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(Des Moines, IA) -- The state's Enhance Iowa Board is awarding Iowa City a $102,675 Sports Tourism grant for two large wrestling tournaments. Iowa City will host the Men's and Women's Freestyle World Cup this December and in December of 2023. Organizers say it will be the first time the men's and women's competitions will be held side-by-side. The Iowa City area last hosted the tourney in 2018. This year's event will be held in the Xtreme Arena in Coralville.
The event this year will be December 10-11. In 2023, it will be December 9-10.
Organizers say this event will attract a national wrestling audience with targeted digital advertisements; strategic partnerships with USA Wrestling and Washington DC-based Wrestle Like a Girl; a multitude of surrounding state wrestling news outlets; and through the university sports marketing department in Iowa and across the Big Ten.
Events eligible for the Sports Tourism grants include professional, collegiate and amateur level sporting events that occur in Iowa. Funding for the program was appropriated during the 2021 legislative session.
The Enhance Iowa Program provides financial incentives to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. To date, 99 Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants have been awarded by the board, totaling $31,508,183. The next Enhance Iowa Board meeting is scheduled for June 2, 2022.