Historic NCAA Championships set to Smash Attendance Records

Go big. Do something that has never been done before.

Those were the words of Matt Meunier, Director of Sports Minneapolis, part of the Minneapolis Local Organizing Committee for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, and Anthony Holman, Managing Director, Championships & Alliances, Playing Rules and Officiating for the NCAA.

They went big. The biggest ever, in fact.

From March 19–21, 330 athletes will compete in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, marking the first time that college wrestling’s marquee event will be held in a football stadium. More than 35,000 all-session tickets have already been sold. All 105 suites are sold out. Attendance during the three-day, six-session event is expected to break the record of 113,743 set in Cleveland in 2018.

The good news? There are still good tickets—including lower level—and all-session and single session seats are available.

“This is something that has never been done before,” said Meunier, referring to hosting the Championships in a football stadium. “And what we had to do to make this happen was really showcase how this outside the box idea and concept could provide both student-athletes and fans a different and unique experience.”

It was 2016 when Sports Minneapolis and the local organizing committee, which also includes U.S. Bank Stadium and the University of Minnesota, bid to host the NCAA DI Wrestling Championships in Minneapolis, in a football stadium. And while Sports Minneapolis and U.S. Bank Stadium has since secured and hosted several marquee events—the Super Bowl and NCAA Men’s Final Four among them—U.S. Bank Stadium was still being constructed back when the bid was submitted in 2016 (the bid was officially awarded in April 2017).

The NCAA saw the potential of hosting the event in a larger venue and in less than a month it will be a reality.

“The fact that this event is now being held in a football stadium and is going to set attendance records is really a testament to the young men, coaches, and teams who work so hard to prepare and perform at this event,” Holman said.

That being said, Holman knows there are skeptics concerned about hosting a major event in such a large venue.

“I also know fans are used to the championships being done a certain way,” he said. “I know some are hesitant and change is difficult. I just encourage all fans to be open-minded, and look at the grandness of the event, what this means for the sport of wrestling, and the opportunity to be part of history.”

Sports Minneapolis, a division within Meet Minneapolis and its partners including the University of Minnesota, has secured upcoming NCAA championships and major events, such as the 2020 Division I Wrestling Championships, the 2021 Division I Men’s Gymnastics Championships, and the 2021 Division I Men’s Basketball Regional. In addition, Sports Minneapolis and its partners will be the local organizing committee for the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Final Four.

Bringing the NCAA Wrestling Championships to Minneapolis was a must, Meunier said.

“This is the heart of wrestling country,” he said. “With Minnesota, Iowa, the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Wisconsin so close, and just being in the Midwest where wrestling is so popular, we wanted to do something that’s never been done before, and create the biggest championships ever.”

For the thousands of fans set to flock to Minneapolis, the access to more tickets is a welcome change. There are typically about 7,000­–­8,000 “100 level” seats at a typical hockey or basketball stadium, where past Championships have typically been held. There will be the equivalent of 15,000 “100 level” seats at U.S. Bank stadium and 29,000 lower-level seats to fill.

“The NCAA has had a lot of success selling tickets to the true core of wrestling fans,” said Tom McGinnis, Senior Associate Athletics Director for the University of Minnesota Department of Athletics. The University of Minnesota serves as host school for the event and will have about 30 staff members on site at the event, working closely with up to 300 volunteers. Minneapolis last hosted the NCAA Wrestling Championships in 1996 at Target Center.

“Now, because we are in a larger space, we won’t run into issues with ticket availability,” McGinnis said. “We’re also hoping to attract the general sports fans who wants to experience the sport of wrestling at a championship level, but previously haven’t been able to because of ticket availability.”

Holman knows wrestling fans are passionate, and looking for the ultimate fan and social experience, as well as the ability to follow their favorite teams and wrestlers. He believes they will get that and much more at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Things to look forward to at this year’s championships:

Student-athlete experience: Anyone who has been “behind the scenes” at previous NCAA Championships knows it can get crowded. There will be more space than ever “behind the scenes” for wrestlers to prepare for competition. They will have access to the visiting team’s locker rooms, more room to rest and recover, and more room to move, warm up, and prepare.

“In past championships, wrestlers would fill every nook and cranny of an arena, waiting to come out and wrestle, or preparing to wrestle,” McGinnis said. “We're going to take advantage of the additional space and I think the athletes and coaches are really going to enjoy that.”

Meunier agrees: “One of the most important things we took into consideration was the student-athlete experience. This is where having the amenities of an NFL-caliber stadium will really stand out. This is a grand platform for these athletes to showcase their skills. Athletes are going to have more room and more space than ever before.”

Fan experience: The larger venue also means wider concourses, more points of sale/concessions, more restrooms, more room to move, and less congestion.

“You have diehard fans who don’t want to miss a second of the action,” Meunier said. “We have the amenities to make it quick and easy to get concessions, go to the restroom, get back to your seat immediately and not miss any action.”

Giant video boards: There will be two giant video boards in both end zones and more cameras and camera angles than ever before. Fans closest to the east end of the stadium can view matches on the west end on the video board nearest to them. Fans on the west end can view matches on the east end on the video board closest to them.

Fan Festival: A free Fan Festival takes place at The Armory just two blocks from U.S. Bank Stadium. Fans can watch Team USA wrestlers practice, attend autograph sessions and a coaches’ clinic, buy wrestling memorabilia, and take part in an NCAA semifinals preview show. Free and open to the public, the Fan Festival will be an added food and beverage outlet for wrestling fans between sessions.

“This will be the ultimate experience for the wrestling junkie,” Holman said.

Transportation: This will be a commuter-friendly championship experience. People who fly to Minneapolis can take the light rail from the airport to downtown Minneapolis, with several stops at nearby hotels and venues along the way, and a direct route to U.S. Bank Stadium. Between light rail, rideshare, the skyway system, and/or walking, fans can realistically experience all aspects of the event and Minneapolis without renting a car.

Single session tickets: Can’t make the entire tournament? No worries, single session tickets will be available. This is a change from recent years when the only option was buying expensive tickets through secondary markets or scalpers. “Some fans can't commit to attending all three days and six sessions,” Holman said. “They now have the opportunity to buy affordable tickets for the sessions that work for them. The wrestling diehards already have their tickets. But by having single session tickets available, we hope this attracts casual fans and others interested in attending the event. This can only help expose the sport to even more people.”

NCAA Wrestling app: Prior to the start of the NCAA Championships, the NCAA will release an official NCAA Division I Championships app. The app will provide an event schedule and information, and more specifically, it can be set up to alert you when your favorite wrestlers are about to compete. (This will be available closer to the start of the tournament and downloadable from whichever app store fits your device).

Also note that U.S. Bank has a strict Clear Bag Policy. 

Most of all, be ready to experience an NCAA Championship like never before.

“It's going to be a great experience and we are looking forward to it,” Holman said. “It's not going to be the same experience as a hockey arena or basketball stadium. It’s going to be different, and a lot of fun, and we can't wait.”