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March 28, 2008 - U. S. Cellular Center Puts Out Welcome Mat for NCAA Wrestlers

Contact:  Tammy Koolbeck   319-929-5755

 

The U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was transformed into small college wrestling's Valhalla during the middle of March.  The arena, managed by VenuWorks of Ames, Iowa, hosted the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships on March 8-9 and the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships on March 15-16.

 

The U.S. Cellular Center is believed to be the first facility to host both Division III and II national tournaments in the same season.

 

"We're convinced there is no better venue than the U.S. Cellular Center in the country," Iowa Conference Commissioner John Cochrane told the Cedar Rapids Gazette.  "There can't be."

 

The Iowa Conference, Coe College and Cornell (Iowa) College co-hosted the Division III event.  Coe, located in Cedar Rapids, and Cornell from Mount Vernon, Iowa, are members of the Iowa Conference.  Upper Iowa University, located in Fayette, Iowa, hosted the Division II tournament.

 

Iowa colleges and universities have been dominant at all NCAA Championship levels since 1933, when Iowa State won its first title.  Iowa State and Iowa have combined for 28 Division I championships.  Wartburg College of Waverly, Iowa, won its sixth national championship since 1996 at this year's Division III meet.

 

"Wrestling is a tremendous source of pride, not only for the state of Iowa, but in the Iowa Conference," Cochrane said.  "I think it's natural place to hold these championships."

 

The U.S. Cellular Center will again host the Division III tournament in 2009 and has a bid in to host the meet in 2010 at the venue.  Cedar Rapids and Upper Iowa University will likely bid for the 2012 Division II tournament.

 

"We'd like nothing more than to be a semi-permanent home for the Division II championship," Cochrane said.

 

Coaches had generous praise for the event and venue, according to Coe wrestling coach John Oostendorp.

 

"I got some unbelievable positive feedback from all over the country," Oostendorp told The Gazette.  "Everybody thought it was the best venue they ever had.  From a pure athlete and coaching standpoint, it was great."

 

The Division III tournament attracted 7,337 people over its two-day, four-session run.  That is the third highest attendance mark in Division III championship history.  The Division II tournament drew 5,643 fans over its two-day, four-session run.

 

The two championship events generated $900,000 for the local economy, according to Mary Lee Malmberg of the Cedar Rapids Convention & Visitors Bureau. 

 

"That's a great spike for our economy, especially in the winter," Malmberg told The Gazette. 

 

The U.S. Cellular Center has hosted national championships ranging from the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball tournament to Golden Gloves boxing and Tae Kwon Do martial arts.

 

 

BACKGROUND

VenuWorks (formerly Compass Facility Management) is well known for its success in providing full management services for arenas, theaters, and convention centers, which are primarily under the governance of municipalities, counties, colleges, and universities.  VenuWorks, headquartered in Ames, Iowa, is the third largest facilities management company in the United States, serving 26 facilities in 15 communities throughout the US.  It also manages food and beverage operations and provides event booking and promotion services.  VenuWorks also performs feasibility studies and consulting work for clients with existing and prospective public assembly facilities.

 

 

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