Skating PR pair goes for worlds
Give them the nationals and they’ll want the worlds.
With an enthusiastic announcement by Gov. Christine Gregoire at the Davenport Hotel on Wednesday morning, Spokane skating promoters Toby Steward and Barb Beddor of Star USA made it public. They are bidding for the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships to be held in Spokane.
Much like their aggressive approach to Smart Ones Skate America – which they brought here in October 2002 – and the State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships – scheduled in Spokane for January 2007 – Steward and Beddor already are in sprint mode.
“We’ve been working on this project for six months,” Steward said after the news conference. “We’re ahead of the curve.”
Two weeks ago, the ISU council announced its selection of Gothenburg, Sweden, for the 2008 world championships. Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden with a population of 450,000.
According to Lindsay DeWall, director of media relations at U.S. Figure Skating, Spokane is the first U.S. city to announce its plans. DeWall said USFA estimates five cities will put together campaigns.
“We’re going to take any interested city into consideration,” she said.
Bidding to host the world championships is similar to the Olympics bidding process. Each interested country selects a candidate city. Then the ISU, the international governing body for Olympic figure skating, selects the site.
The world championships were last in the United States in Washington, D.C., in 2003.
“This isn’t about one community; this is about an entire state,” Gregoire said. “You can bet we’re going to ask them (visitors) to partake in our fine agricultural products. We’re going to ask them to spend their time in Spokane and then take their resources and their tourism in the rest of the state.
“It’s got to be a state effort. We’re just proud the location happens to be in Spokane.”
The past five world championships host cities outside the U.S. were Moscow, in 2005; Dortmund, Germany, 2004; Nagano, Japan, 2002; Vancouver, B.C., 2001; and Nice, France, 2000. The next two championships will be in Calgary, Alberta, in 2006 and Tokyo in 2007.
Vancouver Tourism reported the overall economic impact from the 2001 championships was $81.6 million to British Columbia and $63.7 million to the Vancouver area. The 2010 Winter Olympics will be in Vancouver 11 months after the 2009 World Championships.
Beddor said that before Star USA decided bid, it was important to show that Spokane is a viable candidate. Skate America, a competition that involved about 60 skaters from 12 countries, drew 28,513 spectators. The four-day total attendance broke the event record of 26,588 set at the 1986 Skate America in Portland, Maine. Spokane’s 2002 record still stands.
Steward said 68,213 tickets have been sold for the 2007 U.S. Nationals. The goal is to sell 150,000 tickets. Tickets are marketed in “event packages,” which include admission to all 15 competitions and practices for $495.
Star USA would not disclose details regarding the amount of money it plans to spend on its campaign.
Gregoire said the state has not been asked for financial help yet, and is considering how best it can partner with Spokane.
“We stand ready in this state to support you in this tremendous bid. It is truly exciting. Washington state is ready to host. Spokane is ready to be the location. Congratulations, let’s make it happen,” Gregoire said to applause.