Fresno signs multi-year deal to host major California/USA Wrestling State Championship events

FRESNO, CA.- The Fresno Sports Council (FSC)/SMG is pleased to announce it has reached two new multi-year agreements with California/USA Wrestling to host both the Youth Freestyle State Championships and Youth Folkstyle State Championships at the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center (FCEC).

The Freestyle Championships will be held in June 2009 thru 2011. The Folkstyle Championships will be held in March 2010 thru 2012. A successful 2008 Folkstyle Championship held at the FCEC and the FSC/SMG's competitive bid convinced organizers to move both championships, which were traditionally held in San Jose, to Downtown Fresno.

"We were tremendously pleased with our 2008 meet in Fresno. The Sports Council & SMG's exceptional customer service made us feel welcome and important." said Duane Morgan, State Chairperson of California/USA Wrestling. "The FCEC venues are perfect for our events. The newly renovated Selland Arena gives our wrestlers a state-of-the-art facility for their championships. We are excited to make Selland Arena our home for the next three years."

Over 20 mats will be set up in Selland Arena and the Exhibit Hall to accommodate the more than 1,800 wrestlers at each event.

"Folkstyle" is the type of wrestling used by high schools and colleges in the United States. "Freestyle" is one of two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympics.

"We are excited about hosting these two major youth wrestling championships." said Kelly Carr, Sports Council Manager for SMG. "Additionally these six events are expected to generate over six-thousand (6,000) hotel room nights for our City and provide an estimated $4-million dollars of economic impact to our community."

The Fresno Sports Council is a non-profit organization managed by SMG on behalf of the City of Fresno. The FSC's mission is to develop and attract sporting events to the greater Fresno area while driving economic impact. The FSC strives to promote the wide variety of venues available in the region and to position Fresno as a premier sports event destination.

The Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center is managed by SMG, the world's largest private manager of public assembly facilities. The Philadelphia based company manages over 200 venues, in 41 states, Puerto Rico, Asia, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Canada and Europe, controls over 1.4 million entertainment seats worldwide, and manages more than ten million feet of exhibit space. For additional company information, visit www.smgworld.com.