The Visa Championships held in Hartford last week were the most widely attended national championships in the history of USA Gymnastics.
The five-day event that ended Saturday garnered 29,298 attendees, besting the previous mark set in San Jose in 2007. More than 5,000 hotel room night were booked around Hartford for the event.
“Things could not have gone better for us last week at the Visa Championships,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics, in a statement. “We created a vision for something special, and we achieved our goals. Record attendance, incredible local support, and outstanding sponsor activation combined to set a grand stage for some exceptional athlete performances.”
The event utilized the XL Center, the Connecticut Convention Center, the University of Hartford Chase Arena and the Old State House. It marked the first time one event involved this many Hartford facilities.
The high attendance and sponsorship participation is a big win for the Hartford travel and convention industry, as tourism officials and business owners want to entice more major events into the city.
