The 2008-09 college wrestling season is young, but it may already be on the way to making some history.
When top-ranked Iowa has a home meet at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City this Saturday, Dec. 6, against second-ranked Iowa State, they are looking to smash the all-time attendance record for a regular season college wrestling meet. That record is 15,646, which was set by Minnesota on Feb. 1, 2002, when the Golden Gophers hosted Iowa at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
To accomplish this, the capacity at Carver-Hawkeye Arena has been expanded from 15,500 seats to 16,000 for this meet. As of Friday afternoon, approximately 15,800 tickets had been sold, meaning that only about 200 tickets remained.
This meet, which starts at 7 PM CST, will be telecast live on Iowa Public Television, and on a same-day tape-delayed broadcast at 9:30 PM on the Big Ten Network, which is available on some cable and satellite services nationally in the U.S.
Here is the news release from University of Iowa Wrestling about this historic meet:
APPROXIMATELY 200 TICKETS REMAIN FOR IOWA-IOWA STATE WRESTLING
IOWA CITY, IA – As of 4 p.m. Friday, approximately 15,800 tickets have been sold to Saturday night’s #1 Iowa vs. #2 Iowa State wrestling meet at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. In an attempt to break the national dual meet attendance record, the Hawkeyes have received special permission to increase Carver-Hawkeye Arena’s capacity from 15,500 to 16,000 for the 7 p.m. dual. The current record of 15,646 was set by Minnesota on Feb. 1, 2002, when the Golden Gophers hosted Iowa at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
Due to the limited number of tickets remaining and the increased capacity, University of Iowa Department of Athletics officials are encouraging fans to purchase tickets in advance and arrive early.
Tickets purchased in advance are $13 for adults, $7 for youth and University of Iowa students with a valid ID, and $2 for children ages five and under. Tickets purchased at the meet are $15 for adults, $8 for youth and UI students, and $2 for children ages five and under. UI students may purchase a reserved seat ticket at the youth price at the Iowa Athletic Ticket Office window, which is located on the concourse level of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. To order tickets contact the University of Iowa Athletic Ticket Office at 800-464-2957, 319-335-9327 or www.hawkeyesports.com.
In an attempt to relieve potential traffic congestion, the University Athletic Department is providing a cambus shuttle from the Hancher parking lots to Carver-Hawkeye starting at 6 p.m. and running until 30 minutes after the dual is over. The ticket office is also opening the will call window Saturday at noon for fans to pick up pre-purchased tickets. The window is located in the northwest corner of Carver-Hawkeye. The arena will open at 5:30 p.m. for the event.
Several free parking lots are available for fans. The list includes the Dental Building lot located directly east of the arena, Finkbine Commuter lot, the parking lots west of Kinnick Stadium and the UI Recreation Building and a portion of the Arena Commuter lot. Fans can also park in all available parking ramps. Handicapped parking is available in Lot 40 directly east of the arena.
Iowa (8-0) will put its 22-match winning streak on the line when it hosts Iowa State (3-0). The dual has been designated as a "Black Out" event, where fans are encouraged to wear black, and is the sixth event in the fifth annual Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series. Iowa currently leads the series, 7-4. The meet will be aired live on Iowa Public Television and the Big Ten Network will air a same-day delayed broadcast at 9:30 p.m.
