Skating event brings attention to arena
More than 90 teams are vying for top spots in their respective categories at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships at Citizens Business Bank Arena.
And while the teams look for gold, city officials are seeing green.
City officials expect a $3.5 million boost to the local economy over the three-day competition, which concludes Saturday, as many of the 3,600 attendees have flown in from other cities to watch the championships, arena General Manager Steve Eckerson said.
Many of the participants have been in town since Monday, Eckerson said.
The ripple effect of their presence has been felt in local hotels, restaurants and even at ice rinks in the surrounding area, he said.
"They've booked up all the ice rinks within an hour's drive of here for their practice," said
Eckerson, who added many of the skaters flew into L.A./Ontario International Airport.
A team consists of eight to 20 skaters who move in unison and follow the same structure and rules as individual skating, said Kelly Vogtner, the senior director of athlete development for U.S. Figure Skating.
From this event, two teams from the senior level -- the competition's oldest performers -- will go on to the world championships in Helsinki, Finland, she said.
Don Rabbitt, one of four local coordinators, has been planning for the Ontario event for the past three years with skating officials.
"This is different," he said about synchronized skating. "The precision and difficulty of the sport is what's unique."
Rabbitt is member of the Anaheim-based Glacier Falls skating club, which is hosting this week's championships.
"For many of the 92 teams, they have earned their way up. Qualifying for this is the peak of their year," he said.
U.S. Figure Skating officials have been impressed with the arena, he said.
Ontario was selected for the championships because it met qualifications, which included having an adequate facility and amenities, Vogtner said.
Eckerson, who booked the championships, said he knew it would bring more attention to the arena.
"The reason we were so excited was because it's a U.S. national figure-skating event," he said.
"First of all, it is very prestigious. But I also knew it could possibly lead to something else, which it has."
Eckerson confirmed Thursday that the arena had been selected to host the Skate America competition in October. The announcement was made Thursday by U.S. Figure Skating, the sport's governing body.
The event is one of six stops in the International Skating Union Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series. The local competition will take place Oct. 21-23.
<CW-3>Skate America is an Olympic- style international figure-skating event. The three-day competition will feature categories in ladies, men's, pairs and ice dancing. The event annually attracts more than 60 world-class figure skaters.
</CW><NO1>Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan and Olympic champions Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton and Evan Lysacek have participated in the past.
"Whether it's figure skating, boxing, which has aired on TV internationally, the arena is getting exposure," Eckerson said. "We're getting pretty well known."
Recently, it was announced that Ontario was in the running to host some UCLA men's basketball games next season while the Bruins' Pauley Pavilion is renovated.
Eckerson said he was certain at least one game would be played in Ontario. The general manager said he has been talking with university officials about dates, and the schedule should be finalized in the next two weeks.
"I think it's great that they are venturing out and being exposed to the Ontario area," he said.
The synchronized skating event is open to the public. Tickets are $30 a day. Residents from San Bernardino and Riverside counties can buy tickets for $15, or $10 for children 12 and under.
About this blog
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| Liset Márquez has covered the city of Ontario for the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin since 2008. She started the OntarioNow blog in August 2008. To contact Liset, leave a comment on this blog or send an e-mail to Liset Marquez |
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