2026 U.S. Nationals - St. Louis!

[Richard]

St. Louis Selected as Host City for 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

My home city. I’m so excited!

 

[Debbie S]

Is this the same arena they used in 2006? I hope they've turned the temp up since then.

 

[Richard]

Is this the same arena they used in 2006? I hope they've turned the temp up since then.

It is. I go to hockey games there all the time. It’s a nice, modern arena. I’m not too cold at hockey games, but a skating event may be different? Hopefully it’ll be warmer than Columbus and Allen (Skate America).

 

[Sylvia]

St. Louis Selected as Host City for 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

My home city. I’m so excited!

Thanks! Glad you're excited. Copying out today's press release:

U.S. Figure Skating today announced that the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships will take place in St. Louis, Missouri.

Currently slated for Jan. 5-11 [2026] at the Enterprise Center, the U.S. Championships will serve as the final qualifying event prior to the selection of the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team that will represent Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games Milano-Cortina 2026.

“We are excited for the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships to return to St. Louis, exactly 20 years after the 2006 Olympic Team was named in this same city,” said Sam Auxier, U.S. Figure Skating president and acting CEO. “The U.S. Championships, in an Olympic year, is one of the most pressure-packed, exciting events as we finalize our nomination for the 2026 Olympic team. Plus, Enterprise Center, which is a state-of-the-art sports facility, is located in the heart of downtown and therefore offers both fans and athletes alike an incredible experience.”

The annual event, held since 1914, is the most prestigious national figure skating event with champions crowned in women’s, men’s, pairs and ice dance at the championship and junior levels, as well as novice pairs and ice dance.

This marks the second time the U.S. Championships will be held in St. Louis with the last occurrence in 2006 when figure skating legends Sasha Cohen, Johnny Weir, Rena Inoue and John Baldwin, and Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto all clinched U.S. titles.

“It has been at the top of our list to bring the U.S. Figure Skating Championships back to St. Louis, so we are absolutely ecstatic to be hosting the event in 2026 and grateful to U.S. Figure Skating for the opportunity,” said St. Louis Sports Commission President Marc Schreiber. “As America’s first Olympic city, it’s especially meaningful for St. Louis to be the Championships’ site in an Olympic year and be able to cheer on our nation’s top figure skaters just weeks before the Winter Games. We look forward to working with our colleagues at U.S. Figure Skating to produce an outstanding event and a fabulous experience for its athletes, officials and fans.”

All-session tickets will go on sale in early January. The event will be broadcasted by NBC with all championship events streamed live on Peacock.

Enterprise Center

www.enterprisecenter.com

ETA - previous names: Kiel Center (1994–2000); Savvis Center (2000–2006 U.S. Nationals); Scottrade Center (2006–2018)

 

[Flip Jump]

I am SO excited for this!!! 2006 nationals was my first when I was 12 years old and it was what got me hooked! Excited to come back to the same arena 20 years later.

 

[Carolla5501]

I’m just excited they announced it this far in advance.

Maybe they’re catching on that waiting till the last minute to announce things means that people already made their plans and spent their money by the time you get around to asking for it

 

[Rhumba d’Amour]

So—Skate America will be East coast/west coast, then?

As stated above, great to know the location so far in advance, it really helps to know for planning purposes!

 

[Karen-W]

So—Skate America will be East coast/west coast, then?

Not necessarily. SkAm was in Texas this yr with Nats in Kansas.

But, I'd say chances are better than good for a different region of the country simply because the USFS doesn’t usually keep SkAm in the same location more than 2 seasons in a row.

 

[Flip Jump]

Does anyone recall the name of the host hotel in 2006?
All I remember is the really nice restaurant there we enjoyed eating breakfast at and people watching!

 

[Debbie S]

Does anyone recall the name of the host hotel in 2006?
All I remember is the really nice restaurant there we enjoyed eating breakfast at and people watching!

It was a Renaissance (Marriott).

 

[Sylvia]

St. Louis' NBC affiliate KSDK channel 5 covered the public announcement live earlier today (ETA that local Olympic legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee, one of the LOC co-chairs, spoke at 19:30 - she was the one who submitted the St. Louis Sports Commission's bid): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAsYOWh6AZc

St. Louis gets prime spot on the road to the 2026 Olympics for US Figure Skating

The last time the event was hosted in St. Louis was 2006.

www.ksdk.com

USFS & the St. Louis Sports Commission’s joint promo video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDpfNEARxbw/

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[AnnM]

Does anyone recall the name of the host hotel in 2006?
All I remember is the really nice restaurant there we enjoyed eating breakfast at and people watching!

That was one of the best years for people/skater watching! I stayed at the official hotel adjacent to the host hotel, but it didn't have much in the way of dining so everyone was always hanging out at the host hotel. Johnny Weir cut in line right in front of me at the breakfast buffet lol. He got eggs, toast, and fruit.

 

[Aceon6]

St. Louis is doable for me, but I have my heart set on Euros in Sheffield and my wallet probably would prefer that I pick one.

 

[Karen-W]

LOL - at the 10:15-ish mark, listen to Sam Auxier talking about the Olympic TE - he point blank says ChoBat will be the only returning skaters going for gold again. I mean, yeah, we all knew they'd be doing the TE, but, it's kind of funny for him to be so matter-of-fact about it.

 

[Sylvia]

The secondary/practice rink is yet to be finalized - the KSDK reporter at the end of this report mentions "Centene" as a possibility: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPOUVaoGiqU

Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centene_Community_Ice_Center
It's about 21 miles NW of downtown St. Louis via I-70.

Just checked the FSU Archives - originally the secondary rink for 2006 Nationals was scheduled to be tank ice installed at the America’s Center (Convention Complex in downtown St. Louis) before it was moved one year beforehand to the Family Arena in St. Charles, MO (~23 miles NW of downtown St. Louis. I recall the long shuttle rides (free with an all-event ticket ) to watch the all of the Novice & some of the Junior events in St. Charles. There were overlapping events on Tuesday & Wednesday (really hope that doesn't happen again!): https://web.archive.org/web/20060111050257/http://www.stlouis2006.com/uschampschedule.pdf

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I’ll probably have to skip the junior events and fly in Thursday morning since I’m planning to go to Milan, so I’m so glad this will be a quick nonstop flight for me!

 

[ice coverage]

Official webpage:

2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships - St. Louis

The St. Louis Sports Commission and Enterprise Center are proud to welcome the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships to St. Louis...

stlsports.org

skatestlouis2026.com (as mentioned in presser and by KSDK) redirects there.

 

[semogal]

This southeastern MO skating fan is beyond thrilled that Nationals will be in St. Louis! Getting to go to Nationals in an Olympic year has been a dream of mine. Hurray! I will get to cross it off my bucket list.

 

[UMBS Go Blue]

Johnny Weir cut in line right in front of me at the breakfast buffet lol.

HOW DARE HE

 

[once_upon]

I stayed at a Drury Inn which was a 4-7 block walk to arena. I don't know if it is still there, but Drury Inns are really affordable and nice.

I know the one I stay in when in Kansas City for Chiefs games or church conferences (8 or 9 times) has a wonderful breakfast and a buffet dinner (no extra charge) 2 drink tickets. I've been to that one I don't know that all have them. Several of the reviews of a couple of the St Louis ones indicated they do.

 

[Spikefan]

I stayed at a Drury Inn which was a 4-7 block walk to arena. I don't know if it is still there, but Drury Inns are really affordable and nice.

It is still there.

2006 Nationals was supposed to be my first full Nationals but then my brother was hospitalized and I couldn’t get to STL until late Thursday. I honestly don’t remember where I stayed, I think it was near Union Station. On the one hand I feel like I need a redo but on the other that early in January is bad timing at work. Will definitely just be there for seniors if I go. One day I will make it to both junior and senior events.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I stayed at a Drury Inn which was a 4-7 block walk to arena. I don't know if it is still there, but Drury Inns are really affordable and nice.

I know the one I stay in when in Kansas City for Chiefs games or church conferences (8 or 9 times) has a wonderful breakfast and a buffet dinner (no extra charge) 2 drink tickets. I've been to that one I don't know that all have them. Several of the reviews of a couple of the St Louis ones indicated they do.

I stayed at the Drury in Columbus for Nats last year and it was amazing.

 

[PRlady]

St. Louis is doable for me, but I have my heart set on Euros in Sheffield and my wallet probably would prefer that I pick one.

Maybe I’ll join you. It’s hard to get to the Baltics from the U.S. but England is easy.

 

[SidelineSkater]

Thank goodness ANL’s fax machine was working today.

I moved away a few months ago, but it will be a good excuse to go visit!

There’s a Hilton in Union Station nearby. They revamped the area with an aquarium, ferris wheel and restaurants.

I’ve wondered why it took so long to bring skating back to STL.

 

[maureenfarone]

Is this the same arena they used in 2006? I hope they've turned the temp up since then.

Savvis Center in 2006 was the coldest arena I have ever been in. Wore my winter coat, hat, gloves inside and took them off outside.

 

[peibeck]

HOW DARE HE

Well based on my experience in line with skaters, if Bradie Tennell cuts in front of you she'll only get a single blueberry on that big 12" plate, so you won't have a long wait.

I live near St. Louis, so I can try and help provide information for people planning on attending. @Debbie S I think that arena is ALWAYS freezing, even for concerts in the dead of summer. If there's good attendance, it isn't so bad, but expect to be frigid for the junior events for sure.

Last time nationals were in St. Louis was also for the Olympic year (Kwanita but also Stephanie Rosenthal's robot SP and Matt Savoie making the Olympic team ), so getting that honor again is really nice. I guess maybe I will check into volunteering this time.

 

[peibeck]

Savvis Center in 2006 was the coldest arena I have ever been in. Wore my winter coat, hat, gloves inside and took them off outside.

Well now it's the Enterprise Center. Maybe if everyone rents one of their cars they'll agree to turn up the temp a degree or two.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

Well now it's the Enterprise Center. Maybe if everyone rents one of their cars they'll agree to turn up the temp a degree or two.

Or find some dilithium crystals.

 

[Spikefan]

I will be taking Amtrak, it’s the only city I can travel to easily by train so I’m doing it. If I’m acting all European in STL that is why.

 

[once_upon]

Savvis Center in 2006 was the coldest arena I have ever been in. Wore my winter coat, hat, gloves inside and took them off outside.

Yes.

I think it might have been one of the last compulsory dance? It was paso that year - the security guard near me (lower level where Zamboni came out) wanted to know why no one chose different music.

There was also an aggressive announcer who pointed out where people using flash cameras were sitting. The ushers were directed to talk to fan in row___&seat____.