2026 U.S. Nationals - St. Louis!

[Sylvia]

According to the arena website, a bag just needs to be smaller than 16x16 inches. It also says "Clutches no larger than 6” x 4” x 1.5” are permitted after visual inspection and will not be subject to x-ray screening", so it sounds like bags larger than that are allowed, they just need to be x-rayed.

I called the Enterprise Center yesterday about their bag policy and was transferred to someone in the box office who confirmed that the maximum size for bags is 16 x 16 inches (I asked about width but didn't get an answer). They don't have to be transparent.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Received and email yesterday asking what hotel we were staying at to help plan a route for the shuttle to the Centenne ice rink. Things are coming together, though it sure seems like last minute planning!

I’m curious who they’re emailing because I’m an All Event ticket holder and an FOFS member and didn’t receive one.

 

[jkl]

I’m curious who they’re emailing because I’m an All Event ticket holder and an FOFS member and didn’t receive one.

Did you indicate you were interested in the shuttle from a previous email requesting interest?

 

[acraven]

@TanithandBenFan, since you didn't receive the inquiry, why don't you send your hotel info here and mention your FOFS membership:

[email protected]

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Did you indicate you were interested in the shuttle from a previous email requesting interest?

I filled out the survey but don't remember what my answers were I don't personally need a shuttle since I won't be there early, but I couldn't remember if I expressed interest just to see what the price is lol.

 

[Sylvia]

This past weekend Bradie Tennell did a local media blitz in St. Louis to promote Nationals: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSOiIg-jFfW/

Clip of her at Winterfest's outdoor ice rink with the St. Louis Arch lit up behind her: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSL3dMejZSH/

Info about Winterfest:

Winterfest

The Gateway Arch Park Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to ensure that the Gateway Arch, its grounds, neighboring public space, and attractions will be a vital, welcoming, well-supported resource to the community and nation for generations to come.

www.archpark.org

Bradie had a thoughtful 22-minute interview with St. Louis' NPR (she previews Nationals from ~13:30 to 17:00 and says her favorite discipline to watch is ice dance! I will cross-post this link in the U.S. Women's news thread):

U.S. Figure Skating Championships brings two-time champ Bradie Tennell to St. Louis

Bradie Tennell has rediscovered her love of figure skating after injuring her ankle in 2023.

www.stlpr.org

From sportsmanship to the rink: A Jewish voice behind St. Louis’ biggest skating event - St. Louis Jewish Light

Olympic-level figure skating is coming to St. Louis this January, offering most local fans their closest taste yet of the Winter Games ahead of Milan.

stljewishlight.org

No passport required: Olympic-level figure skating is coming to St. Louis this January, offering most local fans their closest taste yet of the Winter Games ahead of Milan.
“Unless you are headed to Italy in early February, this is as close to the Olympics as you’re going to get,” said St. Louis native Marc Schreiber, 51, president of the St. Louis Sports Commission.

 

[Jwiens28]

Any word on how to retrieve Novice/Junior tickets if you bought all event access?

I have been wondering the same thing. Cutting it close in my opinion.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I have been wondering the same thing. Cutting it close in my opinion.

I heard there are no separate tickets for All Event holders. I guess you just show one of your senior level tickets.

 

[Jwiens28]

Every US Figure Skating Championship that I have been to (4 now) the novice/junior events have always been at the same arena as the seniors. This will be new for me and to be honest, not happy about it. My questions is, at this Centene Arena, please tell me they will be taking down the hockey glass for this event, that we will not have to watch through the glass at the skaters. Has anyone been to a Championship event where novice/juniors were at a smaller rink? Can we still throw stuffed animals, will they have skaters to pick them up? Just curious if they give the novice/junior skaters the same respect when they do it this way.

 

[Sylvia]

@Jwiens28 do you have all of your Championship digital event tickets downloaded to your phone? If so, just show them at Centene and you should be fine. I was told that the hockey glass most likely would be taken down for the Novice/Junior events - apparently they are having a meeting about such things today. You should be able to throw stuffies to the Novice/Junior skaters - they can pick them up themselves if there are no sweepers.

 

[peibeck]

Bradie had a thoughtful 22-minute interview with St. Louis' NPR (she previews Nationals from ~13:30 to 17:00 and says her favorite discipline to watch is ice dance! I will cross-post this link in the U.S. Women's news thread):

U.S. Figure Skating Championships brings two-time champ Bradie Tennell to St. Louis

Bradie Tennell has rediscovered her love of figure skating after injuring her ankle in 2023.

www.stlpr.org

From sportsmanship to the rink: A Jewish voice behind St. Louis’ biggest skating event - St. Louis Jewish Light

Olympic-level figure skating is coming to St. Louis this January, offering most local fans their closest taste yet of the Winter Games ahead of Milan.

stljewishlight.org

This is a great interview with thoughtful probing, but not invasive questions. And Bradie's responses are equally good, and she speaks quite reflectively and realistically about her injuries and goals coming into Nationals.

 

[nylynnr]

Hopefully you had previously booked a hotel? Between the convention and skating most of the downtown hotels are full or charging insane prices at the moment. The Union Station hotel is wanting $900/night for championship weekend!!!

If you're staying west of downtown and planning on taking the Metro Link you should be fine though.

I tend to make arrangements last minute -- right now, Union Station is far less than $900/night, so if there are any other procrastinators out there, it might be worth considering.

 

[peibeck]

I tend to make arrangements last minute -- right now, Union Station is far less than $900/night, so if there are any other procrastinators out there, it might be worth considering.

The day I made that post, that was the rate on the Hilton website. Today it's showing $229 for champion weekend (which is still a bit higher than average).

Also for people asking about the events at Centene, I recommend someone emailing [email protected] and asking if the Enterprise electronic tickets will get your admission there. I sadly don't think I'll get to any of those events with work (though I'll try), but I'm volunteering for a practice out there on Sunday.

 

[tony]

Almost all of the hotels in the Enterprise Center walking distance range are $120-$180 a night still. I feel like I say this every few months, but just use Google Hotels.

 

[LKR]

I heard there are no separate tickets for All Event holders. I guess you just show one of your senior level tickets.

Are there separate practice tickets?

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Are there separate practice tickets?

No they just ask to see your tickets for the day. Sometimes they do wristbands, sometimes they don’t. It’s always an adventure at every new arena lol.

 

[kiss-n-cry]

I sent an email tonight asking how all event ticket holders get in to practices. I'll relay the answer here once received.

 

[peibeck]

No numbers yet, but the recent extreme cold spell we've been gripped in for a month in the STL area is ending, and temperatures are expected to be above average for January. It is likely to still be cold, but not in the teens and single digit highs like we've recently seen.

First weekend of practice at Centene looking at mid 40s as highs.

 

[Carolla5501]

I tend to make arrangements last minute -- right now, Union Station is far less than $900/night, so if there are any other procrastinators out there, it might be worth considering.

Yeah, I was looking at coming just for the weekend and found several options. The Drury Inn was like 130 bucks a night.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Yeah, I was looking at coming just for the weekend and found several options. The Drury Inn was like 130 bucks a night.

The Drury at Union Station? I've been checking to see if the rates go down to rebook my mom's room and haven't seen it go lower than 250.

 

[nylynnr]

Yeah, I was looking at coming just for the weekend and found several options. The Drury Inn was like 130 bucks a night.

Sounds like a good deal. Honestly, I find in general waiting until the last minute sometimes saves me money. That's what I keep telling myself, anyway. Got Union Station for under $200.