NCAA Announces Championship Sites in Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa will host NCAA National Finals in baseball, basketball, volleyball and wrestling, according to GO Cedar Rapids, the organization that promotes Cedar Rapids tourism, travel and events.
Division III baseball national finals will be held in Veterans Memorial Stadium from 2019 to 2022. Division III volleyball finals will be held in 2019 at U.S. Cellular Center and the Division III Wrestling National Finals will be held at the U.S. Cellular Center in 2020 and again in 2022.
“This announcement today continues to strengthen Cedar Rapids’ reputation across the nation as a premier destination for athletic tournaments in a multitude of sports,” said Aaron McCreight, president and CEO of GO Cedar Rapids. “We could not be more excited to showcase the Cedar Rapids area to the athletes and fans that will be traveling to Cedar Rapids in the coming years.”
Officials with Go Cedar Rapids estimate the seven events will generate approximately $3.2 million in athlete spending.
Chuck Yrigoyen, Commissioner of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference said in the announcement that the championships will showcase all Cedar Rapids has to offer and it will generate an economic and visibility boost for the area while the events are being hosted. “Our conference is considered a leader in NCAA Division III, and today’s announcements only enhance that reputation,” Yrigoyen said.
Dick Simmons, tournament director with the Go Cedar Rapids Wrestling Organizing Committee said, “I am excited to become bring the NCAA DIII Wrestling Championships back to Cedar Rapids. The U.S. Cellular Complex is an ideal venue for this competition. Wrestling in this amazing venue provides student athletes, coaches and their fans with a very memorable experience.”
Upper Iowa was selected to host the NCAA DII Wrestling Nationals at the U.S. Cellular Center March 9-10, 2018 during the last round of NCAA Championship site selections.
The NCAA selected more than 600 sites for preliminary rounds and finals in Divisions I, II and III from the 2017-18 season to 2022.
Criteria for selecting the host sites included creating what will be a memorable experience for student athletes and NCAA specifications for bids, including facilities, ease of travel and respect for attendees, among other requirements.
Six championships were not included in the bid cycle, including Division I baseball, softball, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field and the Football Championship Subdivision game, because of existing contracts.
