The 2010 event takes place Jan. 13-24 and serves as a de facto U.S. Olympic trials. The top two placers in ladies, men, pairs and ice dancing earn a berth on the U.S. squad for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C.

Members of the Oregon Sports Authority played host to a three-person committee from the U.S. Figure Skating Association earlier this week. They were in the city to take a look at the Rose Garden, Memorial Coliseum and listen to a presentation from local officials.

Much of it was an update, as Portland played host to the national figure skating championships in 2005. Then an eight-day event, it drew crowds of about 117,000.

“That event was very successful, and a lot of the same people are in place to conduct the 2010 championships. And frankly, we have a nicer arena then we had five years ago,” said Drew Mihalic, Oregon Sports Authority’s chief executive officer.

The U.S. Figure Skating Association has declined to reveal cities in the mix for the 2010 championships. According to the Chicago Tribune, two of the three cities competing against Portland are Spokane and Providence, R.I. Spokane was the host city for the 2007 championships, setting an overall attendance record of 154,893 for the event.

Next Thursday, the U.S. Figure Skating’s advisory board will meet and recommend a host city for the 2010 championships. Mihalic said he’s been told an announcement is likely to be made sometime during the week of May 4.

Mihalic said he felt confident about Portland’s chances after meeting with the committee. He felt having the Rose Garden and Memorial Coliseum for the event “gives us an advantage.”

“We gave them the confidence they were looking for,” he said. “We consider this to be a signature event of the Oregon Sports Authority.”