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MGHA Classic 2010: Frequently Asked Questions

Posted January 17, 2010 - 6:07pm
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Map of the Madison area and MGHA Classic points of interest

Rink Information

  • Capital Ice Arena has two ice sheets (we will use both for the tournament)
  • Location: Capital Ice Arena, 2616 Pleasant View Rd, Middleton, WI (map)
  • Gear Storage: Gear may be stored in a secure location at the rink.
  • Skate Sharpening/Pro Shop: There is an on-site pro shop that will have skate sharpening available.

Registration

  • How do I register? Fill out the registration form and complete the check-out and payment process.
  • Which division should I play in? For assistance on deciding which division, answer the skills self assessment on the registration form. Players selecting the first three options for most of the areas are best suited for the Recreational division. Those answering the fourth and fifth or on the strong side of the third are best suited for the Competitive Division. We will review every player's skills self-assessment and if we think a division change may be necessary, we will contact you.

Hotels

Group rates are available at the Hilton Garden Inn near the rink. Phone: 608-831-2220 for reservations. The rate for a room with two queen beds is $109/night (plus tax) including breakfast for up to four guests. Single king bed rate is $89/night (plus tax) including breakfast for two guests.

There are a number of hotels in downtown Madison.

General Madison Information

Getting to and from Madison

  • Madison is about 75 miles from Milwaukee, 150 from Chicago (136 from O'Hare airport), 260 from the Twin Cities and 1074km (664 mi) from Toronto. The drive times are approximately 1 hour, 3 (2+), 4.5, and 10 hours respectively.
  • Where do I fly to? Flights to Madison (MSN) have become much more comparable to, if not better than those of both O'Hare and Milwaukee lately. As of the end of 2009, round trip flights to MSN for the weekend of the tournament from LAX, LGA, and YYZ were $250, $175 (nonstop), $497. From O'Hare, the prices were $309, $173, $359. Delta/Northwest flies via Detroit and Minneapolis. United flies to Madison from Chicago O'Hare and Denver. American flies via Chicago O'Hare. Other airlines fly via smaller hubs.

Getting around Madison

  • Should I drive? Whether you drive from your city or fly into Madison, it is recommended to get a car. The rink is 9 miles from the Capitol/Downtown and several of the gay bars are not within walking distance of downtown/hotels. All major car rental companies have airport pickup. Free parking is somewhat abundant as well as many inexpensive parking ramps.
  • There are three cab companies in Madison. It is easier and quicker to call a cab than hail one. Union Cab (608 242-2000) and Madison Taxi (608 255-8294) both have rather fast service (generally pick up within 5-10 minutes anytime before bar time). Badger Cab (608 256-5566) is a ride share cab company and can sometimes take longer. Cab fares from the west side to downtown will be rather high, but both Union and Madison Taxi charge the same fare regardless of the number of passeners.
  • Public transportation is available, but not very efficient for the tournament locations, nor necessary to use especially with a car.
  • Geography: Madison is on an isthmus, located between Lake Mendota (the big lake forming the Northwestern border of the Isthmus) and Lake Monona (the smaller lake forming the Southeastern border of the Isthmus). The streets on the Isthmus run in a grid pattern from Southwest to Northeast. At the Eastern edge of campus, the grid turns to follow cardinal directions. State Street is the main commercial street of downtown and runs West from the State Capitol to the start of the University of Wisconsin Madison campus. The Capitol can be used to orient oneself as each of the wings faces a cardinal direction. The Statue faces East towards the nation's capitol. North, South, East and West addresses originate at the Capitol and run along Washington Avenue (East/West) and Wisconsin Avenue (North)/Martin Luther King Drive(South).

Other things to do in the Madison area

If you want to visit for a few extra days, there is a lot to do and see in the Madison area. See the Convention and Vistors Bureau Vistors page for some ideas.