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The Championships at San Jose's HP Pavilion kicked off earlier this week with novice- and junior-level competitions, but Thursday was the start of the top-level events. Competitors in the ladies', men's, pairs and ice dancing divisions will be on the ice through Sunday.
We're there, along with more than a dozen Omaha officials. Omaha hosts the 2013 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and the officials are learning the ins and outs of running the big event, selling tickets — and the city of Omaha — to skating fans.
Watch for updates at Omaha.com and pick up the Sunday edition of The World-Herald for full coverage.
Buy tickets for next year's 2013 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Omaha.
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SAN JOSE, Calif. — First, the booming voice announces a name.
There's applause that quickly turns into a tense, expectant silence. Then the music kicks in, accompanied by the scratch of metal meeting ice.
Finally there are the telltale signs of skating glory or disaster: a burst of cheers for a well-executed jump, a collective gasp for a particularly spectacular tumble.
It's drama on the ice and on the country's biggest amateur skating stage: the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which wrap up today at San Jose's HP Pavilion.
And for a group of Omahans attending the event, it's been the soundtrack for a sales pitch.
Just outside the arena, members of the local organizing committee for the 2013 Championships — which will be held at the CenturyLink Center Omaha — are reaching out to skating fans, athletes and coaches with a message:
Like what you're seeing in San Jose? Just wait for Omaha.
“We're marketing the sport, the event, Omaha and anything else we can welcome to our community,” said Lori Moehn, co-chairman of the Omaha event.
After finding success as the host of major sporting events such as the College World Series and the Olympic Swim Trials, the city is gearing up to host its first major winter sporting event since 1967. It will run from Jan. 20 through 27.
Members of several groups in Omaha have been working on the event for months, and most of the big details are already ironed out. They know where people will stay, what the ice will look like, where the TV cameras will go.
But for the past several days, some of the event planners have been getting an up-close look at the national championships — and a chance to finesse the small things that can make a big difference. They've met with U.S. Figure Skating officials, representatives from the San Jose Sports Authority and potential sponsors.
Omaha organizers say they're bringing three big advantages to the table.
The city knows how to put on a big sporting event. It's got a near-perfect setup: multiple ice rinks can go in the CenturyLink Center and athletes and coaches can stay in the Hilton Omaha, connected to the venue by a skywalk.
And it's going to be a big deal.
“One of the huge advantages of Omaha is that it will be the only show in town,” said Harold Cliff, president of the Omaha Sports Commission.
Just as in San Jose this year, the top athletes in Omaha will earn spots on the U.S. team for the World Championships. (In Olympic years, the nationals serve as the qualifier for the Winter Games.) The contest will feature the top senior-level skaters in the country, but also dozens of up-and-comers in the novice and junior divisions.
And Omaha will have the distinction of being the first national championships to include even younger skaters. The juvenile and intermediate levels — the steps before novice — usually hold separate national competitions.
Now, U.S. Figure Skating has decided to put all five levels together. Events for the two lower levels will be held at the Omaha Civic Auditorium.
Three ice rinks will be built at the CenturyLink Center: the main ice in the arena and, in the convention center, a practice rink and an area for fans.
All told, the CenturyLink Center is expected to draw more than 100,000 people, including some 1,500 athletes, coaches and skating officials.
Event organizers expect that traffic to generate about $20 million for the local economy. Plus there's all the media attention it will generate, including hours of live TV coverage. (NBC plans another three hours today starting at 2 p.m.)
If all goes well, organizers hope the 2013 event could lead to more skating competitions, maybe another national championship and attention from other sports.
Cliff said he's been talking to representatives from USA Gymnastics. They're also in San Jose because the city is hosting this year's Olympic Trials for the sport. And some figure skating organizations are interested in hosting their conventions in Omaha.
At their 2013 ticket booth on the arena concourse, the Omaha contingent said the response has been positive. But Moehn said the fans have plenty of expectations and questions:
Will they have to take a shuttle bus to the events? (No, unlike San Jose, where visitors shelled out $100 for a bus pass.) Will they have to wait in long lines for food? (Hopefully not. Cliff said organizers hope to offer options in both the arena and convention center side of the CenturyLink Center.) What can they expect for weather? (Probably something different from San Jose, the Omahans have to admit.)
The fans haven't been shy about sharing their opinions, but Moehn said her group is confident that Omaha will be able to make a good impression.
Barbara Cox of Blacksburg, Va., who was buying tickets with her husband, Joseph, said they were excited to add another skating destination to their already considerable list.
For many fans, it's more about the competition than the city. But some said they like to use skating as a chance to see the country.
“We do like to go see the area,” Cox said.
In San Jose, the event seems to have slipped in under the radar for many locals. There were posters up at the airport, but a few employees were surprised to hear about the big skating event happening in town. Even at the downtown ice rink, which is open for much of the winter, most skaters were regular visitors to the rink — and many of them were unaware of or unimpressed by the idea of national championships happening just a few blocks away.
The Omaha organizers want to make sure veteran fans find it worth their while and plenty of new fans turn out.
“U.S. Figure Skating will put on a tremendous job on ice,” said Bob Freeman, the Omaha event's co-chairman. “Omaha's job is to make sure what's going on off the ice is first class.”
Contact the writer: 402-444-1543, erin.golden@owh.com
• Video: The Omaha 2013 local organizing committee touring the setup in San Jose:
• Video: The ice sweepers collect gifts:
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