The Cedar Rapids Tourism Office is thrilled to announce that Cedar Rapids has been selected to host the 2020 USA Roller Sports National Championships. The annual competition will be held for 23 days during July 2020 at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.
Roller Sports consists of Figure Skating, Inline Hockey, Rink Hockey, Roller Derby, Freestyle and Speed Skating.
“We’re beyond excited about what the City of Cedar Rapids is going to bring to the table for our 2020 National Championships. We especially love the intimacy and set up of the venue, which we think is going to dovetail nicely with our event,” said Eric Steele, Executive Director, USA Roller Sports. “With built in seating, two completely separate rink areas, free parking, on site scoreboards/video screens, locker rooms, vendor space, club suites, and so much more already in place, there is zero doubt this sporting venue should meet the needs of our athletes, coaches, and membership. We look forward to the planning ahead, and are confident the City of Cedar Rapids is going to deliver on our expectations.”
The coast to coast search process began in the fall of 2018 and involved over 50 different cities expressing some level of interest in hosting the event. Five cities submitted formal bids and the final two cities, including Cedar Rapids, hosted site visits in March. On April 13, the USA Roller Sports Board of Directors selected Cedar Rapids, Iowa to host the 2020 National Championships.
“The City of Cedar Rapids is thrilled to host USA Roller Sports National Championships during the summer of 2020. This event is estimated to generate more than 10,000 overnight stays and approximately $8 million in visitor spending. I also want to acknowledge the outstanding work of the Cedar Rapids Tourism Office staff to make this event a reality,” said Casey Drew, City of Cedar Rapids Finance Director.
“This is one of the larger events to come to Cedar Rapids and we believe it will have a very significant statewide, regional, and Cedar Rapids economic impact,” said Jeff Pomeranz, City Manager, City of Cedar Rapids.
Learn more at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Roller-Sports.
About the Cedar Rapids Tourism Office
The Cedar Rapids Tourism Office, managed by VenuWorks of Cedar Rapids, markets the Cedar Rapids area as a destination for tourism, conventions, meetings, sports events and special events through the active solicitation of tournament directors, convention and meeting planners, and through engagement with leisure travelers. The Tourism Office attracts events to the Cedar Rapids area that will continue to be the economic driver for hotels, restaurants and local businesses.
About USA Roller Sports
USA Roller Sports (USARS) is recognized by World Skate and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) as the National Governing Body of competitive roller sports in the United States, including speed, figure, hockey, roller derby and freestyle. USARS has sponsored amateur competitions since 1937, exercising jurisdiction over the participation of United States roller skaters in international competition, including World Championships, World Games, Pan American Games and Olympic Games. USARS is dedicated to creating, enhancing and conducting events and programs for roller sports in the United States. USARS instills the drive to win and be the absolute best… in sport and in life.
*Photo: Custom skates presented to USA Roller Sports with the Cedar Rapids proposal. Created by Cedar Rapids artist, Scott Takes.
