Current and former figure skating stars will unite in Washington D.C. for an event to benefit the families of those who died in the mid-air collision of a commercial jet and Army helicopter last week.
Held at Capital One Arena on March 2, Legacy on Ice will feature a tribute to the 67 people who died on Jan. 30 after American Airlines flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River.
The Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation will collect all proceeds and distribute equally to the U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund, Greater Washington Community Foundation’s “DCA Together Relief Fund,” and DC Fire & EMS Foundation.
With 28 members of the figure skating community on the commercial jet, the impact on the sport spurred an outpouring of support from current and former champions who will take part in the tribute.
Current stars Ilia Malinin and Amber Glenn will join Olympic champions Tara Lipinski, Kristi Yamaguchi and Scott Hamilton among several skaters performing during the tribute. Brian Boitano, 1988 Olympic gold medalist, will host, and more skaters are expected to be announced to the program.
“Our skaters immediately responded that they wanted to be part of this,” said Samuel Auxier, board president and interim CEO of U.S. Figure Skating. “Even some of our former Olympic skaters want to be part of this. They’re looking for a way that they can contribute to the relief fund and to help these families, and they were on board immediately.”
Monumental Sports & Entertainment is donating all services and event costs. Entertainment Gang will produce the show, which aims to bring together the artistry and athleticism of the skaters in remembrance for those lost.
In the week since the crash, the impact has been felt globally and hit home in Washington.
“This is a platform to be able to let people emote, and it’s also a way for us to activate deeper ties into the community,” said Ted Leonsis, chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “This has struck so many different people around Washington, D.C. in a very emotional way.
“I never want us to lose sight though that while this will be a big-time event, this is very personal family tragedies,” he added. “We’re going to convene and be a gathering place and allow people to express. They’re still in grief, still in deep sorrow.”
The American Airlines flight had 60 passengers and four crew, and three crew were aboard the Army helicopter. First responders have recovered remains from all victims.
The victims included 11 young skaters who were returning from a national development camp in Wichita, Kansas, that was held after the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Four coaches and 13 family members died in the crash.
More than 100 rinks participated in a moment of silence together on Monday, and tributes have continued to pour in.
Legacy on Ice will help mark another step in the grieving process, Auxier said, and bring the community together to support the loved ones of all crash victims and first responders.
“They just wanted to express the sympathy and grief and share that, and we find that that’s across the country and around the world,” he said.
Members of local skating clubs will take part in the tribute, along with the Skating Club of Boston, which lost six members of its community.
All Washington pro sports teams are participating to honor the victims and first responders.
Tickets go on sale Monday on the Capital One Arena Ticketmaster site. More skaters are expected to be announced to the program.
Entertainment Gang executive producer Mike Burg said the program is being created to honor the victims and first responders.
“Our goal as producers is to poetically through the vision of ice skating, to really pay tribute to everybody across the board,” he said.
SBJ and Monumental Sports and Entertainment are partners on a monthly television show, “SBJ: Inside the Industry,” that airs on MSN.
