2010 championships may be spread over two weekends

The senior events at U.S. Figure Skating’s 2010 national championships, which also serve as trials for the 2010 Winter Olympics, will be spread over two weekends, sources familiar with the plans said. The sources described the confidential discussions on condition of anonymity.

The switch is being made to accommodate NBC, which wants to have live prime-time telecasts of all finals.

The four cities bidding to host the championships all have been told to figure on a two-weekend senior event, which probably will have men’s competition the first weekend and women’s the next.

Spokane, Wash.; Providence, R.I.; and Portland, Ore., are among the cities in contention.

Recent U.S. championships have included two weekends only because novice and junior-level events began on the initial weekend.

The proposed schedule that U.S. Figure Skating sent to the bidders has pairs and men’s short programs Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, with the pairs free skate final Jan. 16 and men’s free skate final Jan. 17.

The women’s short program would be Thursday, Jan. 21, with the free skate final Saturday, Jan. 23. Dance would be Jan. 22 (compulsories and original dance) and Jan. 23 (free skate final).

Rumors about the two-weekend idea have prompted general discontent on Internet message boards devoted to figure skating, with many longtime fans saying they can’t afford to attend both and may skip the entire event in protest.

Attempts to reach U.S. Figure Skating chief executive David Raith for comment have been unsuccessful.

An NBC spokesman declined to comment.

Philip Hersh covers Olympic sports for The Times and Chicago Tribune.