Tickets On Sale Now For The 2012 USA Gymnastics National Championships

Bridgeport, Conn. -The University of Bridgeport and Webster Bank Arena have paired to present the 2012 USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championships from Thursday, April 12 through Saturday, April 14.

Action in the USAG Women's Collegiate National Championships will begin on Thursday, April 12 with two sessions of team semifinals (1 p.m. and 6 p.m.) at UB's Hubbell Gymnasium.  The following evening, Friday, April 13, the top two teams from each of Thursday's semifinals will square off for the 2012 USAG Women's Collegiate Team National Championship in  Webster Bank Arena at 7:00 p.m. The weekend concludes with the individual event finals back on Bridgeport's campus in Hubbell Gym at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 14.

The University of Bridgeport Purple Knights are the three-time defending USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate Team National Champions.

Stated UB President Neil Albert Salonen, "The University of Bridgeport is honored to serve as the host of the 2012 USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championships.  We are proud of our UB three-time national champions and pleased to welcome all of the USAG competing schools to our university and city.  This championship event is a great way for the UB community to showcase our institution as well as our city to all our visiting student-athletes and regional gymnastics fans.  We look forward to welcoming all and a most robust competition."

Howard Saffan, president of Harbor Yard Sports and Entertainment, LLC, which manages Webster Bank Arena, said the event is another example of the arena's commitment to college sports.

"We're proud to present the USAG team finals. These outstanding athletes are a credit to their schools and fans will be treated to some of the best gymnastic talent in the nation," he said.

A total of eight institutions from all over the United States will vie for the USAG Women's Collegiate Team National Championship during the first two days of the event, and competitors from those eight schools plus several others that have qualified during the season will go for individual crowns in the four different individual events on Saturday.

Tickets are on-sale now.  Prices are $45.00 for a three-day/four-session pass.  Tickets to the Webster Bank Arena event on Friday, April 13 at 7:00 p.m. are:  $27.50, $22.50 & $12.00, (additional fees may apply). Tickets can be purchased at the arena's Clickit or Ticket Box Office or at ticketmaster.com.  Tickets are $ 10.00 for each session that will be held at Hubbell Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Bridgeport on Thursday, April 12 and Saturday, April 14.  Please visit www.bridgeport.edu/usag for information on how to purchase advanced tickets.

"As 2012 is an Olympic Year, there is a lot of focus on our sport," said University of Bridgeport head women's gymnastics coach Byron Knox, "so this is a great time to host a prestigious event like the USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championships.  Our program is psyched for the opportunity to defend our title at home plus have the team finals in a great facility like Webster Bank Arena.  Having the team finals there truly takes this event to another level."

"Hosting a national championship is an honor and privilege," states University of Bridgeport Director of Athletics Jay Moran.  "We are honored to be able to share all the great things that are happening both on our campus and in this area with the visiting student-athletes and gymnastics followers from basically all over the country, and we are privileged to be able to provide what I know will be an unforgettable series of events during the championship.  People will have the opportunity to see first-hand what a fine gymnastics program we have here at UB and what a quality group of people will help put on the events both on our campus and at Webster Bank Arena."

The 10,000-seat Webster Bank Arena is southern Connecticut's premier entertainment and sports venue. Please visit www.websterbankarena.com.