and other past disasters requiring community support.
The two-hour event aims to raise funds for several support initiatives, including the U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund, the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s DCA Together Relief Fund, and the DC Fire & EMS Foundation.
Amy Mauro, executive director of the DC Fire and EMS Foundation, highlighted the potential healing it could offer to first responders who assisted during the emergency, noting the importance of connecting them with the families of the victims they tried to save.
Organizers are focusing on minimizing costs through in-kind donations to ensure that the event serves both as a fundraiser and a communal gathering to foster healing. “We all need a lot of support right now,” Leonsis stated, voicing hope for a successful fundraising effort. “At the end of the day, we not only want to be able to collectively bring all of the voices of all of the people affected, but we need to be able to raise a lot of dollars to help ease some of the pain.”
Additionally, a correction has been issued—an update on the number of figure skating community members lost, increasing from an initial estimate of 14 to 28.
