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GREENSBORO - The city's championship resumé for hosting major sporting events could grow in 2011 if the city gets to hit the ice with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Greensboro and Kansas City, Mo., have been named finalists to host the six-day event in January or early February 2011 - with the winning city anticipating a $30 million boost to its economy.

"It's a major league event that would have a major impact on our hospitality industry and it would be equally important for Greensboro - as one more claim to the city's recognition as 'Tournament Town,'" said Marc Bush, president of the Greensboro Sports Commission.

Bush, along with Greensboro Coliseum representatives and others, were busy courting two members of the U.S. figure skating advisory board Monday during a tour of the coliseum complex, nearby hotels and other entities.

In particular, Bush said officials were focusing on the coliseum and its technical capabilities for hosting the competition.

That includes how an ice rink could be set up in the coliseum, its seating capabilities, space for fan events and working personnel, in addition to room for a practice rink at the Special Events Center.

Skating officials also met with city leaders and watched a video of Gov.-elect Bev Perdue welcoming them to North Carolina and inviting them to hold the event here.

In addition to a boost to the hospitality industry, Bush said the event would bring a lot of national and international exposure to Greensboro.

The event, which would feature about 1,500 athletes, would be broadcast on NBC.

It would also come a year after the end of the 2010 Winter Olympics, which are being held in Vancouver, British Columbia.

"It's one of those major entities that we really want," said Bush, who worked with Raleigh-based sports promoter Hill Carrow to lure the event.

"Our attraction mainly is the coliseum complex, which has management experience in place with the ACC and NCAA championships that prove we can do this."

Bush said he anticipates a decision on whether the city will host the event in the coming weeks. That could likely come at the end of this year's championships, being held Jan. 18-25 in Cleveland.

Nicole Stalker, figure skating director at the Greensboro Ice House, said landing the event would be a huge contribution to the growing interest of winter sports in North Carolina.

"Ice sports are a novelty in the South. It's an opportunity for North Carolina to see figure skating up close and personal," said Stalker, who helped with Monday's presentation.

"We are down to the wire and we feel we made a great impression. It would be a great thing for our state."

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com