INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Aug. 9, 2007 - USA Gymnastics has awarded the 2008 Visa Championships to two cities that have strong gymnastics communities and a history of proven success in hosting premier events: Houston will host the men's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling competition for the Visa Championships at Reliant Park, May 22-24; and Boston will stage the women's competition at Agganis Arena at Boston University, June 5-7. The 2008 Visa Championships will play an important role in qualifying for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics.
"These are two of our top gymnastics markets and can successfully stage our premier event, the Visa Championships," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "The Visa Championships will be a great preview of our country's top athletes as the momentum builds for Beijing."
Both events will be covered by NBC Sports. The men's and women's artistic competitions are being held separately because their final preparation plans for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials are different. The two have been held separately a number of times in the event's long history. The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials are June 19-22 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.
"As our national championship, the Visa Championships are a showcase of the USA's best athletes," said Michael Lynch, senior vice president, Visa USA. "We're pleased to bring these exciting events to Boston and Houston, and look forward to seeing our nation's best in their final preparations for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games."
Houston, May 22-24
The Reliant Arena is holding the men's gymnastics competition, with rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling in the Reliant Center. Reliant Park is also the home of Reliant Stadium. Tickets will go on sale later this fall.
"Houston and Reliant Park are thrilled to have the USA Gymnastics 2008 Visa Championships join the recent string of major national and international sporting events that we've hosted," said Shea Guinn, president of SMG-Reliant Park.
Houston hosted USA Gymnastics' national championships in 1988. The city has also been the site of several other high-level events and stops on post-event Tours. This is the first time trampoline and tumbling have been held as part of the Visa Championships.
"We are thrilled that USA Gymnastics has chosen Houston to host the Visa Championships," said Thomas Jones, chairman of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Houston has had the honor of hosting many world-class sporting events and is home to some of the best facilities in the country. Houston takes pride in being a city that nurtures athletic talent, and it's fitting that the U.S. champions for each of the disciplines will be named here."
"The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority is thrilled to be a partner in hosting this exciting event in one of Houston's premier venues. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase Houston to one of the most popular Olympic sports," stated Janis Schmees, executive director, Harris County-Houston Sports Authority.
The U.S. champions in the junior and senior elite levels for each of the disciplines - men's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling - will be determined at the Visa Championships.
The Visa Championships traces its history back to 1897 for the men.
Reliant Park is managed and operated by SMG. Reliant Park is the premier convention, tradeshow, entertainment and sports complex located in Houston - the cultural center and urban hub of Texas. Four major facilities - Reliant Center, Reliant Stadium, Reliant Arena and Reliant Astrodome - encompass 350 acres. Having previously hosted Super Bowl XXXVIII, the 2002 and 2005 Big 12 Conference Football Championships, the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Regionals in 2008 and 2010, the Final Four in 2011 and now the 2008 Visa Championships, Reliant Park is establishing itself as a long-term home for major national and international sporting events.
Boston, June 5-7
Boston, the host of the 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics, is the site for the Visa Championships for the first time. Tickets will go on sale later this fall.
"The Visa Championships is the country's premier gymnastics event and Agganis Arena at Boston University is proud to have been selected as the host venue," said Joseph Mercurio, executive vice president of Boston University. "As an international community of students, scholars, researchers, athletes, and world citizens, the University is honored to open its doors and its hearts to the USA's best gymnasts. We enthusiastically embrace their dreams as they prepare to compete in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing."
"The Visa Championships promises to be one of the top gymnastics competitions in the build-up to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing," said Jonathan Paris, executive director of the Massachusetts Sports Partnership. "We're pleased to be partnering with USA Gymnastics and BU's Agganis Arena to bring this prestigious event to the Commonwealth and New England's passionate gymnastics community."
The U.S. champions in the junior and senior elite levels will be determined at the Visa Championships.
Opened in January 2005, Agganis Arena at Boston University is the next generation in Boston sports and entertainment. It is a state-of-the-art, multipurpose sports and entertainment center. A 290,000-square-foot premier venue with 6,300 seats for hockey and ice shows, the Arena is expandable to over 7,200 seats for concerts, sporting events, and family shows. In addition to exciting Boston University hockey action, Agganis Arena hosts Boston University events, concerts, family shows, sporting events, trade shows and conferences throughout the year.
The Massachusetts Sports Partnership (MSP) serves as the official sports commission for the Commonwealth. Founded in 1992, MSP is a private, not-for-profit organization which works to attract and support world class sporting events and meetings throughout the Massachusetts.
About Visa USA
Visa USA is a leading payments brand and the nation's largest payments system, enabling banks to provide their consumer and business customers with a wide variety of payment alternatives tailored to meet their evolving needs. Visa USA is committed to increasing the choice, convenience, acceptance and security of Visa payments for all stakeholders - financial institutions, cardholders and merchants. In the United States, more than 521 million Visa-branded cards have been issued by our 13,320 financial institution customers.
Visa products generated nearly $1.8 trillion in total volume in the United States through March 2007 and enjoy unsurpassed acceptance around the globe. For more information, visit www.visa.com.
About USA Gymnastics
Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States, encourages participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.
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