Welcome Skating Performance by the Capital Region’s Houstonettes Exhibition Team
RoAnn M. Destito, New York State Office of General Services (OGS) Commissioner, today announced that 2011 U.S. champion and three-time collegiate champion figure skater Ryan Bradley will make a special appearance at the Empire State Plaza Ice Rink from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, February 10.
Bradley’s appearance coincides with Hannaford Free Skate Rental Fridays. Each Friday of the season, skate rentals at the Empire State Plaza ice rink are free, courtesy of Hannaford Supermarkets. Admission to the ice rink is free and open to the public.
“I am very pleased to be welcoming another champion figure skater to the Empire ‘Skate’ Plaza and hope Ryan Bradley will serve as inspiration to all the young athletes who dream of competing on the ice,” said Commissioner Destito. “Adding Bradley to the growing list of amazing skaters who have visited the Plaza Ice Rink such as U.S. champion Johnny Weir and Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes, has helped OGS to meet Governor Cuomo’s longstanding priority to make better use of public facilities. I want to thank Hannaford Supermarkets and all our other Winter at the Plaza sponsors for making that possible.”
“Hannaford is thrilled to welcome figure skater Ryan Bradley to the Capital Region. His skill and expertise will undoubtedly inspire another generation of figure skaters to enjoy this timeless winter activity,” said Hannaford Supermarkets Community Relations Specialist Brian Fabre. “We look forward to welcoming Capital Region families onto the ice to take advantage of this amazing opportunity to join a true champion on the rink.”
Bradley thought his competitive skating career had come to a close in 2010 when an injured foot landed him in 18th place at the World Championships in Torino. He surprised many when he arrived at the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Greensboro, N.C. and became the overnight leader with a dominating short program and an incredible quadruple jump. In the free skate, Bradley scored enough points to secure his first U.S. title in 11 trips to the national championships.
After retiring from competitive skating in 2012, Bradley was able to realize a lifelong dream when he joined the 2012 Stars on Ice cast. This year marks Ryan’s sixth year touring the United States and Japan with Stars on Ice. Ryan has also been headliner of “Sun Valley On Ice” and performed with the renowned Ice Theatre of New York shows. Ryan has also enjoyed his new role commentating for NBC and conducting behind-the-scenes interviews at the past several U.S. Championships.
Schedule for the free event presented by Hannaford Supermarkets:
1:00 to 2:00 – Ice rink closed for maintenance – PLEASE NOTE SPECIAL TIME
2:00 – Welcoming remarks
2:05 – Performance by The Houstonettes from the Hudson Mohawk Figure Skating Club
2:15 – Skating demonstration and remarks by Ryan Bradley
2:15 to 4:00 – Public skate with Ryan Bradley
4:30 to 5:30 – Ice rink closed for maintenance – PLEASE NOTE SPECIAL TIME
General Rink Information
- Hours: Every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., weather dependent. The rink will be closed daily from 3 to 4 p.m. for maintenance.
- Cost to Skate: Free
- Skate Rental: $3 for children 12 and under and $4 for adults. A photo ID is required to rent skates. Every Friday is free skate rental Friday courtesy of Hannaford Supermarkets.
- Amenities: A full-service snack bar open Friday nights and weekends and a skate lounge with lockers for personal items are located on the Plaza level.
Paid visitor parking is available in the V-lot under the Empire State Plaza. Free parking in the East Garage on Philip Street off Madison Avenue is available after 5 p.m.
For information about Winter at the Plaza events, including directions, parking, and ground rules, visit www.ogs.ny.gov. For additional updates, visit Empire State Plaza Events on Facebook, follow @plazaevents on Twitter, or call (518) 474-4759.
Winter at the Plaza sponsors include I Love NY, Hannaford Supermarkets, BlueShield of Northeastern New York, Albany Renaissance Hotel, NYSUT, CDTA, Albany Jewish Community Center, GEICO, Orange Motors, SEFCU, Hudson Valley Community College, Stewart’s, El Mariachi, Albany.com, Alloveralbany.com, Times Union, PYX 106, and 99.5 The River.
About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 179 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Hannaford employs more than 27,000 associates. Additional information can be found at www.hannaford.com.