Irving, TX - The Big 12 Conference and the Tulsa Sports Commission announced a partnership to host the Big 12 Wrestling Championship at Tulsa’s BOK Center through 2024.
Tulsa has previously hosted the tournament in 2017 and 2018, and the Tulsa Sports Commission announced earlier this year an extension of that partnership through 2020.
“Based on the experience through the first two years of our partnership with the Tulsa Sports Commission for this to be the preeminent collegiate wrestling championship, continuing our presence in this market speaks to the dedication of all involved,” commented Big 12 associate commissioner Bob Burda. “Being able to build upon the foundation already established for the next six years clearly puts a stake in the ground for the Big 12 to grow this championship in Tulsa into the foreseeable future.”
The 2018 Championship set an all-time tournament record with more than 18,000 tickets sold.
The 2019 Championship will be held March 9 and 10, while the 2020 Championship will be March 7 and 8.
“We have great pride in the lasting relationship we’ve forged with the Big 12 Conference over the last five years,” said Vince Trinidad, executive director of the Tulsa Sports Commission.
“The Big 12 Wrestling Championship adds a high level collegiate competition to Tulsa’s amateur wrestling résumé, and the execution of a well-run event makes this an amazing experience for the universities, student-athletes, coaches and fans.”
The Big 12 Wrestling Championship is the largest neutral-site wrestling conference championship in the NCAA. Cultivating this relationship with the conference has been a strategic priority of the Tulsa Sports Commission for the past five years.
“The Tulsa Sports Commission has worked diligently to meet our strategic goals to recruit, retain, enhance and develop tourism opportunities throughout the Tulsa region,” said David Jeter, chair of the Tulsa Regional Tourism executive board and senior vice president and regional manager of business banking for BOK Financial. “Hosting the Big 12 Wrestling Championship through 2024 proves our strategy is working, and we appreciate the opportunity to be the chosen destination for collegiate wrestling.”
Housed at the Tulsa Regional Chamber, Tulsa Regional Tourism is an umbrella organization that administers VisitTulsa, the city’s convention and visitors bureau; the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture, an accredited film commission; and the Tulsa Sports Commission, which markets Tulsa as a destination for amateur sporting events.
“Tulsa’s competitive identity as a premier visitor destination for top-tier events is enhanced by the strategic relationships we’ve maintained with our venue and hotel partners, higher education institutions, the City of Tulsa, and the region’s business community,” said Ray Hoyt, president of Tulsa Regional Tourism. “We appreciate our local stakeholders for making significant investments in Tulsa’s tourism industry, and the Big 12 Conference for believing in Tulsa and recognizing the benefits of these great partnerships.”
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About Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is comprised of 10 Universities - Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech and West Virginia. It also boasts the following affiliate members for its wrestling championship – Air Force, Fresno State, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming. The Big 12 is an NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics conference that encompasses five states with over 38 million people within its geographic footprint. In its 23rd year, the Conference has produced over 600 Academic All-America selections and claimed national championship team titles in 17 of its 23 sponsored sports. Its student-athletes and teams have combined for 650 individual NCAA titles and 59 team national championships.
Nearly 5,000 student-athletes from across the United States and around the World compete annually under the Big 12 banner.
For more information, visit Big12Sports.com and follow the Conference on Facebook (Facebook.com/Big12) and Twitter (@Big12Conference).
About the Tulsa Regional Chamber
Established in 1903, the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s mission is to serve as the principal business-driven leadership organization improving the quality of community life through the development of regional economic prosperity. The Chamber represents nearly 2,000 member organizations and approximately 176,000 area employees, utilizing nearly 4,100 volunteers to accomplish its programs and services.
The American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) named the Tulsa Regional Chamber the nation’s best Chamber in 2006, 2008 and 2010. In 2013, the Chamber received the Oklahoma Quality Foundation's Quality Award for Commitment, and the Quality Award for Excellence in 2015. Additionally, the Chamber holds three prestigious accreditations: five-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; accredited economic development organization through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC); and accredited destination marketing organization through the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI).
For more information, visit tulsachamber.com.