Pitt to Host NCAA Championships in 2019
The NCAA Championships are coming to Pennsylvania in 2019.
The University of Pittsburgh announced that it will host the tournament at PPG Paints Arena. It’s just the second time that Pitt has hosted the NCAA Championships and first since 1957.
Philadelphia was the last Pennsylvania city to host, in 2011, and Penn State held the event in 1999.
Cleveland is the host city in 2018, followed by Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, St. Louis and Detroit.
Here is the complete release from Pitt:
PITT TO HOST 2019 NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA announced Tuesday afternoon that the city of Pittsburgh has been awarded the 2019 Division I NCAA Wrestling Championships. The University of Pittsburgh, in conjunction with VisitPITTSBURGH, will host the three-day event March 21-23 at PPG Paints Arena.
The wrestling championships return to Pittsburgh for the first time since 1957 when the event was held at the Fitzgerald Field House. Three Panthers claimed NCAA titles while five wrestlers reached All-America status en route to a runner-up finish.
“It is a tremendous honor for the city of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh to be chosen as hosts of the 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships,” said Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. “Pittsburgh and PPG Paints Arena have all the amenities to host a first-class championship featuring world-class competitors. We are proud to be the host institution for the event and look forward to an amazing turnout from the passionate wrestling fans in this region.”
The Pittsburgh area is home to some of the best wrestlers in the country as it is home to the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL). Known as the hot-bed for the sport, the University of Pittsburgh’s Fitzgerald Field House recently housed the 43rd annual Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic – formerly the Dapper Dan – an event that brings thousands of wrestling fans throughout the country to the city of Pittsburgh.
“It is an incredible opportunity to have the NCAA Championships in the city of Pittsburgh,” said Pitt head coach and 2008 NCAA Champion Keith Gavin. “We are located in a major hot-bed for the sport of wrestling and I am thrilled that our great city gets to experience such a top-notch event.”
The three-day event will be held at PPG Paints Arena, home of the NHL’s 2016 Stanley Cup Champions Pittsburgh Penguins. The arena seats 18,387 for hockey games and has yet to host a wrestling event. PPG Paints Arena has hosted numerous concerts and basketball events since opening its doors in 2010.
The 2018 NCAA Championships will be held March 15-17 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. For more information on next year’s championship, click here.