Tickets go on sale for 2010 Tyson American Cup

WORCESTER, Mass., Oct. 1, 2009 — Tickets for the 2010 Tyson American Cup, scheduled for March 6, 2010, at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass., go on sale today. The Tyson American Cup is the United States’ most prestigious all-around international invitational and features some of the world’s top gymnasts with men competing on all six apparatus and women on four.

"We are excited to bring the 2010 Tyson American Cup to Worcester and the DCU Center,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “This event has a tradition of showcasing the world’s top gymnasts and will give gymnastics fans a first-hand glimpse of the stars expected to make headlines at the 2012 Games in London.”

Ticket prices for the event range from $35-125.  Tickets may be purchased by phone at 800-745-3000; online atwww.ticketmaster.com; at all Ticketmaster outlets; through participating gym clubs; or at the DCU Center Ticket Office. Visa is the preferred method of payment.

The USA’s Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich., and Germany’s Fabian Hambuechen won the all-around titles at the 2009 Tyson American Cup. Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind., placed second for the women and the USA’s David Sender of Arlington Heights, Ill., and Joseph Hagerty of Rio Rancho, N.M., finished second and third, respectively, for the men. The list of former champions comprises some of the sport’s best-known names, including Bart Conner, Paul Hamm, Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, Shannon Miller, Carly Patterson, Mary Lou Retton and Peter Vidmar. The gymnasts competing in 2010 will be announced at a later date.

This will be the first time the prestigious Tyson American Cup has been held in Massachusetts.  Past sites for the American Cup include:  New York City; Ft. Worth, Texas; Indianapolis, Ind.; Fairfax, Va.; Orlando, Fla.; Seattle, Wash.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Uniondale, N.Y.; Philadelphia; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Hoffman Estates, Ill.

The Nastia Liukin Cup, a competitive opportunity for top Junior Olympic female gymnasts, will be held on March 5 in conjunction with the Tyson American Cup. The one-night event features gymnasts from 14 invitationals that comprise the Nastia Liukin Cup Series. Tickets for the event will be available with the purchase of a Tyson American Cup ticket. Proceeds from the Nastia Liukin Cup will go into the Nastia Liukin Fund, a charitable fund within the National Gymnastics Foundation.

About DCU Center
A multi-purpose arena and convention center uniquely designed to accommodate the needs of any size group from 15 to 15,000, the DCU Center is owned by the City of Worcester and managed by SMG, the world’s leading private management and developing firm for public assembly facilities. Headquartered in Philadelphia, SMG provides management services to over 200 public assembly facilities internationally and also offers food and beverage operations through SAVOR… Catering by SMG. For more information, please visit www.dcucenter.com. 

About Tyson Foods, Inc

Tyson Foods, Inc., founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves.  Tyson provides products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 90 countries.  The company has approximately 107,000 Team Members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world.  Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.

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 information, log on towww.usa-gymnastics.org<http://www.usa-gymnastics.org>.