Future NCAA Wrestling Tournament Locations Announced

[RossWB]

2027: St. Louis -- Enterprise Center
2028: Minneapolis -- US Bank Stadium

Minneapolis gets back the NCAAs it lost to COVID in 2020. They're aiming to blow the attendance record out of the water in 2028...

 

[SPOONER]

2027: St. Louis -- Enterprise Center
2028: Minneapolis -- US Bank Arena

Minneapolis gets back the NCAAs it lost to COVID in 2020. They're aiming to blow the attendance record out of the water in 2028...

View embedded media

*Stadium

I'm surprised it has never been back to Omaha or Des Moines. Both places got high marks for hosting last time, and each would be an even better experience next time as both have really improved areas around the respective arenas.

 

[thedecider]

*Stadium

I'm surprised it has never been back to Omaha or Des Moines. Both places got high marks for hosting last time, and each would be an even better experience next time as both have really improved areas around the respective arenas.

Omaha was my only NCAA's. It was fantastic although I hear the bar across the street that gave us a $10 bar tab after drinking for 4 hours has closed down. Sad.

 

[HawkAlum2002]

Glad to see it back at US Bank, it's the only NCAAs I've had tickets to only to get cancelled five days beforehand. Of course part of the fun going that year was because Iowa had an easy title win in the bag, would love to see it get to that point again by 2028. Being part of the attendance record would be a cool experience.

 

[thedecider]

Glad to see it back at US Bank, it's the only NCAAs I've had tickets to only to get cancelled five days beforehand. Of course part of the fun going that year was because Iowa had an easy title win in the bag, would love to see it get to that point again by 2028. Being part of the attendance record would be a cool experience.

US Bank Stadium is absolutely incredible.

 

[RossWB]

US Bank Stadium is absolutely incredible.

It's a really nice venue, although you're going to want binoculars to see the action on the mat from some of those seats.

 

[RossWB]

*Stadium

I'm surprised it has never been back to Omaha or Des Moines. Both places got high marks for hosting last time, and each would be an even better experience next time as both have really improved areas around the respective arenas.

Thanks. Had "arena" on the brain for some reason.

Re: Des Moines -- I wonder if Wells Fargo Arena is a little too small. NCAAs has been favoring venues that seat around 18-20K for basketball in recent years and WFA is at around 16,000.

If that's the case, it's a shame because Iowa is obviously a great host for the event.

The NCAA seems to like Des Moines as a host overall -- the NCAA hoops tourney usually seems to have opening round games there every few years (and will again in 2028).

 

[SPOONER]

Thanks. Had "arena" on the brain for some reason.

Re: Des Moines -- I wonder if Wells Fargo Arena is a little too small. NCAAs has been favoring venues that seat around 18-20K for basketball in recent years and WFA is at around 16,000.

If that's the case, it's a shame because Iowa is obviously a great host for the event.

The NCAA seems to like Des Moines as a host overall -- the NCAA hoops tourney usually seems to have opening round games there every few years (and will again in 2028).

Good points all around. It is a little small but it was in 2013 and didn't seem to bother them. I guess I have no idea if Des Moines is even interested in hosting again.

 

[Grip220]

Good thing is the tournament is big enough for stadiums and maybe to big for arena’s, unfortunately Bigger venues means more seats with a crappy view.

I retire in march 2027 so big party in St Louis every Hawk fan there will drink on GRIP

 

[sdvike]

Where is the 26 finals?

 

[sdvike]

Where are the future Big Tens at?

 

[T8KUDWN]

Good thing is the tournament is big enough for stadiums and maybe to big for arena’s, unfortunately Bigger venues means more seats with a crappy view.

I retire in march 2027 so big party in St Louis every Hawk fan there will drink on GRIP

I'd like to buy you a drink in St Louis to celebrate your retirement and being a great Hawkeye wrestling fan.

 

[Grip220]

I'd like to buy you a drink in St Louis to celebrate your retirement and being a great Hawkeye wrestling fan.

Its a ways away but Lets do it, feeling is mutual
My plan is to go every year now

 

[ff141]

Where is the 26 finals?

Cleveland

 

[12tdsaw]

Good thing is the tournament is big enough for stadiums and maybe to big for arena’s, unfortunately Bigger venues means more seats with a crappy view.

I retire in march 2027 so big party in St Louis every Hawk fan there will drink on GRIP

for the whole time

 

[ping72]

It's a really nice venue, although you're going to want binoculars to see the action on the mat from some of those seats.

This. I’m not saying it isn’t a great stadium, but it will absolutely suck trying to watch wrestling. I see this as nothing but a money grab that will hurt the sport.

Sure, you might get some people that haven’t gone before, but I would have to imagine many of them will not come back. Squinting trying to watch a couple of ants a quarter mile away from you is much worse than just staying at home watching on TV.

 

[dtripp26]

This. I’m not saying it isn’t a great stadium, but it will absolutely suck trying to watch wrestling. I see this as nothing but a money grab that will hurt the sport.

Sure, you might get some people that haven’t gone before, but I would have to imagine many of them will not come back. Squinting trying to watch a couple of ants a quarter mile away from you is much worse than just staying at home watching on TV.

Haven't they're been attendance issues the past few years?

How are they going to fill this monster? Are they going to borrow Pollard's curtain?

 

[RossWB]

Where is the 26 finals?

2025: Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia, PA)
2026: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse (Cleveland, OH)

 

[RossWB]

Where are the future Big Tens at?

2025 is at Northwestern and 2026 is at Penn State, per Shane Sparks.

 

[sdvike]

Wasn't just at PSU a few years ago. I thought it was rotating.

 

[Scruddy]

Put it in stl every year

 

[RossWB]

Wasn't just at PSU a few years ago. I thought it was rotating.

It was. I think this is a bit of a make-up because that year was also one with very limited attendance due to COVID.

 

[ping72]

Haven't they're been attendance issues the past few years?

How are they going to fill this monster? Are they going to borrow Pollard's curtain?

Last year wasn’t too bad. Two previous years there were a LOT of empty seats.

Really curious if they make the 300 level fairly cheap.

 

[fakenewsking]

NCAA basketball games in NFL stadiums suck. Glancing at the pictures, I didn’t even notice they had wrestlers on the mats. We for sure won’t be going and have been to 10+ of them. When can they make the Cosm’s available for home purchase. They look amazing but only Texas, Nevada and California have them. Also we don't live in USA anymore, NCAA's aren't cheap anymore.

 

[ff141]

Last year wasn’t too bad. Two previous years there were a LOT of empty seats.

Really curious if they make the 300 level fairly cheap.

Maybe they don’t care about attendance…

 

[ping72]

Maybe they don’t care about attendance…

As long as they sell the ticket, nope

 

[thom67]

Haven't they're been attendance issues the past few years?

How are they going to fill this monster? Are they going to borrow Pollard's curtain?

Attendance was a sl problem because the ncaa cut down the number of tickets going to real wrestling fans. Donors and sponsers got lots of good tickets. Tickets were sold out.

 

[WDMHawk72]

*Stadium

I'm surprised it has never been back to Omaha or Des Moines. Both places got high marks for hosting last time, and each would be an even better experience next time as both have really improved areas around the respective arenas.

Des Moines only holds around 15k which is fine for an NCAA regional hoop weekend but prolly not big enough IMO. Wish they would - I live 10 miles away

 

[SPOONER]

Des Moines only holds around 15k which is fine for an NCAA regional hoop weekend but prolly not big enough IMO. Wish they would - I live 10 miles away

They knew that back in 2013 but had it there anyway. I get it--it's been over 10 years and things change. I'm old.

 

[thedecider]

This. I’m not saying it isn’t a great stadium, but it will absolutely suck trying to watch wrestling. I see this as nothing but a money grab that will hurt the sport.

Sure, you might get some people that haven’t gone before, but I would have to imagine many of them will not come back. Squinting trying to watch a couple of ants a quarter mile away from you is much worse than just staying at home watching on TV.

I am cautiously optimistic. Even from the picture you posted I feel like I will be able to see every mat without obstruction. Two high-res video boards at each end of the stadium. If you happen to get tickets in the lower bowl between the 30-yard lines (I think) you have access to an incredible clubhouse with its own bar, prime rib station, and a host of other things.

 

[thom67]

I am cautiously optimistic. Even from the picture you posted I feel like I will be able to see every mat without obstruction. Two high-res video boards at each end of the stadium. If you happen to get tickets in the lower bowl between the 30-yard lines (I think) you have access to an incredible clubhouse with its own bar, prime rib station, and a host of other things.

You will be able to see the mats, but you will need to have high power binoculars to actually see who is wrestling. Last time the plan was to separate the 8 mats over the entire stadium floor. From the opposite end you will see nothing if they keep that plan. That year may break my ncaa streak at 47 years.

 

[SPOONER]

I am cautiously optimistic. Even from the picture you posted I feel like I will be able to see every mat without obstruction. Two high-res video boards at each end of the stadium. If you happen to get tickets in the lower bowl between the 30-yard lines (I think) you have access to an incredible clubhouse with its own bar, prime rib station, and a host of other things.

I don't get the hubbub. It isn't like someone is going to get a ticket in the upper section of an end zone and be confused why they don't have a better view. Those tickets probably won't even sell.

 

[Inthecircle]

View embedded media

This was the 2020 mat layout provided by honkey69 back in 2020