Secret U.S. Classic Returns to Sears Centre for Third Straight Year

The Secret U.S. Classic, the final qualifying event for women's gymnastics for the P&G Gymnastics Championships, will be staged at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill., for the third consecutive time. Scheduled for July 25 at 6:30 p.m., the Secret U.S. Classic features some of the USA's top female gymnasts, and all-day tickets go on sale Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. CT.

Two-time World all-around champion Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, and 2012 Olympic team gold-medalist and two-time World all-around medalist Kyla Ross of Aliso Viejo, Calif./Gym-Max, finished one-two, respectively, in the senior all-around last year.  Jordan Chiles of Vancouver, Wash./Naydenov Gymnastics, won the junior all-around title.

Many of the country's top gymnasts use the Secret U.S. Classic as a final tune-up for the P&G Gymnastics Championships, while other gymnasts are hoping to qualify for the national championships. The P&G Championships is the national championships for USA Gymnastics and determines the U.S. champions and the U.S. National Team. The 2015 P&G Championships are scheduled for Aug. 13-16 at Bankers Life Field House in Indianapolis. For more information, go to pgchamps.com.

The July 25 competition schedule is 1 p.m. for the junior session and 6:30 p.m. for the senior session. All times are Central and subject to change.

All-day tickets, which include admission to both the junior and senior elite sessions, are $125, $79, $69, $59 and $49, including facility fees. The platinum ticket price includes an Olympian meet and greet before competition begins.  Single session tickets will go on sale at a later date. To purchase tickets, visit www.SearsCentre.com, call 1-888-SEARS-TIX, or visit the Box Office at the Sears Centre Arena. Group tickets may be purchased by calling 847-649-2451. Discounted tickets are also available through local gym clubs that are participating in the Club Ticket Sales Program. For more information, go to secretclassic.com.

USA Gymnastics is again partnering with World Sport Chicago on this event. The two organizations have worked together on the 2009 American Cup, the 2009-10 Chicago Cup, and the U.S. Classic since 2010.

Background information

• Sears Centre Arena. Sears Centre Arena is an 11,000-seat multipurpose family entertainment, cultural, and sports arena located in Hoffman Estates' Prairie Stone Business Park. The Sears Centre Arena, which opened in 2006, is designed to accommodate a variety of events including concerts, family shows and sporting events. For more information regarding the Sears Centre Arena and upcoming events, please visit the arena's website at www.searscentre.com.

• World Sport Chicago. World Sport Chicago, the legacy of Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid, believes that sport has the power to transform lives and is dedicated to helping children in Chicago find a sport to meet their interests and abilities. The organization promotes the Olympic ideals of fitness, education and well-being by working with partner organizations to launch or expand sport programs for kids. WSC is working to introduce Chicago's youth to the fun and benefit of sports and the ideals of fair play, teamwork, respect and leadership. For more information, go to -www.worldsportchicago.org.

• 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, log on to www.usagym.org.