COLUMBUS (January 27, 2023) – Columbus will host the U.S. Figure Skating Championships for the first time in 2024.
The Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships will take place Jan. 22-28, 2024 at Nationwide Arena with OhioHealth Chiller North hosting the High-Performance National Development Camp. The seven-day event will help determine national champions across several skating disciplines while showcasing talent that competes on the world stage.
“We are excited to bring the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and High-Performance Development Camp to Columbus for the first time in 2024,” Greater Columbus Sports Commission CEO & President Linda Logan said. “Hosting the championships has been a goal for our city since the early days of the Sports Commission. Our local organizing committee and figure skating community is passionate about elevating the profile of this event by creating memorable experiences for athletes, fans and everyone who comes to visit.”
Past U.S. Figure Skating Championships have generated more than $15 million in estimated economic impact in the host market. In recent years, NBC has provided more than 40 hours of live coverage across its networks.
“A sport grows when more people have the chance to see it, to play it, and to experience it,” Logan said. “This is where skaters become stars, and we want to supercharge that experience for U.S. Figure Skating and the Columbus community.”
Three skating clubs operate in Columbus: the Columbus Figure Skating Club (CFSC), the Skating Club of Central Ohio (SCOCO) and the Ohio State Figure Skating Club (OSUFSC). Former Olympians and U.S. Figure Skating Championship alumni with local ties include Livvy Schilling (2020 U.S. Figure Skating Championships), Marcy Hinzmann (2006 Winter Olympics), Aaron Parchem (2006 Winter Olympics), Tatiana Ratchkova (1992 Winter Olympics), Valerie Marcoux-Pavlas (2006 Winter Olympics) and Alexie Mieskoski. Columbus previously hosted the U.S. Figure Skating Annual Meeting in 2016.
“U.S. Figure Skating is thrilled to host this prestigious event for the first time in Columbus,” U.S. Figure Skating Chief Executive Officer Tracy Marek said. “Nationwide Arena offers the unique benefit of housing two rinks under one roof for a seamless transition from practice to competition for our competing athletes. Plus, its central location in downtown Columbus creates an accessible, fan-friendly and energetic atmosphere that will make an exciting destination for competitors, coaches, their families and fans alike.”
Practice sessions for the championships will take place in the OhioHealth Ice Haus. The complete list of qualified athletes to compete at the 2024 U.S. Figure Skating Championships will be announced in the fall of 2023 after all qualifying competitions have been completed.
“As a community asset, Nationwide Arena is thrilled to host the 2024 U.S. Figure Skating Championships,” Columbus Arena Management Chief Operating Officer and Nationwide Arena Senior Vice President Mike Gatto said. “We look forward to hosting this world-class event and once again putting Columbus in the national spotlight.”
Tickets will go on sale this spring. Learn more about the Championships and surrounding events at figureskatingcolumbus.com.
Columbus is a top destination for global sporting events and received SportsTravel magazine’s Sports Event of the Year for its work hosting the 2018 NCAA Women’s Final Four. Other finalists that year included the Super Bowl and the Olympics.