Pat Galbincea
Plain Dealer Reporter

A lack of adequate space for weigh-ins and media seating were the main reasons Cleveland failed to attract the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships for the years 2008-2011.

The NCAA announced Wednesday that St. Louis will host the championships two years (2008-09) and that Omaha, Neb., (2010) and Philadelphia (2011) will be host cities for the first time in NCAA wrestling history.

Cleveland hosted the 1998 Division I Championships at the Cleveland State Convocation Center, when tickets were sold out in half an hour. The fact the city was not named left Dave Gilbert, director of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, crushed.

“I am very, very disappointed with their decision,” Gilbert said. “I’m going to talk to [NCAA Wrestling Committee chairman] Tom Bold this week because I felt we more than met all their criteria. Meanwhile, we’ll keep trying to get this tournament back here after 2011.”

Bold said he would encourage Cleveland officials to submit another bid when the committee entertains nominations for the years 2012-15.

“We asked ourselves where in Gund Arena could we adequately conduct weigh-ins and skin checks,” Bold said. “We also thought that the arena floor would not seat all of the media covering the event. These are two small problems I’m sure the city can tweak and resolve.

“We look at St. Louis as the model other cities should copy. Plenty of arena room, easy transportation in and out of the city, and close-by hotels. Cleveland most closely mirrors St. Louis of all the cities we considered for transportation and hotels, so I’d tell them to certainly bid again.”