New Commission to Attract Entertainment
By Nick Glew
KCRG-TV9 News
(Cedar Rapids “KCRG) — A big announcement today in Cedar Falls.
That’s where the new Cedar Valley Sports and Entertainment Commission has been formed. The group’s mission is to attract, create and support sports and entertainment events all across the cedar valley. They feel some of the best facilities in the midwest are found in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area. They also want to make sure they’re fully utilized.
Call it the latest recruiting effort. It’s not about attracting players, rather attracting events. The Cedar Valley has hosted some of the largest sporting events before and commission members think they can do it again.
“When you look back at championships that were held here, the attention set the bar for what the community can do, “says commission president Mac McCausland.
Just outside the news conference, construction crews continue to build the McCleod Center. It’s designed for basketball, volleyball and wrestling. When combined with the UNI dome, ice arenas and other entertainment venues, the commission sees a huge economic tool for everyone.
“This isn’t just Cedar Falls, not Waterloo or Waverly. It’s a bunch of folks getting together to try and make the area better through some teamwork, “says UNI Athletic Director Rick Hartzell.
The commission is also working with UNI to bid on the national wrestling championships beginning in 2008. They also want the 1-AA championship football game starting in 2006.
“Our goal is to be the premiere destination for all sporting events in the state of Iowa, “says McCausland. “The Cedar Valley is the focal point.”
Already today the first big announcement from the commission. In 2006, UNI will host the national wrestling coach’s association national duals. That involves schools in divisions one, two and three. The commission is already predicting visitor spending for that event to exceed three hundred thousand dollars.
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