2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Wrestling Heading To Dickies Arena in Fort Worth
Trials moved from University Park, Pennsylvania, to new arena in Texas
Posted On: February 11, 2021 By :
USA Wrestling will hold its 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, from April 2–3 with champions in each weight class becoming eligible to represent the U.S. at the rescheduled 2021 Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo.
This year will be the fifth straight U.S. Olympic Team Trials in which all three Olympic wrestling teams will be determined at the same time with men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman all featured in the event. A limited number of spectators will be permitted.
“USA Wrestling is extremely grateful to the Fort Worth Sports Authority, the incredible Dickies Arena and Texas USA Wrestling for their tireless efforts to host one of the most important wrestling events in the history of American wrestling,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling executive director. “We are excited for not only the wrestling fans all over the globe but most importantly our nation’s very best Olympic hopefuls who will compete on this world class stage for the coveted right to represent the United States of America at the Tokyo Olympic Games”
The freestyle and Greco-Roman trials were last held in Texas in 2000 when Dallas hosted. The competition will be conducted with the assistance of the Fort Worth Sports Commission and Texas USA Wrestling.
“Being selected as the host city for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials is a tremendous honor,” said Jason Sands, director of the Fort Worth Sports Commission. “We look forward to working with our hospitality and community partners to provide a safe and memorable experience for the USOPC, USA Wrestling and their athletes, coaches and fans.”
Dickies Arena opened in November 2019 and is adjacent to the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus. It is the home site for the Fort Worth Stock Show rodeo performances.
“We take great pride in hosting world-class sporting events at Dickies Arena,” said Matt Homan, president and general manager of Trail Drive Management Corp., the not-for-profit operating entity of Dickies Arena. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to safely welcome USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee as they host the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials this April.”
USA Wrestling announced last week that it would be moving the trials out of University Park, Pennsylvania, citing COVID-19 health and safety guidelines and the desire to accommodate participants, staff and fans. The event had been planned for April 4–5 at Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University; in making the announcement, the NGB said it will return to Penn State and the Bryce Jordan Center to host the 2024 Olympic Trials.
“A special thanks to our friends at Penn State University who made a valiant effort to host this year’s event. We are excited to be in Happy Valley in three short years for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials,” Bender said.
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