THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THE 2010 U.S. FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS UNVEILED
 
Sponsors Named For the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

SPOKANE, Wash. (August 18, 2008) "Look and Feel" Unveiled.

Star USA unveiled the design elements that will be utilized to create the "look and feel" of the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.  The design features the next generation of elements utilized during the 2007 Championships.

 "Today we're unveiling the new look for the 2010 US Figure Skating Championships, featuring the  four disciplines of competitive skating; mens, ladies, pairs and dance," said Shawn Davis, creative director of Zipline Interactive. "We're building off the successes we had with the 2007 event, so some of the elements we're using will look somewhat familiar.  However, we've evolved the design, making it more fluid and sophisticated.  We've created something that shows that we are 'Dreaming Bigger' and that this event is even more important than the last one, since at the conclusion of these Championships U.S. Figure Skating will nominate the athletes who will compete in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. It's important to us to use the momentum from the last event, and give the community something they can really be proud of."

The designs were created by Zipline Interactive, the same firm that created the marketing materials for the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Spokane.  Zipline specializes in developing integrated branding solutions including corporate identity, product packaging and web design. 

River Park Square will host FanFest

River Park Square has signed on as a major local sponsor of the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Spokane. River Park Square, downtown Spokane's shopping, dining and entertainment destination, will host FanFest during the Championships.
 
Spokane was the first city to produce the hugely successful FanFest in conjunction with a U.S. Championship.  A gathering place for fans, FanFest will feature a hospitality area for skating enthusiasts and opportunities for fans to interact with skaters.  Activities boards will be updated daily with competition schedules, autograph sessions and other fan events. The information booth will be a clearinghouse for everything fans want to know about the skating competition and Spokane, from starting times and results, to the best place to take a picture of the Spokane River.  Stars of figure skating will drop by to sign autographs.  FanFest is free and open to the public.
 
"FanFest will offer the opportunity for residents of the region to participate in the excitement of this  championship competition," said Stephen Pohl, general manager of River Park Square. "We are delighted to once again be the community's gathering place during what is sure to be a most memorable event.  Everyone at River Park Square looks forward to hosting FanFest."
 
"River Park Square was a tremendous sponsor and supporter of the 2007 Championships," said Toby Steward of Star USA.  "We are so proud to have this beautiful landmark in the heart of our downtown.  We think of River Park Square as Spokane's living room, and were delighted when they agreed to be a major local sponsor and host FanFest.  We are confident that this location will allow us to raise the bar, build on the success of the 2007 FanFest, and make it even more fun in 2010."

Northern Quest Casino Named as Major Local Sponsor

Northern Quest Casino has also committed to be a major local sponsor of the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.  Northern Quest was a sponsor of the 2007 Championships in Spokane.  As a major local sponsor Northern Quest will sponsor one of the 10 days of competition, which shall be known as Northern Quest Day.  "We're very excited to again be part of this history-making event. Many would consider it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play a role in an event that at the culmination, U.S. Figure Skating will nominate the athletes which will compete as the U.S. Figuring Skating team for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The Kalispel Tribe and Northern Quest Casino were proud sponsors last year and are honored to support the event again," said Phil Haugen, assistant general manager of Northern Quest Casino.  "Northern Quest Casino is such an extraordinary supporter of the Spokane community," said Barb Beddor, executive director, 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. "They have shown such generosity in helping to make the great events that create pride in our community even better, and we are delighted to have them back aboard for 2010."

More about the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

The World is meeting in Beijing now, but the Nation is going to meet in Spokane 18 days before the World meets again in Vancouver. Earlier this year it was announced that Spokane will once again host the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 2010. The Championships will be the final event prior to U.S. Figure Skating nominating the athletes that will compete in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.  The Championships will be organized by Star USA.

Spokane hosted the U.S. Championships in 2007, when the event experienced unprecedented success, including an all-time attendance record. The 2007 U.S. Championships received the prestigious honor of being recognized as the "Sports Event of the Year" and "Amateur Sporting Event of the Year" by SportsTravel magazine. The U.S. Figure Skating Championships, held annually since 1914, is the nation's most prestigious figure skating event, with past winners including such skating luminaries as Michelle Kwan, Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano and Scott Hamilton.  National champions will be crowned in 12 events: ladies, men's, pairs and ice dancing in the senior, junior and novice levels.    
 
Tickets for the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships are available by calling 1-800-325-SEAT (or within Spokane, 325-SEAT), by visiting the website at www.spokane2010.com or at the Spokane Arena Box Office.  Organizations interesting in sponsoring the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships can contact Star USA at 509-448-6829 for details.