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Iowa City breaks single-session attendance record | Hawk Central
The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City already have broken the single session and combined session attendance records with more than three weeks to go before wrestlers clear the mats.
Josh Schamberger, President of the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the goal now is to fill Carver-Hawkeye Arena to the top.
“I think everyone around the table right now wants nothing less than a sellout,†Schamberger said. “It’s tracking that way.â€
Schamberger thinks that with Hawkeye junior Matt McDonough getting a wild card spot in the trials this week, and the possibility of three former Hawkeyes earning a spot on Saturday, Iowa wrestling fans could make one more push for tickets.
“If all three qualify (Saturday), we’ll have 10 Hawkeyes in there,†Schamberger said.
As of Thursday, 9,762 all-session tickets had been sold, and more than 300 single-day tickets for April 21 and 22.
The previous single-session record was set in 2000 at the Reunion Arena in Dallas. The paid attendance that day was 9,434.
Schamberger said the goal when they started last year was 8,000 to cover their expenses. But the bureau had its eyes on the record.
“We felt it was certainly obtainable,†Schamberger said. “Being here in Iowa City, where Iowa wrestling averages about 9,000 fans a dual.â€
Putting a package together for Hawkeye fans to buy season wrestling tickets and two-session Trials at the same time gave the sales a big boost.
“We had 4,000 order before tickets even went on sale to the public, a terrific start,†Schamberger said. “In November, we were up to 6,500 without having done any marketing.â€
USA Wrestling is excited about the response from Iowa City. USA Wrestling has held the Trials in Allentown, Mich. (1984);Pensacola, Fla. (1988); Pittsburgh and Concord, Calif. (1992); Spokane, Wash., and Concord, Calf. (1996); Dallas (2000); Indianapolis (2004); and Las Vegas (2008) before coming to Iowa City.
“USA Wrestling is extremely excited about the response by the wrestling community and sports fans from around the nation about the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City,†USA Wrestling Director of National Events Pete Isais said in a statement. “This will truly be a wonderful showcase of Olympic wrestling at its best.â€
The U.S. Olympic Trials will determine the United States’ representatives for the Summer Olympic Games in London.
Fans will have the chance to watch freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Because college wrestling is folkstyle, Dan Gable, Tom and Terry Brands, Luke Eustice and other wrestlers will host a free clinic at 10 a.m. April 7 that will explain the difference.
USA Wrestling plans to tape the clinic and make it available online. The event is in the Dan Gable wrestling complex in Carver-Hawkeye Arena and is open to the public.
Tickets remain on sale at 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials - Wrestling - Iowa City, Iowa · April 21 or by phone at 800-424-2957. Single-day tickets are $40 for adults and $25 for students, and all-session tickets are $70 and $40.
The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City already have broken the single session and combined session attendance records with more than three weeks to go before wrestlers clear the mats.
Josh Schamberger, President of the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the goal now is to fill Carver-Hawkeye Arena to the top.
“I think everyone around the table right now wants nothing less than a sellout,†Schamberger said. “It’s tracking that way.â€
Schamberger thinks that with Hawkeye junior Matt McDonough getting a wild card spot in the trials this week, and the possibility of three former Hawkeyes earning a spot on Saturday, Iowa wrestling fans could make one more push for tickets.
“If all three qualify (Saturday), we’ll have 10 Hawkeyes in there,†Schamberger said.
As of Thursday, 9,762 all-session tickets had been sold, and more than 300 single-day tickets for April 21 and 22.
The previous single-session record was set in 2000 at the Reunion Arena in Dallas. The paid attendance that day was 9,434.
Schamberger said the goal when they started last year was 8,000 to cover their expenses. But the bureau had its eyes on the record.
“We felt it was certainly obtainable,†Schamberger said. “Being here in Iowa City, where Iowa wrestling averages about 9,000 fans a dual.â€
Putting a package together for Hawkeye fans to buy season wrestling tickets and two-session Trials at the same time gave the sales a big boost.
“We had 4,000 order before tickets even went on sale to the public, a terrific start,†Schamberger said. “In November, we were up to 6,500 without having done any marketing.â€
USA Wrestling is excited about the response from Iowa City. USA Wrestling has held the Trials in Allentown, Mich. (1984);Pensacola, Fla. (1988); Pittsburgh and Concord, Calif. (1992); Spokane, Wash., and Concord, Calf. (1996); Dallas (2000); Indianapolis (2004); and Las Vegas (2008) before coming to Iowa City.
“USA Wrestling is extremely excited about the response by the wrestling community and sports fans from around the nation about the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City,†USA Wrestling Director of National Events Pete Isais said in a statement. “This will truly be a wonderful showcase of Olympic wrestling at its best.â€
The U.S. Olympic Trials will determine the United States’ representatives for the Summer Olympic Games in London.
Fans will have the chance to watch freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Because college wrestling is folkstyle, Dan Gable, Tom and Terry Brands, Luke Eustice and other wrestlers will host a free clinic at 10 a.m. April 7 that will explain the difference.
USA Wrestling plans to tape the clinic and make it available online. The event is in the Dan Gable wrestling complex in Carver-Hawkeye Arena and is open to the public.
Tickets remain on sale at 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials - Wrestling - Iowa City, Iowa · April 21 or by phone at 800-424-2957. Single-day tickets are $40 for adults and $25 for students, and all-session tickets are $70 and $40.
