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Arena seeks to host 3,000 ice skaters for tournament
The decision on the event is to be announced in October.
YOUNGSTOWN — The Chevrolet Centre submitted a proposal to host a synchronized figure skating sectional tournament that would bring about 3,000 skaters to the facility.
If the arena’s proposal is accepted, the five-day event in January 2010 would fill up every hotel room in Mahoning County and about half of them in Trumbull County, said Eric Ryan, the center’s executive director.
The center also turned in a request to host the three-day U.S. Figure Skating synchronized skating championship to be held in March 2010.
“We’re going after this hard,” Ryan said. “These are the kind of events that would mean a great financial windfall for the area. It would bring in millions of dollars to this area.”
U.S. Figure Skating, the national governing body for the sport, sent representatives last month to view the center and other locations in the area.
A decision from U.S. Figure Skating, which has held synchronized skating championships since 1984, is expected in October.
Synchronized skating involves eight to 20 skaters performing a program together. Skaters are judged on teamwork, speed, formations and challenging step sequences, according to the U.S. Figure Skating Web site. There are 15 different levels.
The sectional event would bring about 300 teams with about 3,000 skaters along with the sport’s fans to the Mahoning Valley, Ryan said.
“Imagine the restaurants in downtown Youngstown for those days,” he said.
Assisting with the proposal were the Ice Zone in Boardman and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.
The Ice Zone’s two rinks would be used as practice facilities for those competing at the Chevrolet Centre.
The commission has a lot of influence with U.S. Figure Skating, Ryan said. The U.S. Figure Skating Championship is Jan. 18-25, 2009, at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland due, in part, to the commission, he said.
Ryan said part of his focus is on events that would bring people from outside the Mahoning Valley to the center.
In addition to the skating tournament proposal, the center submitted a proposal to host the 2009 Mid-American Conference women college basketball championship tournament, he said.
The center is also seeking to host regional high school basketball tournaments, Ryan said.
“We have plenty of dates here that we can use for good events that will bring people to our community,” he said. “These are the kind of things that will make this place as successful as it can be.”
The center will also start marketing the facility for conventions, Ryan said.
skolnick@vindy.com