The U.S. Figure Skating Championships are coming to the Xcel Energy Center in 2016, organizers announced Wednesday.

The sport's most prestigious competition will be held Jan. 16-24 and will be telecast live on NBC, officials with U.S. Figure Skating said. The X also hosted the event in 2008.

St. Paul "did a great job of hosting our event in 2008, and our athletes, coaches and officials will be excited to compete once again at Xcel Energy Center," U.S. Figure Skating Executive Director David Raith said in a statement, which also included revealing Greensboro, N.C., as host of the 2015 championships. Champions will be crowned in women's, men's, pairs and ice dancing at the senior, junior, novice, intermediate and juvenile levels.

The local organizing committee for the St. Paul event will be led by the Twin City Figure Skating Association, which was founded after the success of the 1973 U.S. Championships at Met Center in Bloomington., Minn. Other events hosted by the association include the 1991 U.S. Championships, the 1998 World Championships, the 2008 U.S. Championships and the 2010 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. For more information, visit www.2016uschampionships.com.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482