FARGO, N.D.
The owner of a company selling T-shirts and other wrestling merchandise near the Fargodome is promising to shut down if USA Wrestling agrees to hold its Junior and Cadet National Championships in this city another three years.
Officials said Friday that is likely to happen.
USA Wrestling, which has an exclusive merchandise contract of its own, had objected to Wrestling Apparel owner Keith Stensgard selling merchandise across from the dome, even though it was not illegal.
USA Wrestling threatened not to sign a new three-year contract with NDSU to host the tournament if another apparel company is selling wrestling merchandise in or around the dome.
“As a business, I normally wouldn’t (shut down), “Stensgard said. “But I don’t want NDSU and the community to suffer. I’ll bite the bullet.”
NDSU Athletic Director Gene Taylor on Friday said the university and USA Wrestling had reached a tentative agreement on a contract through 2008, and sent it to NDSU President Joseph Chapman for final approval.
Taylor and Pete Isais, director of national events for USA Wrestling, both said they were excited about the tentative deal.
The Junior tournament has been in Fargo since 1992, and the Cadet tournament since 1996. They bring about 4,500 wrestlers to Fargo, along with parents, officials and fans.
“This is always the biggest event in any summer, “said Cole Carley, head of the local Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We estimate direct spending in the community during USA Wrestling to be more than $5 million, with an ultimate economic impact of about $10 million.”
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