Bringing the NAIA Championships to Kansas!

Now with no programs currently having NAIA wrestling teams in Kansas (Newman is DII transitional), I think we should open up and host the event as a "Neutral Site" for the National Championships. I also believe by hosting an event of this magnitude, we could have many colleges in Kansas suddenly scratch their heads as to why they aren't supporting wrestling as an intercollegiate sport.

Further I should note in closing that a few NAIA schools already host camps/clinics in the state (I can think of 3: Baker, Southwestern and McPherson)

Also the number of All American's/National Champs in NAIA we have had makes it a strong case.

Don't forget...NAIA Headquartered in Kansas.

Below is a link to more information for those that are interested in jumping on this endeavor of bringing the NAIA CHampionships to Kansas.

Application is below

http://naia.cstv.com/member-services/championships/hostinfo/HostWrestling.htm
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Swayz,

Don't forget about Benedictine College.

I know there is a venue that is looking at putting a bid in for the 2010.

Ned

I dont know if baker is big enough, but maybe like the Topeka Expocentre, or The Colliseum in Salina, or that Gross Colliseum in Hays, or Kansas Colliseum, in Wichita, all 4 of those places are big enough.

Guys I'm not talking about where the venue should be, I'm talking about 3 colleges above that take money from Kansas and are NAIA affiliated. I think Salina would be my top pick venue wise, although Dodge City has a good venue as does Hutch.

I agree all 3 of those colleges should eventually have wrestling.

PS, Hutch is good and all, its just that having a nationals there would be like having the superbowl at a high school.

Why Sioux City has done a Great Job and look at the facility. Are they not going to keep it there?

I would like to see a stat of that. How many kansas grown wrestlers we got competing in D1,D2,D3, and Naia.

D2 and Juco we have the most wrestlers in. Juco being tops with 4 schools in the state. D2 is spread with the talent at UCO, UNK, UNO, FSHU, UCM (formerly CMSU), Minn-Mankato, Truman State, Adams State and more that I'm sure I'm forgetting.


Sioux City may have it again (they are in 2008) but right now it is open bid for whomever wants to host it in 2009 or 2010.

Does NAIA draw any crowd to the National tournament?

It depends, most the time wrestling fans are jerks and don't support the smaller college levels, and attend other events. I don't think it needs to be a large venue by any means.

I know DII just set an attendance record of 8,500 plus for 4 sessions or so. I think a venue that seats 2,800 or up would be fine. Either way you have to look at $ brought in by participating schools and boosters to the local economy. Hotels, food and all that I'm sure would give a positive gain to any economy.ON a side note I think FHSU and Newman should coop for 2010 or so to host the DII Nationals. Get enough advanced prep for the event to really showcase a tournament as well as Kearney did this year.

The facilities requirement of the NAIA is the ability to hold (6) mats simultaneously. Head table, warm-up area, weigh-in room, dressing rooms, training rooms, (4) digital scales, (6) score clocks (3- or 4-sided), award platform, PA system, media area, concession area and ticket sales area. Minimum seating capacity of 3,000.

I was at NAIA nationals in Sioux City this yaar cheering on Lindenwood when they won it, and although the facility is great there just weren't that many fans. If it were possible to move Nationals to Kansas in 09 I would be VERY excited!

I don't think it would be good if the event was held in an arena that held over 10,000, because the bottom line is no more than 2,500 will show up as it is now, and an arena that big will make the crowd seem even smaller.

If we could somehow get it here in Kansas it would be really good if some people took an initiative to promote the event across the state, because not many people outside of those personally close to NAIA athletes are interested in NAIA nationals, even though it is becoming a very tough division to wrestle in...

I guess it's pretty foolish that this is just and idea and not even close to a reality but I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it!!!

Andy,

I think Hutchison which does a lot of NJCAA stuff wouldn't be a bad host, my main thoughts are:

Salina Bicentennial

and

Dodge City Convention Center

By the way...this is intersting...maybe Haskell can add:

http://www.visitlawrence.com/sports/sportsfacilities/?view=cat

If we are talking dollar wise thats huge for a community look at when topeka hosts kids state and the folkstyle nationals back to back weeks. I know kearney hosted the D2 wrestling and elite 8 girls basketball on consecutive weeks thats a huge economy boost your exactly right sways colleges in kansas would be crazy not to apply

I don't even think a certain college has to apply to host it. I think we as USA-Kansas could see if we could host it.

I think the NJCAA's would be very beneficial if they were hosted in Topeka or something..we have 6 coaches that are head coaches in juco that would have a great following back here.