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Two major events to converge in Milwaukee this summer

Posted at 10:20 PM, Nov 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-16 11:54:46-05
Just when you thought the Big Gig could not get bigger, another major event is now planned on the opening weekend.
 
The USA Gymnastics Championships will be happening as Summerfest celebrates 50 years.
 
"Milwaukee is going to be booming next summer," said Kristin Settle, the communications director of VISIT Milwaukee.
 
The 50th anniversary of Summerfest already has major names like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pink signed up to headline. At the same time, the 2017 USA Gymnastics Championships will be going on downtown at the BMO Harris Bradley Center and the Wisconsin Center. 
 
"The fact that Summerfest is happening at the same time as the USA gymnastics is really wonderful for our city because they get to experience Summerfest, they get to see first hand what makes Milwaukee so magical in the summer," Settle said.
 
Two-thousand competitors are going to be the city and another 8,000 people will be watching them. That includes Olympic gymnast and Waukesha County native Chellsie Memmel.
 
"Champions is the highest level, or pretty much the highest level of competition that we host in our country," Memmel said. "This is the gymnasts competing from all over the country. These are the top athletes that we have in this field." 
 
The gymnasts will be top level power tumblers, trampolinists and rhythmic gymnasts. 
 
"You might definitely see some of these athletes try for the Olympics," Memmel said.
 
And while the athletes show off their skills, VISIT Milwaukee said it's a chance for the city to show off itself!
 
Kristin Settle said people should not avoid downtown, instead, they can help be great hosts to secure future major sporting events and other big attractions.
 
"The city is going to be packed with fun and people and excitement," Settle said.
 
VISIT Milwaukee anticipates just the gymnastics competition will bring in is $5.4 million of economic revenue to the city.