Alabama and Auburn Women’s Gymnastics to Meet in Birmingham in 2016 in Elevate The Stage Presented by NobleBank & Trust
Birmingham, Ala. – Knight Eady Sports Group has announced that the University of Alabama and Auburn University’s women’s gymnastics teams will meet again in Birmingham for a neutral site gymnastics meet, Elevate The Stage, presented by NobleBank & Trust. The meet, in its second year of existence, is scheduled to take place on January 17, 2016, at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC.
The Elevate The Stage meet brings two of the top collegiate gymnastics programs in the country to Birmingham for the second year. At the inaugural Elevate meet held on March 8, 2015, over 6,000 fans filled the Legacy Arena at the BJCC to watch two of the top gymnastics programs in the country and in-state rivals go head-to-head. After the inaugural meet, both Alabama and Auburn boasted strong post-season performances and placed in the top-six at the 2015 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships. The 2016 Elevate The Stage meet will be the first time the two programs will face each other since the national competition.
Elevate The Stage, which is in addition to the Southeastern Conference meet between Alabama and Auburn, will provide a championship caliber platform for the student-athletes. The Elevate The Stage meet is staged on the podiums, which have historically only been used for the SEC and NCAA Championships. Competing on the podiums during the regular season gives the teams an incredible advantage heading into post-season competition. Additionally, the podiums are visually appealing to the audience and have more bounce and spring for the gymnasts.
“We are so excited to return to Birmingham next season for the second Elevate the Stage meet. The chance to compete on a podium against Auburn last season was a huge boost for both teams and a great opportunity for our fans,” said Dana Duckworth, Head Women’s Gymnastics Coach at the University of Alabama. “Elevate the Stage is more than just a great competition, though. It gives both teams a way to reach out and make a difference in local philanthropies such as Camp Smile-A-Mile and the Ronald MacDonald House of Alabama.”
Additionally, Elevate The Stage features a unique philanthropic partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama and Camp Smile-A-Mile. These two charitable organizations will receive recognition during the meet and a portion of the proceeds from the ticket and merchandise sales.
“The Elevate the Stage meet last year was a hit for [Auburn] in more ways than one. Not only did it showcase two of the best teams in the country competing head to head at a neutral site, it also prepared our team for the post-season by utilizing the podium in front of thousands of fans,” said Jeff Graba, Head Women’s Gymnastics Coach at Auburn University. “In addition to all of this, the event benefited two fantastic charitable organizations in Camp SAM and RMHCA. I think it was a win for all involved.”
NobleBank & Trust will be the presenting sponsor of Elevate the Stage for the second year in a row. NobleBank recently expanded its presence in central Alabama opening its first Birmingham location at the back entrance of The Summit (across from Leaf & Petal) this spring.
“We are a unique financial institution, offering Birmingham area customers the latest in banking technology with exceptional customer service,” said Paul Rogers, Senior EVP and Market President of NobleBank & Trust. “Community is very important to NobleBank. We look forward to supporting the athletic talent of two Alabama universities and the outstanding work of two local non-profits, while providing a great opportunity for area residents to attend a family-oriented event.”
Tickets are on-sale now through Ticketmaster. For additional information or to purchase tickets, fans can visit www.elevatethestage.com. Elevate Gymnastics can be found on Facebook and Twitter. For additional questions and sponsorship information, please contact Katie Jernigan at [email protected].
