Pittsburgh to Host 2014 U.S. Gymnastics Championships

By Daniel Anwar

The 2014 U.S. Gymnastics Championships will be held in Pittsburgh for the first time, USA Gymnastics and VisitPittsburgh announced today.  

Scheduled for Aug. 21-24, the four-day competition, which serves as USA Gymnastics’ national championships, will be held at CONSOL Energy Center and tickets will go on sale late this summer. The USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show will be staged at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

In addition to VisitPittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Penguins, AEG and CONSOL Energy Center were instrumental in bringing the event to the city.  The City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County are also helping support the championships.

Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics, exclusively told iSportconnect:  “One of the things that stood out to us is how well all of the entities in Pittsburgh work as a team. The combination of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Visit Pittsburgh, the Allegheny County Executive, AEG and other parties convinced us that Pittsburgh would be a fantastic location for our championships.

“In 2012 National Geographic Traveler Magazine rated Pittsburgh one of the Best of the World Must-See Places and it is clear to us why that is. Pittsburgh has become a truly magnificent town and has invested heavily in the visitor and sports experience. Not to mention, the city has one of the newest and most state of the art convention centers.

“We consider the U.S. Gymnastics Championships to be the annual Superbowl of our sport, and we are confident that Pittsburgh will help us celebrate the Championships at that level.”

Craig Davis, president and CEO of VisitPittsburgh, added: “It is an honor to be selected as the host city for this prestigious event. We are looking forward to the opportunity to showcase Pittsburgh’s revitalization. And, we’re committed to providing memorable experiences that exceed expectations for the thousands of out-of-town visitors.”

“CONSOL Energy Center and AEG Facilities are honored to be selected to host the 2014 USA Gymnastics Championship. Pittsburgh is famous for its strong sports culture, and hosting the Championships will once again showcase CONSOL Energy Center as the premier sporting destination in the region,” said Jay Cooper, regional vice president of AEG Facilities. “This is a fantastic event for the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, and we are looking forward to working with our partners, USA Gymnastics and VisitPittsburgh on this iconic event.”

“The Pittsburgh Penguins are excited that the 2014 U.S. Gymnastics Championships are coming to Pittsburgh and CONSOL Energy Center,” said David Morehouse, CEO and president of the Penguins. “Pittsburgh has a well-deserved reputation as a phenomenal sports town and we know that fans throughout our region will come out to support this unique national championship event.”

To read iSportconnect’s exclusive interview with Steve Penny click here>>