While Everett’s 8,300-seat Comcast Arena appeared to be only two-thirds full all weekend for Skate America, but the Everett Herald reported Monday that 29,477 tickets were sold.

The three-day event set a new Skate America standard for ticket sales, breaking Spokane’s 2002 record of 28,664.

"We had more tickets sold than people in the stands," said Laura Lee, chairman of the Skate America organizing committee. "I’m not sure why."

Organizers of this weekend’s Skate America expected to set a record with 30,0000 spectators according to an article in a September issue of the Everett Herald.

Judging by all the empty seats in the small arena, there’s now way they broke the record.

Here’s what we’re saying about the attendance in tomorrow’s paper:

EVERETT – Laura Lee, chairman of the Skate America organizing committee, wants Everett to be the next Spokane.

Spokane hosted Skate America in 2002 and used the event to become Skate City USA. (At least, that’s what they’re calling themselves.)

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Yu-Na Kim of Korea concluded Skate America by winning the ladies competition. Her win kept Team USA from winning at least one gold medal at its own event for the first time since 1998. It’s the third time (1993 was the other) since the event began in 1979 that the U.S. failed to win a gold.

American skaters finished with three silvers and a bronze.

Defending world junior champ Rachel Flatt, 16, came closest to medaling for the U.S. in the ladies competition Sunday, finishing fourth. Americans Mirai Nagasu and Kimmie Meissner, both of whom fell twice, finished

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Despite falling just short of their fifth Skate America title, ice dancer Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto where pleased with their first performance under new coaches Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karpanosov.

"There is good recognition of what we need to do (to improve) … and that’s typical of this point in the season," Belbin said. "… It’s good to get this feedback now so that we have time to work on it."

The Americans won the free dance Saturday, but it was not enough to claim gold in the three-dance competition. Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder of France

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While Skate America participants are trying to score points to qualify for the Dec. 10-14 Grand Prix Final in Korea, they’re also trying to get paid.

The winner of each event gets $18,000. Second is worth $13,000, third $9,000, fourth $3,000 and fifth pockets $2,000.

Prize money increases by more than 50 percent at finals.

Final standings for the men’s competition. Evan Lysacek slipped from first to third and Johnny Weir took silver. Takahiko Kozuka of Japan gets gold.

1 Takahiko KOZUKA JPN 226.18

2 Johnny WEIR USA 225.20

3 Evan LYSACEK USA 223.21

4 Kevin REYNOLDS CAN 204.89

5 Shawn SAWYER CAN 199.98

6 Alexander USPENSKI RUS 177.81

7 Adrian SCHULTHEISS SWE 177.26

8 Adam RIPPON USA 174.82

9 Igor MACYPURA SVK 169.61

10 Ian MARTINEZ CAN 155.18

American ladies Mirai Nagasu, Rachael Flatt and Kimmie Meissner finished the short program in fourth, fifth and sixth place respectively, but Meissner felt like she missed out on much more.

Meissner, the 2007 national champ, fell trying to land a triple flip. As disappointed as she was, she says today’s long program is her strength and she vows not to make the same mistake.

"I’m going to come out with a vengeance for that triple flip," said Meissner who scored 54.90 points Saturday.

Yu-Na Kim of Korea leads after the short program with 69.50 points.

Two young USA pair skaters dazzled the fans at Skate America this afternoon, but watched as more experienced pairs took the title.

Americans Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker surprised the field by edging the Russian favorites, Maria Mukhotova and Msxim Trankov for second place.

Germans pair of Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, the defending world champs, glided to victory with 180.77 points. McLaughlin and Brubaker had 172.69 points and the Russians scored 167.67.

Rena Inoue and John Baldwin (146.51 points) finished fifth and John Coughlin and Caitlin Yankowskas (141.70) finished seventh for the Americans.