2026 U.S. Nationals - St. Louis!

[Spikefan]

Spoke to the St. Louis committee as I was curious why the end opposite the Kiss n Cry did not have lower level seats to purchase. That area will have an NBC film crew doing something for the Olympic season. I am guessing something like what was done for gymnastics but we shall see.

 

[acraven]

It now turns out that only the senior events will be in S Louis; the junior events will be 20-25 miles away at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. If USFS doesn't provide transportation, those of us planning to attend the entire event will have to rent cars (and pay to park them), spend a lot of money on taxis or Uber, or skip the junior events.

This information should have been made available before tickets went on sale.

 

[Carolla5501]

If USFS doesn't provide transportation? LOL! I think expecting them to worry about fans getting to events is a low priority especially after they got the $$$. (I quit buying tickets in advance for a lot of reasons and "changes" like this were one of the reasons)

 

[jkl]

I spoke to the representatives at the St Louis booth here in Boston. They, of course, said they had nothing to do with the change and I needed to talk to TicketMaster or USFS. Can you say “waste of time”?

 

[tangerine dream]

It now turns out that only the senior events will be in S Louis; the junior events will be 20-25 miles away at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. If USFS doesn't provide transportation, those of us planning to attend the entire event will have to rent cars (and pay to park them), spend a lot of money on taxis or Uber, or skip the junior events.

This information should have been made available before tickets went on sale.

That's insane. What are the coaches who have both senior and junior competitors supposed to do?

 

[Karen-W]

That's insane. What are the coaches who have both senior and junior competitors supposed to do?

Rent a car for the week and charge the teams for the cost?

 

[MacMadame]

That's insane. What are the coaches who have both senior and junior competitors supposed to do?

There will be a shuttle for the athletes at least. There will probably be one for the spectators too. That's the norm when the practice rink is so far away from the main rink.

 

[Carolla5501]

There will be a shuttle for the athletes at least. There will probably be one for the spectators too. That's the norm when the practice rink is so far away from the main rink.

Please let me know the last time there was a shuttle for spectators.

 

[MacMadame]

Please let me know the last time there was a shuttle for spectators.

Please let me know the last time the practice rink was more than 20 miles away from the main arena. Was there a shuttle then? If so, there will be one here. If not, spectators may be in trouble. We'll see.

 

[SidelineSkater]

For those wanting to split their time, St. Charles has several decent hotels, just across the MO River. St Charles has a charming downtown area with shops and restaurants. About 10 minutes from the secondary rink. There also hotels near the rink in Maryland Heights. The Hollywood Casino has a hotel and large parking lot. It’s walkable to the secondary rink - but not a short walk. You’d walk across the large lot and cross the road to the rink.

You could then book a hotel for the second half of the week for the Sr. Events.

 

[Carolla5501]

Please let me know the last time the practice rink was more than 20 miles away from the main arena. Was there a shuttle then? If so, there will be one here. If not, spectators may be in trouble. We'll see.

It was 15 miles in Nashville and there was no shuttle offered.

I honestly can’t remember the last time they offered a shuttle.

 

[jkl]

I have been reliably informed that the event rink for Junior events will be general admission seating. So glad I decided against the pricier seats for St Louis.

 

[Rhumba d’Amour]

Spoke to the St. Louis committee as I was curious why the end opposite the Kiss n Cry did not have lower level seats to purchase. That area will have an NBC film crew doing something for the Olympic season. I am guessing something like what was done for gymnastics but we shall see.

If you’re there at Worlds, and chatting with those who might know about future events, could you see if you can unearth any clues as to where Skate America will be?
Thanks!

 

[Lanie]

If you’re there at Worlds, and chatting with those who might know about future events, could you see if you can unearth any clues as to where Skate America will be?
Thanks!

I’ve heard nothing so far when I’ve asked around

 

[AnnM]

If you’re there at Worlds, and chatting with those who might know about future events, could you see if you can unearth any clues as to where Skate America will be?
Thanks!

I just asked at the USFS table within the last ten minutes. No info given up other than they might release location info by the end of April. .

 

[peibeck]

Please let me know the last time the practice rink was more than 20 miles away from the main arena. Was there a shuttle then? If so, there will be one here. If not, spectators may be in trouble. We'll see.

The last time Nationals were in St Louis they held the novice events at the secondary arena as well.

There was no shuttle.

 

[Debbie S]

The last time Nationals were in St Louis they held the novice events at the secondary arena as well.

There was no shuttle.

They did have a shuttle. It was free for those who bought tix before they announced the far-flung arena (initially they said Novice and Junior would be at the convention center downtown and walkable) and those who bought tix afterward had to pay, don't remember the price. I think the venue was the Family Arena? I went out there a couple times but it was a haul.

 

[peibeck]

They did have a shuttle. It was free for those who bought tix before they announced the far-flung arena (initially they said Novice and Junior would be at the convention center downtown and walkable) and those who bought tix afterward had to pay, don't remember the price. I think the venue was the Family Arena? I went out there a couple times but it was a haul.

OK, I didn't remember any shuttle. But the practice arena for 2025 is in the same area. Quite the distance from downtown.

 

[AnnM]

OK, I didn't remember any shuttle. But the practice arena for 2025 is in the same area. Quite the distance from downtown.

I remember taking a shuttle to the main arena in '06, but I don't remember a shuttle for the practice arena. The only time I made it out there was when a friend drove.

 

[ice coverage]

Please let me know the last time there was a shuttle for spectators.

2020 Greensboro Nats had a shuttle for spectators, IIRC.
I do not remember the cost ... I think the pick-up points were the Sheraton and maybe one or two other hotels on the way to the arena. (I did not ride the spectator shuttle.)

ETA: Practice rink was adjacent to main rink.​

I am not counting on 2026 St. Louis Nats having a spectator shuttle.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

If anyone has a reservation at the Drury they're not going to use please let me know. My mom is interested in going now that she had a blast hanging out at the hotel all week in Boston. There are currently no rooms available for the Nats dates.

 

[Carolla5501]

If anyone has a reservation at the Drury they're not going to use please let me know. My mom is interested in going now that she had a blast hanging out at the hotel all week in Boston. There are currently no rooms available for the Nats dates.

Stalk the website. I wound up getting a great rate a Boston hotel a block from TD Garden doing that.

 

[apgold]

@TanithandBenFan, if you are still looking, Booking.com has availability the week of Nationals at the Drury.

I may be going as well, I booked an AirBnB about a 15 minute walk or short Uber ride from the arena downtown (since I need a space with a kitchen). Prices seem reasonable and flights from NYC are around $300 round trip.

If Skate America is in a place that is too expensive or too far, I may brave the January winter in St. Louis. I last attended Nationals in 2018 in San Jose (much better weather) when the team was chosen, was a good time

 

[TanithandBenFan]

@TanithandBenFan, if you are still looking, Booking.com has availability the week of Nationals at the Drury.

I may be going as well, I booked an AirBnB about a 15 minute walk or short Uber ride from the arena downtown (since I need a space with a kitchen). Prices seem reasonable and flights from NYC are around $300 round trip.

If Skate America is in a place that is too expensive or too far, I may brave the January winter in St. Louis. I last attended Nationals in 2018 in San Jose (much better weather) when the team was chosen, was a good time

I had set an alert and it let me know yesterday It’s pricier than the rate I had but I booked it and will keep checking the price.

 

[Jwiens28]

Sylvia posted this earlier about the possible practice rink.


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

It also looks like all the Novice and Junior competition will be at this Centene Community Ice Center. I am not happy about that. Was hoping my downtown walking distance hotel would get me all I needed, now I will need to drive 30 minutes to see Novice and Junior AND hope they do not overlap with the senior events? I am beyond displeased.

 

[acraven]

You aren't the only one.

 

[tony]

It also looks like all the Novice and Junior competition will be at this Centene Community Ice Center. I am not happy about that. Was hoping my downtown walking distance hotel would get me all I needed, now I will need to drive 30 minutes to see Novice and Junior AND hope they do not overlap with the senior events? I am beyond displeased.

They don’t overlap with senior. They’ve made it clear on the website Novice/Junior events go from the 4-6 and senior starts on the 7th.

Tickets - St. Louis Sports Commission

TICKETS Whether you are staying the whole week or just the weekend, there are multiple ways to experience the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis! All-Session Tickets On Sale! Get the full championship experience with an all-session ticket! All-session ticket includes...

stlsports.org

 

[MacMadame]

Are Novice comps back at Nationals?

 

[Karen-W]

Are Novice comps back at Nationals?

I don't believe it's any different than it has been the last two seasons -

Top 2 Novice from each Section are invited to compete in Juniors at Nats for both the Men & Women. The Top 4 Novice Pairs & Top 5 Novice Ice Dance teams are invited to Nats as well, but because the tech rules for those disciplines vary pretty significantly between Novice & Junior, the Novice & Juniors have their own competitions.

 

[ice coverage]

Are Novice comps back at Nationals?

Although USFS rulebook for 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons did not include qualification for Nats for Novice Ice Dance and Novice Pairs, USFS board of directors took action to make exceptions to the rulebook, and those categories were held at Nats in 2024 and 2025.
Same process presumably will ensue for 2026 Nats.

(Looking ahead to 2026-27 season: USFS Governing Council next month could bring possible changes regarding future national championship opportunities for novice skaters in all disciplines.)