L.A. selected to host 2002 U.S. Figure Skating championships

Web posted October 6, 1998

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles will host the 2002 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Staples Center, the $350 million downtown arena scheduled to open in October 1999.

Members of the Olympic team will be chosen at the meet in January to compete in the Salt Lake City Games Feb. 8-24, 2002.

Los Angeles, one of seven bid cities, was unanimously chosen over Portland, Ore., at the U.S. Figure Skating Association's weekend board meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo., USFSA president Jim Disbrow said Monday.

Los Angeles last hosted the figure skating nationals in 1954.

It's the first major sporting event to be scheduled at Staples Center, which will house the Kings, Lakers and Clippers.