For more information, contact:
The St. Louis Sports Commission
314-992-0687
sports@stlouissports.org

STRONG LOCAL TICKET SALES, SUCCESSFUL OUTREACH INITIATIVES BOOST NCAA DIVISION I WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS ATTENDANCE

ST. LOUIS – March 16, 2005 – Attendance is on the rise at this year's NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Organizers expect to top 92,000 in total attendance, surpassing last year's number of 87,675. Much of the jump can be attributed to a sharp increase in local ticket sales, an outgrowth of an innovative grassroots marketing effort orchestrated by the event's local organizing committee (LOC), which includes the St. Louis Sports Commission and the University of Missouri.

Seeking to attract more area fans to the Championships – particularly those connected to amateur wrestling – the LOC implemented a group sales program. Groups of 15 or more had the opportunity to purchase tickets for $5 or $10 per ticket depending on the session they wished to attend. Organizers targeted youth wrestling clubs and teams through direct mail, appearances at events, and advertising. Several area companies also stepped forward to purchase blocks of group tickets for their employees or to be donated to local youth organizations. In addition to the group sales effort, the LOC introduced a limited number of night and weekend packages. These packages were geared for local fans who wanted to see multiple sessions of the tournament, but could not attend the entire event.

Thanks to the various initiatives, the number of non all-session tickets sold to the 2005 Championships has quadrupled from 2004. Meanwhile, the number of all-session tickets sold to the general public is up as well. The 2005 Championships have seen a 13 percent increase in general public all-session ticket sales from a year ago.

“As a three-time host of the Championships, we want the tournament and the sport of college wrestling to thrive,” said Chris Roseman, the Sports Commission's vice president of event acquisition & management. “It was important to us to take a proactive approach and market the event aggressively in order to increase attendance and expand the tournament's base of support. We talk a lot about our commitment to building the Championships and strengthening the sport, and this is a prime example of how St. Louis wants to be not just a host, but a great marketing partner and ally for college wrestling.”