St. Louis is expected to welcome more than 60,000 fans this week, as the best figure skaters in the nation compete in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, taking place all week at Enterprise Center in Downtown St. Louis. Activities, fan experiences, and competitive events all culminate at 1 p.m. Sunday, when the 2026 U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team will be announced during an Olympic team naming celebration.
“It’s a tremendous honor and privilege to host an event of this caliber, especially in an Olympic year, given St. Louis’ Olympic history and legacy,” said Tim Ryan, Director of Communications, St. Louis Sports Commission, which submitted the winning bid to host the event. “At a time when there’s typically not a lot of tourism in early January, this is a big win for the region. The hospitality industry gets a nice shot in the arm, and we’ll have several nights of prime-time coverage of St. Louis on NBC.”
The Bottom Line: A competition of this magnitude brings national attention and interest to St. Louis, which translates to economic impact for years to come. Leaders estimate that events will bring $20 million in economic impact this year alone, while paving the way for future bids, which the St. Louis Sports Commission is actively seeking.
“Events like this aren’t just meaningful from an economic development standpoint — St. Louis’ commitment to hosting safe, well-run events puts us in the national spotlight and makes us even more competitive for future opportunities,” said Ed Skapinok, Chief Commercial Officer, Explore St. Louis. “(Events are) also a true source of civic pride for St. Louis, and they showcase what our city does best.
There is so much happening Downtown right now and tourism continues to be the tip of the spear with everything we want for St. Louis: supporting jobs, investment, and vitality.”
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