© John Cheng

INDIANAPOLIS, March 31, 2016 – Shannon Miller, a member of the Magnificent Seven who won the Olympic team gold in 1996, will be signing autographs as part of the fan activities for the 2016 Pacific Rim Championships, presented by Hershey’s, April 8-10, at the XFINITY Arena at Everett (Wash). Fans also will have a chance to participate in the Kellogg’s Fitness and Nutrition Zone, and meet Hershey’s mascots, Hershey and Kiss, before competition begins at the XFINITY Arena for the Pacific Rim Championships.

2008 Olympic silver-medalist Samantha Peszek kicks off competition week by appearing at Gymnastics Night at Imagine Children’s Museum on Thursday, April 7, between 6-7 p.m., which will also feature gymnasts from Little Gym of Everett. To attend gymnastics night at Imagine Children’s Museum, fans may purchase tickets online at imaginecm.org/gymnastics-night or at the museum store. Museum members can get tickets for $5 or just $8 for non-members.

The three-day Pacific Rim Championships is expected to feature more than 200 gymnasts from more than 19 Pac Rim countries, competing in men’s and women’s gymnastics, trampoline and rhythmic gymnastics. The countries are Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, and the United States.

Here’s a quick overview of the activities for fans prior to competition. Doors open one hour before the ticketed time for the sessions at XFINITY Arena.

  • Hello Happy. Hello Hershey’s. Fans can bring some extra happiness to the weekend by saying “Hello!” to Hershey and Kiss, two of Hershey’s most beloved mascots. Fans can also pick up free “Hello World!” cheer posters that can be displayed while all of their favorite gymnasts are competing. And on Saturday, April 9, America’s most decorated gymnast Shannon Miller will be on hand to sign autographs from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. at the Hershey’s concourse booth. Organizers estimate that approximately 300 individuals will have the opportunity for an autograph during the allotted time.
  • Kellogg’s Fitness and Nutrition Zone. Kids can have fun and gain knowledge about the importance of fitness through the interactive Kellogg’s Fitness and Nutrition Zone that features physical challenges in building balance, strength, flexibility and cardiovascular exercise, all of which are fundamental to gymnastics. Participants get coaching tips from local gymnasts, can snap a photo on the Kellogg’s podium and share what gets them started each day on their way to greatness!
  • International Gymnastics Camp. Fans can stop by the International Gymnastics Camp booth to learn about the IGC difference and to take home exciting camp information and cool giveaways. Staff members are available to speak about the world-class gymnastics training at IGC, the benefits of summer camp for children, and IGC’s amazing recreation activities.
  • Merchandise. Fans can purchase everything gymnastics, including event-specific tees, Under Armour and GK leotards, and more, at merchandise booths on the concourse. Autographed copies of 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin’s book, “Finding My Shine,” are available for just $25. In her book, Liukin talks about her personal journey of challenges and success, sharing tips for reaching goals and overcoming obstacles.

Event Information

The competition schedule, which is subject to change, is listed below.

 

    April 8

    • 1:30 p.m. – Subdivision 1: Men’s gymnastics team and all-around finals, and women’s trampoline team finals and individual preliminaries; XFINITY Arena
    • 2 p.m. – Rhythmic gymnastics team and all-around finals (two events), Walt Price Student Fitness Center, Everett Community College
    • 7 p.m. – Subdivision 2: Men’s team and all-around finals, and men’s trampoline team finals and individual preliminaries; XFINITY Arena

    April 9

    • 1:30 p.m. – Subdivision 1: Women’s gymnastics team and all-around finals, and junior men’s and women’s trampoline finals; XFINITY Arena
    • 2 p.m. – Rhythmic gymnastics team and all-around finals (two events), Walt Price Student Fitness Center, Everett Community College
    • 7 p.m. – Subdivision 2: Women’s gymnastics team and all-around finals, and senior men’s and women’s trampoline finals; XFINITY Arena

    April 10

    • 12 p.m. – Junior men’s and women’s gymnastics individual event finals; XFINITY Arena
    • 1 p.m. – Rhythmic gymnastics junior and senior individual event finals, Walt Price Student Fitness Center, Everett Community College
    • 6 p.m. – Senior men’s and women’s gymnastics individual event finals; XFINITY Arena

The team competition format for all disciplines is a mixture of junior and senior level athletes. The medalists for both team and the all-around, as well as qualifiers for event finals, for men’s, women’s and rhythmic gymnastics are determined during the team competition. For trampoline, the first day of competition determines which athletes advance to the finals. The top eight in the rankings advance to the finals, and a maximum of two athletes per country are eligible to advance to the individual event finals.

The various ticket packages for men’s and women’s gymnastics and trampoline at the XFINITY Arena are listed below. Ticket prices vary based on seat location. Tickets may be purchased at the XFINITY Arena Box Office charge by phone 1-866-332-8499 or xfinityarenaeverett.com. Click here for links to the different ticket options.

  • Men’s gymnastics team and all-around finals plus men’s and women’s trampoline team finals: includes both sessions (1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.) on April 8, with medals awarded following the 7 p.m. session; tickets range in price from $50-$100. The USA will compete in Subdivision 2 for men’s gymnastics.
  • Women’s gymnastics team and all-around finals plus men’s and women’s trampoline finals: includes both sessions (1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.) on April 9, with medals awarded following the 7 p.m. session; tickets range in price from $65-$125. The USA will compete in Subdivision 2 for women’s gymnastics.
  • Men’s and women’s gymnastics individual event finals: includes both sessions (12 p.m./juniors and 6 p.m./seniors) on April 10, with medals awarded at the conclusion of each session; tickets range in price from $60-$115.
  • Single session: men’s gymnastics team and all-around finals/men’s and women’s trampoline team finals, April 8, 1:30 p.m. – $25-$50 and 7 p.m. (USA session for men’s gymnastics) – $30-$65; women’s gymnastics team and all-around finals/men’s and women’s trampoline finals, April 9, 1:30 p.m. – $30-$65 and 7 p.m. (USA session for women’s gymnastics)– $37.50-$75; and men’s and women’s gymnastics event finals, April 10, 12 p.m. (juniors) – $25-$50 and 6 p.m. (seniors) – $39.50-$80.
  • All-session: includes all six sessions and ranges in price from $275-$125.

Tickets for rhythmic gymnastics, which will be held at the Walt Price Student Fitness Center at the Everett Community College, are general admission: $20 per day, April 8-9, and $25, April 10, plus any applicable fees. The rhythmic gymnastics competition schedule is: April 8-9, 2 p.m. – team and all-around finals (two events per day); and April 10, 1 p.m. – junior and senior individual event finals. Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at xfinityarenaeverett.com.

For more information on the Pac Rim Championships, go to pacrim2016.com.

In addition to the 2012 and 2016 Pacific Rim Championships, the Seattle area has held three other major gymnastics events: the gymnastics competition at the 1990 Goodwill Games was staged in Tacoma, and Seattle was the site for the 1995 American Cup and 1973 women’s national championships.

Held every two years, the Pacific Rim Championships traditionally feature gymnasts from Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore and the United States. NBC Sports will televise action from the Pacific Rim Championships. Past sites include: 2014, Richmond, B.C., Canada; 2012, Everett, Wash.; 2010, Melbourne, Australia; 2008, San Jose, Calif.; and 2006, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Background information

 

  • XFINITY Arena at Everett. The XFINITY Arena at Everett, recipient of the International Association of Venue Manager’s (IAVM) prestigious Venue Excellence Award 2010, was developed by the Everett Public Facilities District. The 10,000-seat venue hosts a myriad of events including concerts, ice skating and family shows. The facility is also home to the Everett Silvertips, a Western Hockey League franchise, and the venue accommodates other sporting events such as basketball, volleyball and international skating competitions. Spectra is a major provider of sports and entertainment hospitality services in Washington. One or more of the divisions is at work supporting 15 Washington venues and events, including Washington State University and Gonzaga.

  • Spectra by Comcast Spectacor. Spectra by Comcast Spectacor is the expert in hosting and entertainment, partnering with over 300 clients at 400 global properties to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s expertise is embodied within three divisions: Venue Management (formerly Global Spectrum), Food Services & Hospitality (formerly Ovations Food Services), and Ticketing & Fan Engagement (formerly Paciolan). Learn more at SpectraExperiences.com. Comcast Spectacor is part of Comcast Corporation, a Fortune 50 media and technology company that operates Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, in addition to Spectra, Comcast Spectacor owns and operates the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers and the Wells Fargo Center venue. Visit us at ComcastSpectacor.com, Philadelphia Flyers.com, and WellsFargoCenterPhilly.com for more information.

  • The Hershey Company. The Hershey Company, headquartered in Hershey, Pa., is a global confectionery leader known for bringing goodness to the world through its chocolate, sweets, mints and other great-tasting snacks. Hershey has approximately 21,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 80 brands around the world that drive more than $7.4 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey’s, Reese’s, Hershey’s Kisses, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers and Brookside. Building on its core business, Hershey is expanding its portfolio to include a broader range of delicious snacks. The company remains focused on growing its presence in key international markets while continuing to extend its competitive advantage in North America. At Hershey, goodness has always been about more than delicious products. For more than 120 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on giving underserved children the skills and support they need to be successful. Today, the company continues this social purpose through ‘Nourishing Minds,’ a global initiative that provides basic nutrition to help children learn and grow. From neighborhoods across the United States to the streets of Shanghai and Mumbai and villages of West Africa, our goal is to nourish one million minds by 2020. Visit: www.thehersheycompany.com