Spokane Pins Down Wrestling New Arena To Be Site Of Olympic Trials

Spokane has scored a major decision against three major-league cities, securing the 1996 Final Olympic Trials for Freestyle Wrestling to be held next June 7-8 at the new Veternas Memorial Arena.

“This is a culmination of a six-year strategic plan,” said Toby Steward, president of the Spokane Organizing Committee, which helped bring the event here over bids from Houston, Pittsburgh and Oakland, Calif.

The event determines which 10 wrestlers, plus 10 alternates, will represent the United States at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

What does Spokane have that Houston, Pittsburgh and Oakland apparently lack? Jim Scherr, executive director for USA Wrestling, explains.

“The clincher with Spokane was that we’re comfortable with (Steward) and Eric Sawyer (of the Greater Spokane Sports Association),” Scherr said, “and there’s a good base of support to run a quality event. The support we’ve had with events in the past in terms of attendance and community support has been great.”

Two recent USA Wrestling dual meets were held at the old Coliseum, one with Cuba that drew 4,500 in 1991 and another with Russia that drew 4,300 two years ago. Capacity was 6,000.

Neither compares with the 1996 Trials, which will likely include Olympic gold medalists Bruce Baumgartner, Dave Schultz and Kevin Jackson.

Terms of the deal, which Scherr said he expects to sign next week, were not disclosed. Steward said tickets will probably average $15 for 12,500 seats available each day.