HARTFORD, Conn., June 10, 2010 – Seven Hartford-based companies have signed on as event partners and sponsors for the 2010 Visa Championships, Aug. 10-14, in Hartford, Conn. The local event sponsors from the Hartford area are: Basement Systems, CCMC/Elite Sports Medicine, DATTCO, Day Pitney, McCarter & English, Travelers and Webster Bank.

“We have some exciting plans for this summer’s Visa Championships, and support from these companies is invaluable to making this year’s event one of the best yet,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “The commitment of these companies will be a major factor in making this a very successful event that will showcase some of the best athletes in the world.”

“This community has really stepped up for the Visa Championships,” said Chuck Steedman, senior vice president and general manager for the XL Center in Hartford. “Their commitment is fundamental to building confidence that Hartford is truly a can-do city when it comes to hosting big events. The Visa Championships will be one of the largest sporting events ever hosted in this city, and we expect it to be a great example of how Hartford can welcome organizations such as USA Gymnastics. We are very appreciative of the leadership role these companies have taken.”

Here’s a little bit about each of the companies.

Event partners

  • Basement Systems – Basement Systems is the largest basement waterproofing contractor network in the world, specializing in concrete and foundation waterproofing, sump pump installation and interior basement waterproofing.
  • CCMC/Elite Sports Medicine – Elite Sports Medicine is the sports medical division of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. The program is based on the multi-disciplinary approach to athletic injury prevention and care to serve the needs of the adolescent and young adult athletes. It will be the sports medicine provider for the 2010 Visa Championships.
  • McCarter & English – McCarter & English, LLP, is a firm of more 400 lawyers with offices in Boston, Hartford, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia and Wilmington. In continuous business for more than 160 years, it is among the oldest and largest law firms in America.
  • Travelers – The Travelers Companies, Inc., is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. The company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage sold primarily through independent agents and brokers.

Event sponsors

  • DATTCO – Established in 1924, DATTCO is a family-owned, full service transportation company, headquartered in New Britain, Conn. The company maintains 19 additional office, terminal, and service facilities throughout the New England states and employs more 1,200 people. DATTCO’s operations are divided into three primary divisions: the School Bus Division, the Motor Coach Group, and the Sales & Service Division.
  • Day Pitney – Day Pitney is a law firm that delivers the highest quality representation to businesses, financial institutions, government entities, and individuals throughout the United States and internationally. Its lawyers collaborate across a range of disciplines from offices in Boston, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, DC.
  • Webster Bank – Founded during the Great Depression to help people build and buy their homes, Webster Bank is today one of the nation’s leading regional commercial banks with more than $18 billion in assets and ranks as the largest independent commercial bank headquartered in New England. Starting in a one-room office in Waterbury, Conn., Webster has expanded through organic growth and acquisitions to more than 180 offices and 500 ATMS across its four state footprint in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York.

Background on the Visa Championships
In 2010, the Visa Championships visit Connecticut for the first time. The event features four of USA Gymnastics’ competitive disciplines – men’s and women’s gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling. The Visa Championships determine the U.S. champions and the national team for each discipline for both the junior and senior elite levels. NBC Sports and Universal Sports will broadcast and webcast the action from the men’s and women’s gymnastics competitions.

Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster by phone at 800-745-3000; online at www.ticketmaster.com; at all Ticketmaster outlets; or at the XL Center Ticket Office. Men’s and women’s gymnastics will be held at the XL Center, with rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling scheduled for the University of Hartford’s Chase Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion. Visa is the only card accepted for the 2010 Visa Championships.

The USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show is held in conjunction with the Visa Championships and will be conducted at the Connecticut Convention Center. The USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show is the annual gathering of professional members that offers educational and business sessions, a large exhibitor’s hall and other business and educational opportunities.