IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa men’s wrestling program led the nation in attendance for the 17th straight year, it was announced Thursday by the National Wrestling Media Association.
The Hawkeyes drew an average of 14,847 fans per home date during the 2023-24 season with 89,082 fans entering the doors of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa drew capacity crowds of 14,847 in all six of its home duals.
Along with having the top home attendance figures, Iowa was the top draw for seven opponents in 2023-24 – Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Penn, California Baptist, Illinois and Northwestern.
The 14,847 average is the third-highest average attendance in college wrestling history, second only to the Hawkeyes’ 14,905 average in 2021-22 and 14,858 average in 2022-23.
Iowa has led the nation in attendance in each season of head coach Tom Brands’ tenure (attendance totals weren’t tracked during the 2020-21 season due to most venues having no-spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic). This was the 15th straight year the Hawkeyes have averaged more than 8,000 fans.
Iowa has led the nation in home attendance in 21 of the 22 seasons it has been tracked. Penn State was second (51,360/7,337 avg.) in 2023-24, while Iowa State (40,150/6,691 avg.) ranked third.