RECORD SPONSOR SUPPORT CREATED FOR U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS FOR WRESTLING  AT REUNION ARENA IN DALLAS, JUNE 22-24, ADDING MOMENTUM TO RECORD TICKET SALES FOR THE COMPETITION 
  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Local organizers and USA Wrestling have  worked together to develop record sponsorship support for the upcoming U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling, June 22-24, at Reunion Arena in Dallas. 
 This coincides with the announcement last week that tickets sales for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling have already surpassed record levels for the competition. 
 Bank of America will be the presenting sponsor of the Olympic-qualifying tournament the for Sydney Games.  Other major sponsors have joined as associate sponsors at a major level including General Motors, AT&T, and United Parcel Service. 
 Major promotional and service partners for the competition includes Coca-Cola of Dallas, Budweiser, the Dallas Morning News, and KXAS-TV (the NBC affiliate for the Fort Worth/Dallas market) and Susquehanna radio. 
 "We are extremely pleased with the marketing arrangements and support of various corporations for this event," said Paul Winston, the executive director of the Dallas/Fort Worth Sports Commission, along with the 2012 Bid Committee, is playing host to the event.  "We've had a good team effort and have drawn great civic support for this Olympic-style event.  Dallas has a lot of pride." 
 "We have had a strong and successful relationship and unified approach for our marketing and promotional programs with the local organizing group in Dallas," said Jim Scherr, USA Wrestling's Executive Director.  "By far, this is the most successful marketing effort we've had to date for an Olympic Wrestling Trials.  The fact that we are able to involve and activate solid USOC partners like Bank of America, GM, UPS, AT&T, Budweiser, and Coke, is extremely encouraging.  Coupled with strong  early ticket sales and an expected large walk-up crowd, things are looking good for large crowds for the finals, June 24." 
 Up for grabs are 16 berths on the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team, including eight athletes in freestyle wrestling and eight athletes in Greco-Roman wrestling. This is considered one of the purest and most intense of all Olympic Trials events, as only the champion at each weight class qualifies for the U.S. team.  The United States has been very successful in wrestling at past Olympic Games, and is expected to field a strong wrestling team for the Sydney Games. 
 Among the promotional arrangements for the competition are: 
 * Bank of America has provided two outdoor billboards in key high traffic areas, incentive programs for Bank of America employees for tickets and outreach community programs for tickets. 
 * Budweiser has provided radio conversation for ticket promotion and a sweepstakes for winners to go to the Track and Field Trials in Sacramento in July. 
 * Coca Cola of Dallas has extended promotion with 150,000 bottle toppers with coupons and cross promotion with the Dallas Morning News for finals-only family packs of (4) tickets, (4) hot dogs, (4) Cokes. 
 * AT&T Wireless is conducting consumer promotions on the concourse of the venue at Reunion Arena. 
 * UPS will sponsor an Olympic legends night as part of the finals. Past Olympians with ties to Dallas will be honored with Olympic wrestling legends.  
 * KXAS-TV has provided extended news coverage, including a 30-minute preview special in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, and on-air PSAs.  
 * The Dallas Morning News has provided advertising trade outs promoting tickets sales. 
 In addition, there will be a special night produced by USA Wrestling, with sponsorship support and presentation from Global Axxess.com, which will honor past Olympic medalists in a ceremony, autograph session and reception.   
 "With a rich history of wrestling success throughout the past century, we thought it was a great idea to honor those who have represented the country with distinction and won Olympic wrestling medals for the United States," said Jim Scherr. 
 Through June 7th, a total of 31,331 tickets had been sold for the three days of action, according to Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Sports Commission. The previous record for attendance at an Olympic Wrestling Trials was 24,578, set by the organizers of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team Trials, held at the Spokane Arena in Spokane, Wash. Ticket sales are expected to increase locally in the final week, with an aggressive local promotional program underway. 
 Excellent seat locations remain available in all price ranges for each of the three days of the wrestling action, which will be held on Thursday, June 22, Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24.  
 Tickets can be ordered by calling 800-725-2332 or visiting the Olympic Trials website at www.wrestlingtrials2000.com