IHSA State Wrestling Competition projected to bring in $5.5 million

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) — The 2025 IHSA Illinois High School Wrestling State Championships kicked off Thursday afternoon. 

Experience Champaign-Urbana projects that the total competition will around $5.5 million to the community.

IHSA is welcoming 672 wrestlers, representing 250 schools across the state. Last year, the State Farm center hosted 36,000 people over the three day competition weekend. At last year's competition, Champaign was covered in a layer of snow. However, with the projected sunny days on the weekend, Mark Brown — the director of event services and film for Experience Champaign-Urbana — is expecting a higher turn out.

"Even though it's very cold this year, we will have slightly higher numbers just because more people tend to come out when there's not a lot of snow on the ground. So we do anticipate, slightly increased numbers from previous years." Brown stated.

With the influx of people in town, Champaign County residents can also expect an increase in traffic. "That's actually a good thing," Brown explained. "We have a lot of people visiting restaurants, staying in hotels, spending money in our community for an economic impact of about $5.5 million, just from this event alone."

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