Iowa aims for wrestling attendance mark

Wiltz · 12-02-2008, 09:04 AM

Iowa aims for wrestling attendance mark
By Andy Hamilton • Iowa City Press-Citizen • December 1, 2008
http://hawkcentral.press-citizen.com.../81201012/1053
Iowa officials had internal discussions two years ago about taking a shot at the NCAA wrestling attendance record when Iowa State came to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for a dual meet.

Neither the timing of the talks nor the teams were right for a full house then. The Hawkeyes and Cyclones were restoring their programs under first-year coaches, they started the season on the periphery of the national championship chase, and Iowa associate athletics director Rick Klatt said the school “got a late start” on its push for the attendance record.

While the meet still produced the 12th-largest crowd in college wrestling history, it came nearly 2,000 short of the mark set when Minnesota crammed 15,646 into the Target Center for a 2002 meeting with the Hawkeyes.

Iowa would like to take down the record Saturday night.

“I think there’s this desire as the nation’s No. 1 wrestling program,” Klatt said Monday, “that maybe we need to recapture that standing with the dual meet attendance record.”

Iowa is certainly in position to do so entering Saturday night’s showdown between the top-ranked Hawkeyes and No. 2 Cyclones.

Iowa ticket manager Pam Finke said nearly 11,000 tickets for the meet had been sold as of Monday afternoon, and school officials have taken steps to expand Carver-Hawkeye Arena beyond its normal 15,500 capacity.

Damian Simcox, Iowa’s director of athletic facilities, said the school has been granted approval to push the capacity to 15,713 for the dual meet with reserved standing room spots around the rail on the concourse of the arena.

“Maybe all of the stars are in alignment,” Klatt said. “We’ve got a great matchup, two very good teams, back to the good ol’ days with No. 1 and No. 2 coming into this arena in early December to set the tone for the wrestling world.”

Finke said Iowa reserved a block of 1,000 free tickets for students.

“Those got swooped up,” she said. “Now if our students want to buy, they just pay the $7 rate for kids.”

Finke said tickets will be required for children age 5 and under — normally allowed through the gates free — for the Iowa State and Minnesota duals.

The Hawkeyes have been a hot ticket since claiming the national championship in March. Iowa’s season ticket sales are up nearly 20 percent from a year ago when the Hawkeyes led the nation in attendance, averaging 7,541 per home meet. Finke said Iowa has sold approximately 3,700 season tickets.

The Hawkeyes regularly benefit from a large walk-up crowd of ticket purchasers on the day of dual meets. But Finke and Klatt advised fans not to wait until the last minute this week.

“The hardest 4,000 tickets to sell are still out there,” Klatt said. “But if I were an Iowa Hawkeye fan, I wouldn’t be waiting until Friday or Saturday to get those tickets. They’re going to be snarfed up pretty quickly, and they’re going to see a great show. It’s going to be great wrestling. Even if you don’t know squat about wrestling, this is the one dual meet, even you’re a Hawk fan, that you want to be in the building for. … I have a feeling that Saturday night there’s not going to be a whole lot left, if anything.”

Reach Andy Hamilton at 339-7368 or ahamilton@press-citizen.com.

ban basketball · 12-02-2008, 09:57 AM

This is kind of a side note, but I can't help but notice how much Iowa and ISU (but especially Iowa) puts into this "interstate rivalry" every year.

In all sports at Iowa, the number one goal year after year seems to be "beat ISU," while the second goal seems to be to win the conference, then etc, etc.

For a non-conference dual/game/meet, or what have you, it just seems that way too much is vested in this one fairly meaningless event for each Iowa sports team.

grapplefan · 12-02-2008, 11:31 AM

Sour grapes, eh Ban? The number one goal at Iowa is to win a national title as a team, and at every weight. That has always been the case. That should be the goal of every team. An early meet isn't meaningless; it is auspicious.

There is nothing meaningless about #1 vs. #2, whether that's Oklahoma State vs Oklahoma, or Penn State vs. Lehigh. I'd love to see any #1 vs #2.
The Clones have an excellent opportunity to knock off the Hawkeyes this year, and braggin' rights mean a lot for recruiting in state and out. So come on down and enjoy an important meet with 15,000 other fans.

ban basketball · 12-02-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grapplefan

Sour grapes, eh Ban? The number one goal at Iowa is to win a national title as a team, and at every weight. That has always been the case. That should be the goal of every team. An early meet isn't meaningless; it is auspicious.

There is nothing meaningless about #1 vs. #2, whether that's Oklahoma State vs Oklahoma, or Penn State vs. Lehigh. I'd love to see any #1 vs #2.
The Clones have an excellent opportunity to knock off the Hawkeyes this year, and braggin' rights mean a lot for recruiting in state and out. So come on down and enjoy an important meet with 15,000 other fans.

Sour grapes for what? Belligerent, ignorant fans?! I also referred to other Iowa sports, not just wrestling.

I also find it a little curious that someone from Massachusetts is telling me to "come down" and watch wrestling with 15,000 other fans. Where? In Massachusetts?

gg121and2 · 12-02-2008, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ban basketball

Sour grapes for what? Belligerent, ignorant fans?! I also referred to other Iowa sports, not just wrestling.

I also find it a little curious that someone from Massachusetts is telling me to "come down" and watch wrestling with 15,000 other fans. Where? In Massachusetts?

(Pssst, Ban - he's originally from Cedar Rapids.) You might want to set up a time to meet him when he's in the Dome for National Duals. I'll also extend the invitation - come on down and see what a wrestling event really can be. You just might contribute to wrestling history. You could boo both teams if you like. I hope that doesn't sound too "belligerent" to you. I promise you I'll be in Cedar Falls a week from Thursday.

ban basketball · 12-02-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gg121and2

(Pssst, Ban - he's originally from Cedar Rapids.) You might want to set up a time to meet him when he's in the Dome for National Duals. I'll also extend the invitation - come on down and see what a wrestling event really can be. You just might contribute to wrestling history. You could boo both teams if you like. I hope that doesn't sound too "belligerent" to you. I promise you I'll be in Cedar Falls a week from Thursday.

None of my original post was anything personal; it was one person's observation. When it was directed personally toward me ("sour grapes"), that's when I replied as I did, which wasn't out of line.

I won't be booing, ISU, by the way. I like them fairly well.

And your promising me about being in Cedar Falls next week was important for what reason?

fanforlife · 12-02-2008, 12:46 PM

Can't we all just get along

I am excited to see how this all turns out, a crowd that large is just great for wrestling... I don't care what school you are from.

It could be worse, you could be sitting on press row where cheering is highly frowned upon

grapplefan · 12-02-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ban basketball

None of my original post was anything personal; it was one person's observation. When it was directed personally toward me ("sour grapes"), that's when I replied as I did, which wasn't out of line.

I won't be booing, ISU, by the way. I like them fairly well.

And your promising me about being in Cedar Falls next week was important for what reason?

I'm sorry that you took "sour grapes" as a personal attack. I didn't intend it that way. Once again, I have no ill will towards UNI or you. I go to Cedar Falls every January and I root for all the Iowa teams. Join me there for a beer. I'll buy a round for your Panther buddies as well.

ban basketball · 12-02-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grapplefan

I'm sorry that you took "sour grapes" as a personal attack. I didn't intend it that way. Once again, I have no ill will towards UNI or you. I go to Cedar Falls every January and I root for all the Iowa teams. Join me there for a beer. I'll buy a round for your Panther buddies as well.

No problem. It wasn't so much a personal attack as I am a rabid UNI fan with a complex!

My apologies.

grapplefan · 12-02-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ban basketball

No problem. It wasn't so much a personal attack as I am a rabid UNI fan with a complex!

My apologies.

No worries. I always honor the school of Bill Koll and Keith Young. I want them back battling for the title, too.

12-02-2008, 09:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
Wiltz Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 6,941	Iowa aims for wrestling attendance mark Iowa aims for wrestling attendance mark By Andy Hamilton • Iowa City Press-Citizen • December 1, 2008 http://hawkcentral.press-citizen.com.../81201012/1053 Iowa officials had internal discussions two years ago about taking a shot at the NCAA wrestling attendance record when Iowa State came to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for a dual meet. Neither the timing of the talks nor the teams were right for a full house then. The Hawkeyes and Cyclones were restoring their programs under first-year coaches, they started the season on the periphery of the national championship chase, and Iowa associate athletics director Rick Klatt said the school “got a late start” on its push for the attendance record. While the meet still produced the 12th-largest crowd in college wrestling history, it came nearly 2,000 short of the mark set when Minnesota crammed 15,646 into the Target Center for a 2002 meeting with the Hawkeyes. Iowa would like to take down the record Saturday night. “I think there’s this desire as the nation’s No. 1 wrestling program,” Klatt said Monday, “that maybe we need to recapture that standing with the dual meet attendance record.” Iowa is certainly in position to do so entering Saturday night’s showdown between the top-ranked Hawkeyes and No. 2 Cyclones. Iowa ticket manager Pam Finke said nearly 11,000 tickets for the meet had been sold as of Monday afternoon, and school officials have taken steps to expand Carver-Hawkeye Arena beyond its normal 15,500 capacity. Damian Simcox, Iowa’s director of athletic facilities, said the school has been granted approval to push the capacity to 15,713 for the dual meet with reserved standing room spots around the rail on the concourse of the arena. “Maybe all of the stars are in alignment,” Klatt said. “We’ve got a great matchup, two very good teams, back to the good ol’ days with No. 1 and No. 2 coming into this arena in early December to set the tone for the wrestling world.” Finke said Iowa reserved a block of 1,000 free tickets for students. “Those got swooped up,” she said. “Now if our students want to buy, they just pay the $7 rate for kids.” Finke said tickets will be required for children age 5 and under — normally allowed through the gates free — for the Iowa State and Minnesota duals. The Hawkeyes have been a hot ticket since claiming the national championship in March. Iowa’s season ticket sales are up nearly 20 percent from a year ago when the Hawkeyes led the nation in attendance, averaging 7,541 per home meet. Finke said Iowa has sold approximately 3,700 season tickets. The Hawkeyes regularly benefit from a large walk-up crowd of ticket purchasers on the day of dual meets. But Finke and Klatt advised fans not to wait until the last minute this week. “The hardest 4,000 tickets to sell are still out there,” Klatt said. “But if I were an Iowa Hawkeye fan, I wouldn’t be waiting until Friday or Saturday to get those tickets. They’re going to be snarfed up pretty quickly, and they’re going to see a great show. It’s going to be great wrestling. Even if you don’t know squat about wrestling, this is the one dual meet, even you’re a Hawk fan, that you want to be in the building for. … I have a feeling that Saturday night there’s not going to be a whole lot left, if anything.” Reach Andy Hamilton at 339-7368 or ahamilton@press-citizen.com. __________________ "He quits, not because he wants to, but because he has to. He has no choice. " -Tom Brands 01/20/08

12-02-2008, 09:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
ban basketball NCAA Champ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,971	Re: Iowa aims for wrestling attendance mark This is kind of a side note, but I can't help but notice how much Iowa and ISU (but especially Iowa) puts into this "interstate rivalry" every year. In all sports at Iowa, the number one goal year after year seems to be "beat ISU," while the second goal seems to be to win the conference, then etc, etc. For a non-conference dual/game/meet, or what have you, it just seems that way too much is vested in this one fairly meaningless event for each Iowa sports team. __________________ UNI Panthers...24 Consecutive West Regional Titles!! UNI Panthers...Back On The All-American Podium Again!!

12-02-2008, 11:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
grapplefan NCAA Champ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,397	Re: Iowa aims for wrestling attendance mark Sour grapes, eh Ban? The number one goal at Iowa is to win a national title as a team, and at every weight. That has always been the case. That should be the goal of every team. An early meet isn't meaningless; it is auspicious. There is nothing meaningless about #1 vs. #2, whether that's Oklahoma State vs Oklahoma, or Penn State vs. Lehigh. I'd love to see any #1 vs #2. The Clones have an excellent opportunity to knock off the Hawkeyes this year, and braggin' rights mean a lot for recruiting in state and out. So come on down and enjoy an important meet with 15,000 other fans.

12-02-2008, 12:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
fanforlife Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Amishville, PA Posts: 1,560	Re: Iowa aims for wrestling attendance mark Can't we all just get along I am excited to see how this all turns out, a crowd that large is just great for wrestling... I don't care what school you are from. It could be worse, you could be sitting on press row where cheering is highly frowned upon __________________ Champions are made while no one is watching.

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