2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships coming to Greensboro

This is kind of cool; but let’s be realistic. It’s not going to help bring back ice hockey, improve the Greensboro Ice House or shorten the ride to other cities that local ice skaters take regularly to get the quality ice and/or instruction.

This is an event that will feature hundreds of athletes that will travel to Greensboro for a few days and then leave. They will stay in hotels and motels that are owned by companies not located in Greensboro. They may eat in restaurants – but probably they will eat in the chain restaurants – if they eat at all. The coliseum might set up an Athletes Table diner that would keep the skaters and their support folks from ever leaving the coliseum – except to sleep in their hotels.

This doesn’t have to be a negative experience.

With all the hype, it’s time for the coliseum to bring back public skating. Imagine the impact of having ice on the coliseum floor for the next few years. Not only will it promote the upcoming Championships, it would increase the number of fans, improve the understanding of the sport and create more visitors to Greensboro.

Let’s face it – if the coliseum could offer public skating a few times a month between now and the next two years – potential skaters are going to come to Greensboro to get a feel for the Greensboro Coliseum’s ice. It’s a chance to be a destination now and not just a ONE-TIME visit.