Synchronized skating is coming to Wichita once again.
Wichita was selected as a host city for the 2020 U.S. Figure Skating synchronized sectional championships, Visit Wichita announced Friday. The competition will take place at INTRUST Bank Arena. The Wichita Ice Center will host practices.
The competition will host more than 2,500 athletes, ranging from seven to 70 years of age. It is expected to bring an estimated $3.4 million in economic impact to the Wichita area.
Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell said the event will be an opportunity to display the progress Wichita is making.
"That's the beauty of the momentum that we have in Wichita," he said. "It's the opportunity to showcase some very neat things and the momentum that we have here and encourage people to come back and share in the amenities that truly make this an inviting place."
Wichita hosted the same event earlier this year. Longwell said this year's participants were impressed with Wichita's facilities and hospitality.
"This is a testament to how well this tournament ran the last time, because if it was ran poorly you just don't get them back," he said.
Visit Wichita and the Wichita Figure Skating Club are sponsoring the event locally.
The event will take place January 15-19, 2020. Winners of the sectional championships qualify for the national competition in Albany, New York.
