More than 150 athletes showed up for the 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. The Fort Worth Sports Commission reported an economic impact of $7.4 million on the city. And why would it not be? The GOAT of the sport, Simone Biles, was showing up. Then there was the fans’ beloved, Jade Carey, donning the leotard for the championships. And also the 2020 Olympic team silver medalist Jordan Chiles. The big names that are missing this year, and the impact can be seen.

Let’s start with yesterday, when the men took to the apparatus to finish their campaign. The Smoothie King Center has a seating capacity of 17,791, and yet, the images showed only about 20–30% of the arena filled, far below what you’d expect for a high-profile national gymnastics event. But things could have been different

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