Spokane to host U.S. Figure Skating Nationals

Spokane's selection to host the U.S. figure skating trials for the Vancouver Olympics finally gives the state of Washington a concrete connection to the games being held by its northern neighbor.

Spokane will host the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships for 11 days, from Jan. 14-24, which will conclude just 18 days before the Olympics begin 400 miles to the northwest.

"Today Spokane made the Olympic team," said Toby Steward of Star USA, whose company won the bid for Spokane.

Spokane set an attendance record when it hosted this event in 2007, and the warm welcome extended to the skaters then was a big factor in Monday's announcement that the city would host again.

"The fans were absolutely incredible in Spokane," two-time U.S. champion Evan Lysacek said. "Everywhere we went, people were talking about skating - we felt like rock stars."

Vancouver is just north of the border with Washington, and many U.S. travelers to the games will drive through the state. But Washington has so far been slow to capitalize on its proximity.

Gov. Chris Gregoire hailed the choice after Spokane beat cities like Portland, Ore., San Jose, Calif., and Providence, R.I.

"Figure skaters from across the nation will compete in Spokane for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating team, putting a national spotlight on Spokane and Washington state," she said.

"This will bring Spokane international attention and it will give people who live here an opportunity of a lifetime to save up money and attend one of these great skating events," said Mayor Mary Verner.

The event, held annually since 1914, is the nation's most prestigious figure skating event. It attracts more than 1,500 figure skating athletes, coaches and officials to the host city.

"There is huge support for this event from the city of Spokane that goes well beyond the figure skating community," said U.S. Figure Skating president Ron Hershberger. "The enthusiasm we experienced in 2007 certainly proved that Spokane can host a truly outstanding event."

The U.S. Championships annually attract more than 1,500 athletes, coaches and officials to the host city.

Steward and his wife, Barb Beddor, operate Star USA, which has promoted sporting events throughout the Northwest. They were able to sell a record 154,893 tickets to the 2007 championships.

The 2010 skating event will be three times as big as the one in 2007, spread over more days with more national attention, Beddor said. NBC will provide more than 10 hours of live coverage of the event from the Spokane Arena.

The Spokane Public Facilities District estimated close to $1 million in tax revenue flowed into Spokane County in January 2007.

Spokane, located about 270 miles east of Seattle, is the second-largest city in the state with about 200,000 residents.

Tickets go on sale May 31.

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