Collegiate wrestling takes over the Cedar Valley to kick off the new year, as the UNI-Dome hosts the National Wrestling Coaching Association's National Duals on January 5-6. More than 35 mats will blanket the floor of the Dome, featuring student-athletes from more than 100 men’s and women’s programs across the country. 

The last time the National Duals were held in the UNI-Dome was 2011, bringing more than 5,000 visitors to the Cedar Falls area. The magnitude of the event means a huge boost for business in the Cedar Valley. 

“The UNI-Dome is an iconic venue with a rich wrestling history. It’s the only venue in our area that is large enough to accommodate events like these year-round and attract visitors from all over the United States,” said Ashley Johnson of the Cedar Valley Sports Commission, which has estimated a $2.5 million impact for the weekend alone. “The added benefit is the thousands of athletes, coaches and fans staying in area hotels, eating at our fantastic restaurants and visiting our local shops.”

NWCA National Duals by the numbers:

• 5,000+ unique visitors
• 4,000+ hotel nights booked
• 2,250 participants/coaches
• 100+ teams

A full list of competing teams can be found on the NWCA website.

"We are beyond excited to bring the National Duals back on campus in 2024. We can think of no better place than the UNI-Dome to host this wonderful event," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "Our team is hard at work getting things in place already, and we can't wait to host over 100 collegiate programs in Cedar Falls."

“As originally envisioned, the UNI-Dome continues to serve as a multi-purpose facility by drawing in local, regional and national events,” said UNI Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs, Jamar Thompson. “Events like the NWCA National Duals are a display of the impact events held in the Dome can have on the community.”

Overall it is estimated that events in the UNI-Dome help bring in more than 500,000 visitors to the area each year, accounting for $17 million of economic impact to the Cedar Valley. Other events in the Dome drawing large audiences to the area include the Iowa High School Football championships, boat and RV shows, academic competitions and more. Learn more about the impact of the UNI-Dome by visiting unidomerenovation.com