HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Jan. 30, 2009 – For the first time in its history, the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill., is sporting a large 105 x 16-foot banner touting the upcoming Tyson American Cup, one of the world’s most prestigious international invitational gymnastics competitions, on the south side of the building that faces I-90. The Hoffman Estates Fire Department assisted in hanging the banner, which illustrates the event’s legacy with images of former champions, including Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, Carly Patterson, Mary Lou Retton, Shannon Miller, Kim Zmeskal, Paul Hamm, Jonathan Horton, Blaine Wilson and Bart Conner.

The Sears Centre Arena will host the event on Feb. 21, with competition beginning at 1:30 p.m. 2008 Olympic medalists Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind., and Joey Hagerty of Rio Rancho, N.M., 2008 U.S. all-around champion David Sender of Arlington Heights, Ill., and 2008 U.S. junior champion Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich., headline the field.