Iowa wrestling ticket sales ticking up

Wrestling season ticket sales are up at the University of Iowa.

Rick Klatt, associate athletics director for external affairs, said sales for the 2009-2010 season were at 3,896 to start this week, 255 more than at that point in 2008.

“Pretty good,” Klatt said. “That's probably a combination of faculty, staff and public.”

“We have gotten an increase in our public sales for season tickets,” said Mike Osmundson, assistant ticket manager. “We probably see about eight or 10 sales a day for season tickets at this point.”

An attractive slate has helped with duals scheduled against Northern Iowa (Dec. 10), Oklahoma State (Jan. 17), Penn State (Jan. 29), Michigan State (Jan. 31), Northwestern (Feb. 12) and Ohio State (Feb. 19).

The Hawkeyes are going for third straight Big Ten and NCAA titles. They were 24-0 last year and start the season with a 38-dual winning streak.

Klatt said the sales approach was adjusted this year with online marketing efforts for winter sports starting earlier. Still, he said, the sales increase is largely a result of the wrestling product under Coach Tom Brands,

“For us to be up in this environment is clearly a reflection of the work those guys are doing on the mat,” Klatt said. “It's a function of team performance.”