2026 U.S. Nationals - St. Louis!

[HeatherC]

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.

In all of the years that I've been attending both big and small skating events, the Savvis Center (now the Enterprise Center) is STILL the coldest arena I have ever been in and I agree with Debbie.....I hope they've turned up the temps a bit since they last hosted this event! If they haven't done that in this ice arena, you all better bring LOTS of various layers to stay warm, LOL

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 literally just watched Matt's LP from that event earlier tonight in honor of this announcement and remember how hard I was crying both when he finished that gorgeous LP and when he finished third and made the Olympic team. One of my all time favorite US Nats memories! I forgot that this was also where we were introduced to Stephanie Rosenthal's awesome SP and saw baby Charlie and Meryl win the JUNIOR ice dance gold medal prior to moving up to senior the next year.

Two of my favorite personal memories from that US Nats: when I happened to make a snarky comment at practice about Sasha Cohen and one of the other lady skaters in that same practice session heard me and chuckled at my comment and meeting Brian Boitano at 3 AM during one of the last nights of competition when we were lobby chicking in that awesome host hotel. Great memories and I'm excited to go back to St. Louis for another pre-Olympic US Nats!

 

[once_upon]

I guess maybe I will check into volunteering this time.

I don't think I'll ever volunteer again. I volunteered in Omaha but also had all event tickets. I finally said enough when I was watching behind the scenes.

 

[Karen-W]

Okay, so, who here has any contacts with the LOC in St Louis? We need to start our campaign NOW for a better KnC than we've seen out of USFS' events in the past year. Amiright or amiright, @AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)?

 

[TanithandBenFan]

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____.

I thought it was Yankee Polka that year. I was in the first row and I distinctly remember Tanith’s perky smile as she and Ben came around the corner lol.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Okay, so, who here has any contacts with the LOC in St Louis? We need to start our campaign NOW for a better KnC than we've seen out of USFS' events in the past year. Amiright or amiright, @AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)?

Lollllll

I think I’m just gonna call Colorado Springs myself give them the intro that I’m the incomparable, undeniable, multitalented ANL from FSU and I am more than happy to do kiss and cries for free.

What’s better than a free gay?

 

[HeatherC]

I thought it was Yankee Polka that year. I was in the first row and I distinctly remember Tanith’s perky smile as she and Ben came around the corner lol.

I was thinking the same thing only because I remember the highly amusing costume snarking my friends and I were doing in the crowd during that event, LOL

 

[Braulio]

I thought it was Yankee Polka that year. I was in the first row and I distinctly remember Tanith’s perky smile as she and Ben came around the corner lol.

yes, it was since the three compulsory dances that season were

​

2005-2006

Yankee Polka, Ravensburger Waltz, Tango Romantica

I will consider to go since I have never been into US Nationals before

 

[Sktwo]

I was there in 2006 and had a great time. I remember the same things others have mentioned - Stephanie’s and Matt’s programs in particular. What I really remember is the cold. Layers are your friends in this arena.
It is extremely easy to get there by train or plane and it’s certainly possible to get around without a car - the downtown area is compact.
Looking at the hotel situation, it seems like a lot has changed in 20 years. We stayed very close to the arena and our hotel was nice but I can’t remember which one it was. It was an older hotel. There weren’t too many eating options close to the arena either but there were enough and most weren’t hopelessly crowded. But there are more hotel and food options now so that should make it easier.
St Louis is not an expensive city. It is possible to get a decent hotel room for $100-130 per night. It is also known for its Italian food (the home of toasted ravioli) which is usually very reasonably priced. Watch out for the pizza, though. St Louis style pizza is an acquired taste. A very thin, crispy crust covered with a sweet tomato sauce and Provel cheese.

 

[nickp]

the closest hotels to the arena is the old haunted train station and now I may have to go and stay there

 

[peibeck]

St Louis is not an expensive city. It is possible to get a decent hotel room for $100-130 per night. It is also known for its Italian food (the home of toasted ravioli) which is usually very reasonably priced. Watch out for the pizza, though. St Louis style pizza is an acquired taste. A very thin, crispy crust covered with a sweet tomato sauce and Provel cheese.

I don't know if downtown hotels are still that reasonable, but if someone is driving there are plenty of options in the "burbs" or a short drive away on the Illinois side where you could probably find a hotel for $100-ish a night. There are several parking venues near the arena.

I would definitely NOT stay and try and walk from the casino hotels near the waterfront. It's rather distant (in January) and there have been issues with car break-ins, robberies in that area. If you took an Uber/Lyft/taxi I'm sure you'd be fine though.

The biggest drawback of the area, imo, is a lack of dining options open later. It's predominantly a business area, so there aren't tons of restaurants open very late, especially in the winter season.

 

[Debbie S]

@peibeck It looks like the light rail (which didn't exist 20 years ago) is a good option to get to the arena if you are staying around the convention center?

Last time, the hotels closest to the arena were a Hyatt at Union Station...looks like the hotel still exists but a different name...and a Sheraton, which looks like it's completely gone.

 

[WOULDACOULDARETURNS]

I don't think I'll ever volunteer again. I volunteered in Omaha but also had all event tickets. I finally said enough when I was watching behind the scenes.

My friend is volunteering at Worlds. She will be working the practice sessions.

 

[nylynnr]

I thought it was Yankee Polka that year. I was in the first row and I distinctly remember Tanith’s perky smile as she and Ben came around the corner lol.

2006 was Yankee Polka. I remember, because I caught some grief when I wrote, "it demands to be skated with near-maniacal cheer."

 

[once_upon]

My friend is volunteering at Worlds. She will be working the practice sessions.

Practice sessions would be different.

Because I was a local and knew the layout of the arena and the city, didn't know what "jobs" were needed, I said I was flexible. Most of the time I was watching from the inner corridors of the arena.

 

[Debbie S]

I believe the volunteer application allows people to list their day/time preferences for shifts. If you have all-event tickets, probably best to volunteer early in the week, but then you may have to arrive earlier than you were planning and pay for more nights in a hotel.

You can list your preference for assignments. Ice level assignments (monitoring, music timing, patching) allow you to see more of the action, but those jobs generally require experience, either at previous major events or at club comps.

I have volunteered at my club's comp (including ice monitoring) for 15 years. I could probably get an ice level assignment, but honestly, for all the money i spend on tickets, hotel, etc, i want to just sit back and watch the event and maybe see a few local sights, so I've never volunteered at SA, Nats or Worlds. If I volunteered at Nats I would do shifts early in the week that wouldn't conflict with the Senior events. But I don't have unlimited vacation time or money for extra hotel nights.

 

[HeatherC]

Back when I used to volunteer at US Nats, I always worked the early shifts during the week so I could enjoy the junior/senior events later in the week so it is possible to do that. I was never in areas where I could see practices or competitions though (aside from on a concourse TV when I was stationed there at one Nats) so there is that drawback. It's a fun experience to volunteer there though....my favorite volunteer moment was when I was the checker for the skater's lounge in 2005 (Portland, OR) and I couldn't let John Baldwin in because he didn't have his credential. He came back rather sheepishly a little while later after retrieving it from his room, LOL

 

[acraven]

I know it's early to be thinking about food in St. Louis, but I just happened to bump into an online article about pizza in that city. This article has been floating around the internet for eleven months but should still be useful--at least for folks renting cars. Maybe some of these places are convenient to downtown; I haven't mapped them.

MSN on the best pizza spots in St. Louis

 

[Spikefan]

Katie’s Pizza and Pasta has a location by the ballpark (walking distance) and it’s good. There are Imo’s everywhere but I despise provel so my opinion on their pizza is tainted.

 

[peibeck]

@peibeck It looks like the light rail (which didn't exist 20 years ago) is a good option to get to the arena if you are staying around the convention center?

Last time, the hotels closest to the arena were a Hyatt at Union Station...looks like the hotel still exists but a different name...and a Sheraton, which looks like it's completely gone.

The Sheraton is, indeed, no longer operating. The MetroLink (light rail) system is an option from hotels near the Convention Center to Union Station (closest to the arena) and is only a few stops, so a short ride. It also goes all the way out to the airport, but I've never traveled on it with luggage. There are hotels in the trendy Central West End (CWE) and University City area which are also served by MetroLink but are further out. Anyone considering an Airbnb should email before reserving to see if they are close to a MetroLink stop.

 

[sk9tingfan]

I stayed at the Renaissance in 2006. Johnny Weir kept staring at me in the lobby. I just smiled and went back to reading my book. In subsequent years, he would always wave me over to have brief chats. Wemt to 3 nights of Festa on Ice as his guest in 2009. That was inarguably the best skating show I've ever seen.

I was with Evan Bates and his mom while standing in back of them at a restaurant . She turned around and commented that I was tall just like the two of them. She has lost a tremendous amount of height as a result of multiple hip replacements and revisions

I hope that there are more eating options for those who are attending. I just remember how cold it was then without a lot near the main arena.

 

[SidelineSkater]

A few blocks away, Union Station has several restaurants. The hotel lobby also does a light show on the hour (usually).

Discover Best Places to Eat in St. Louis - Union Guide

www.stlouisunionstation.com

 

[nyrak]

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

I know! I wish Skate Canada would follow suit.

 

[jkl]

I just called and spoke to the St Louis Sports Commission. The practice rink will be in Maryland Heights, MO. She said it was about 20 or 30 minutes from the Enterprise Arena. I had other questions which they will get back to me on.

 

[Coco]

St. Louis is only a 6 hour drive for me...hmmm. Too bad my dog can't walk herself.

ETA: we should set a goal as a community of fans to find a sponsor for the K&C. Maybe a national chain furniture store or an online furniture store with a 2nd sponsor like White Flower Farms or something.

Pop-Tarts got so much attention for their college football bowl game because they put the human-sized Pop-Tart mascot into a ginormous toaster. We need to come up with a similar concept.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I just called and spoke to the St Louis Sports Commission. The practice rink will be in Maryland Heights, MO. She said it was about 20 or 30 minutes from the Enterprise Arena. I had other questions which they will get back to me on.

Did you ask them about the kiss and cry layout? Lol

 

[SidelineSkater]

I just called and spoke to the St Louis Sports Commission. The practice rink will be in Maryland Heights, MO. She said it was about 20 or 30 minutes from the Enterprise Arena. I had other questions which they will get back to me on.

Sylvia posted this earlier about the possible practice rink.

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

It's the Centene Community Ice Center - https://www.centenecommunityicecenter.com/calendar-of-events

Fun Facts

Next to Hollywood Casino for those interested (or for those uninterested in practices, but are there to support a significant other)
10 minutes from my former house
Practice rink for the NHL St. Louis Blues and a local uni hockey team
Also five minutes from a nuclear waste site that is also near an underground landfill fire! https://www.npr.org/2015/11/03/454010066/landfill-fire-threatens-nuclear-waste-site-outside-st-louis

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I was looking through my 2006 Nats photos and found the ultra perk Yankee Polka moment that I remembered

https://imgur.com/a/8Ip6tPp

 

[once_upon]

I was looking through my 2006 Nats photos and found the ultra perk Yankee Polka moment that I remembered

https://imgur.com/a/8Ip6tPp

Yes - but if you were more than 9 rows up - you might not have seen it. I'm pretty sure I was in row 15 or higher.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Yes - but if you were more than 9 rows up - you might not have seen it. I'm pretty sure I was in row 15 or higher.

How dare you minimize Tanith’s perk. She consistently reached the top level of the arena with it.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

How dare you minimize Tanith’s perk. She consistently reached the top level of the arena with it.

@TanithandBenFan some of my favorite personal figure skating photos that I have besides the Untouchables, the ones with Angela, are with tanith and Ben …. they were always generous to take photos with me…. Without me having to bum rush them lol.