Rhythmic, acrobatic gymnastics, trampoline/tumbling all-session tickets for 2009 Visa Championships go on sale March 31

DALLAS, March 30, 2009 - All-session ticket packages for rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics at the 2009 Visa Championships, scheduled for Aug. 12-15 at the Dallas Convention Center, go on sale on March 31 at 10 a.m. CT. The 2009 Visa Championships, USA Gymnastics' national championships, features the country's best gymnasts vying for national titles and spots on the U.S. National Team. Visa Championships tickets for men's and women's gymnastics, which will be held at American Airlines Center, went on sale in February.

All-session ticket prices for rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics are $49 and may be purchased by phone at 800-745-3000; online at www.ticketmaster.com; at all Ticketmaster outlets; at the American Airlines Center Ticket Office; or through participating area gymnastics clubs. The all-session ticket package includes all sessions held at the Dallas Convention Center. Visa is the only payment brand accepted for the 2009 Visa Championships.

"We're excited to have all five of USA Gymnastics' competitive disciplines together in Dallas for the 2009 Visa Championships," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "This is a great opportunity for fans who have not yet had the opportunity to witness the grace and athleticism of rhythmic gymnastics, the artistry and feats of balance of acrobatic gymnastics or the excitement and drama of trampoline and tumbling to see these incredible athletes first-hand. In the gymnastics community, Dallas is known as the hometown for Olympic all-around champions Nastia Liukin and Carly Patterson, but in the larger sports community, the city is known for its fans and support of sporting events. The Visa Championships offer something for everyone, and we encourage the citizens of Dallas to come out and experience all that gymnastics has to offer."

The schedule for rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics at the Visa Championships is as follows.

• Wednesday, Aug. 12 - 9 a.m., junior rhythmic all-around qualifier and individual event finals, and 3 p.m., senior rhythmic all-around qualifier and individual event finals
• Thursday, Aug. 13 - 9 a.m., acrobatic gymnastics prelims, and 1 p.m. trampoline and tumbling prelims
• Friday, Aug. 14 - 9 a.m., junior and senior rhythmic all-around finals; 1 p.m., acrobatic gymnastics prelims; and 3 p.m., junior and senior trampoline and tumbling finals
• Saturday, Aug. 15 - 11 a.m., rhythmic all-around, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics finals

Nine current trampoline and tumbling national team members hail from or train in Texas, including Dallas-area resident Amy McDonald of Allen: Brittany Caddell of Levelland, Tony Doles of Lubbock, Shaylee Dunavin of Amarillo, Dakota Earnest of Plains, Sarah Gandy of Paris, Jane Truster and Savannah Vinsant of Newton, Alaina Williams of Amarillo and McDonald.

At the 2008 Visa Championships, Lisa Wang of Buffalo Grove, Ill., swept the rhythmic gymnastics all-around and all four individual events. In trampoline and tumbling, the 2008 U.S. senior champions were: Chris Estrada of Lafayette, La., men's trampoline; Alaina Hebert of Broussard, La., women's trampoline; Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif., and Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J., men's synchronized trampoline; Erin Blanchard of Lafayette, La., and Hebert, women's synchronized trampoline; Austin White of Irvine, Calif., men's double mini-trampoline; Aubree Balkan of Carlsbad, Calif., women's double mini-trampoline; Kalon Ludvigson of Pocatello, Idaho, men's tumbling; and Kaitlin Tortorich of Fredericksburg, Va., women's tumbling. Winning U.S. senior crowns in acrobatic gymnastics in 2008 were: Nicole Barrilleaux of Metairie, La., and Alexis Thibodeaux of Harahan, La., women's pair; Kristin Allen and Michael Rodrigues, both of Livermore, Calif., mixed pair; Hannah Busha, Steffi Scheid and Mariah Spray, all of Livermore, women's group.

Men's and women's gymnastics

All-session ticket prices for men's and women's gymnastics range from $95-$350, and include tickets for all junior and senior sessions for either men's or women's gymnastics.

The schedule for men's and women's gymnastics is: Wednesday, Aug. 12 - junior men at 1 p.m., and first day of senior men at 7 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 13 - first day of women's competition, with juniors at 1 p.m. and seniors at 7 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 14 - senior men's second day of competition at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, Aug. 15 - second day of women's competition, with juniors at 1 p.m. and seniors at 6:30 p.m.

Current men's and women's national team members from the Dallas area include senior women's gymnasts Nastia Liukin of Parker, the 2008 Olympic all-around champion, and Chelsea Davis of Coppell; junior women's gymnasts Rebecca Bross of Plano and Briley Casanova of Dallas; and senior men's gymnast Steven Legendre of Flower Mound. Between men's and women's gymnastics, 11 junior and senior national team members hail from or train in the state of Texas:  men - Houston's Raj Bhavsar, Chris Brooks, Sean Golden and Jonathan Horton, and Kingwood's Dylan Akers, as well as Legendre; and women - Alaina Johnson of Tyler, along with Bross, Casanova, Davis and Liukin.

In 2008, Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa, and David Sender of Arlington Heights, Ill., won the coveted U.S. all-around title. The roster of former all-around champions includes many of the best-known and well-loved names in gymnastics:  women - Nastia Liukin, Carly Patterson, Courtney Kupets, Shannon Miller, Dominique Dawes, Kim Zmeskal and Mary Lou Retton; and men - Paul Hamm, Blaine Wilson, John Roethlisberger, Mitch Gaylord, Peter Vidmar and Bart Conner. The Visa Championships traces its history back to 1897 for the men and 1931 for the women.

About the event

2009 is the Visa Championships' first visit to Dallas, and the first time the event has featured all five of USA Gymnastics' competitive disciplines - men's and women's gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics.  The Visa Championships determines the U.S. champions and the national team for each discipline for both the junior and senior elite levels.  NBC Sports will broadcast action from men's and women's gymnastics.

The USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show, which is held in conjunction with the Visa Championships, will be staged at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. The USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show is the annual gathering of professional members that offers educational and business sessions, a large exhibitor's hall and other business and educational opportunities.

About American Airlines Center

Both men's and women's gymnastics will have two days of competition at American Airlines Center, which has hosted the post-Olympic tour for gymnastics. Anchoring the 72-acre Victory Park development, American Airlines Center serves as the backdrop to Dallas' most vibrant urban gathering space. In addition to being home to the Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks, American Airlines Center has hosted several prominent events, including the 2007 NHL All-Star Game, NBA Finals, Big 12 Championships and the 2003 USFSA National Figure Skating Championships.

About the Dallas Convention Center

The Dallas Convention Center, which has more than 1,000,000 sq. ft., is the site for rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling.  The Dallas Convention Center offers a staggering 726,726 square feet of prime, contiguous exhibit space along with a 203,000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall, the largest in the United States. Plus, the Dallas Convention Center offers even more great features, such as a 9,816-seat arena, a theater with a 1,750-person capacity and 96 meeting rooms.

About USA Gymnastics

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States.  Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.  Its disciplines include men's and women's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics.  For more complete information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.

Tags: acrobatic, Rhythmic, trampoline/tumbling, USA Gymnastics