2018 National Congress and Trade Show is awarded to Providence, R.I.

 

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 4, 2017 – USA Gymnastics has awarded the 2018 USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show to the Rhode Island Convention Center, Aug. 9-11, in Providence, R.I. This marks the first time the National Congress and Trade Show has been held in Providence and the first time in the northeast since 2013.

 

“USA Gymnastics is excited about bringing National Congress back to the northeast,” said Ron Galimore, chief operating officer for USA Gymnastics.  “Providence has been a wonderful host for several events, and the Rhode Island Convention Center provides National Congress attendees with an outstanding facility for their educational sessions and a compact downtown with restaurants, shops and shopping mall for entertainment.  Our nationals will be held in a different city, which will be announced this fall.”

 

“We are looking forward to welcoming USA Gymnastics back to Providence,” said John Gibbons, executive director of the Rhode Island Sports Commission. “The National Congress and Trade Show is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our city and our state to world-class educators and sports professionals.”

 

The annual USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show offers the best gymnastics education in the United States. The educational forum attracts nearly 3,000 attendees and provides a unique opportunity for presentations, demonstrations and educational seminars on a variety of topics and a large exhibitor’s hall with additional business opportunities. The Business Forum on Aug. 8 kicks off the three-day seminar that begins on Aug. 9. 

 

“We are honored to host the 2018 USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show at the Rhode Island Convention Center,” said Lawrence Lepore, general manager of the Rhode Island Convention Center. “We look forward to providing a wonderful experience to all of the attendees during their stay here in Providence.”

 

The Rhode Island Sports Commission is working with USA Gymnastics on logistics for the three-day Congress. 

 

Background information

  • Rhode Island Convention Center. The Rhode Island Convention consists of a 100,000-contiguous-square-foot exhibition hall, a 20,000-square-foot ballroom, 23 meeting rooms, and the Rotunda Room which provides spectacular views of the city. The Center is managed by SMG, celebrating its 40th anniversary and founded in 1977.  SMG provides management services to more than 230 public assembly

 

 

 

 

facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theaters, performing arts centers, amphitheaters, equestrian facilities, science centers and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 15 million square feet of exhibition space and more than 1.5 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming; construction and design consulting; and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as McCormick Place & Soldier Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston’s NRG Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering companies, currently serving more than 140 accounts worldwide. For more information visit www.smgworld.com

  • Rhode Island Sports Commission.  The Rhode Island Sports Commission is a division of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau whose mission is to enrich the Rhode Island economy and community through the attraction, promotion and development of sporting events and associated meetings. For more information, visit GoSportsRI.com.
  • USA Gymnastics.  Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States.  Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.  Its disciplines include men's and women's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics, and group gymnastics. For more information, visit usagym.org.