The DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Northern Illinois University (NIU) are proud to be hosting the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) State Wrestling Finals for its 19th year. The estimated impact of the event for our area is $255,000. 450 hotel room nights have been booked for the event. Restaurants and shops can expect to see an increase in traffic and an economic boost from the dollars that will be spent during their visit.
Wrestlers in grades fifth through eighth from across the state will be competing individually in nineteen weight classes and in the team competition. An estimated 5,000 fans will be visiting DeKalb County to cheer them on. This will be NIU’s 19th year hosting the event. The IESA State Wrestling Finals came to NIU and the Chick Evans Field House in 1999 and moved to the Convocation Center in 2003. DeKalb County and Northern Illinois University have a long history of cheering on and supporting student athletes. It’s an honor and a privilege to have hosted this event for so many years.
The 2017 IESA state wrestling meet will be held at the Convocation Center on the campus of Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, on Friday and Saturday, March 10-11. Admission doors will open at 2:30 p.m. on Friday and 8:00 a.m. on Saturday. Daily admission fees: K-8 and senior citizens – $5.00; Adults – $10.00. Advanced ticket sales will be available through Ticketmaster beginning Monday, March 6. More information can be found on the www.iesa.org wrestling page or on the Convocation Center website www.niuconvo.com.