Women’s sports a big draw
On Saturday, Columbus broke the NCAA women’s volleyball championship game attendance record with 18,755 watching the final between Wisconsin and Nebraska at Nationwide Arena, solidifying the credibility of the city and venue as a destination for some of the biggest women’s sports events in the country.
The total combined attendance for the national semifinals and championship match was 35,286 — only 2,000 off from the 2017 NCAA volleyball final four record in Kansas City when Nebraska won a championship three hours from its campus. The 2021 total also surpassed that of the 34,015 fans who watched in 2016 when Columbus first hosted the event.
The success of the tournament built upon the 2018 women’s basketball Final Four, which had a then-record crowd of 39,123, which is even more impressive considering Nationwide Arena has a capacity of 19,500 for basketball.
The 2018 NCAA women’s basketball and 2021 NCAA women’s volleyball final fours produced some of the most memorable games in the sports’ histories. They also proved what Linda Logan knew to be true: Columbus residents want high-level women’s athletics, and the city can put on a great event.
“Obviously we don’t have that domed stadium to host a men’s Final Four, but we know what our sweet spot is,” said Logan, the executive director of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. “In this case, both the women’s Final Four and volleyball championships are in that wheelhouse.”
While Nebraska and Wisconsin have two of the strongest fan bases for volleyball in the country, it’s impressive that the venue was at 96% capacity without Ohio State involved.
“For us to sell out on a night like that and not have Ohio State in the finals, I think that speaks volumes for where the growth is for the game of volleyball,” Buckeyes coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg said. “It’s cool to see some of the younger generations taking pictures with the court in the background, like, we’re here, we’re ready for it.”
Hosting events creates a virtuous cycle, helping the commission pump more money into marketing the city to gain more events that help the local economy. Logan expects the economic impact of the 2021 volleyball final four to be in the $14 million to $16 million range, similar to 2016. The commission-led study estimated $21.7 million was gained from the 2018 basketball Final Four.
Logan said the commission plans to continue to bid for the NCAA Division I women’s volleyball final four, with the next available event in 2026. Hosting another women’s basketball Final Four depends on whether the NCAA decides to put it at the same venue as the men’s Final Four beginning in 2027. If so, hosting an NCAA regional will be a target for the commission.
In bids to host these events, Logan said the commission centers its pitch
“For us to sell out on a night like that and not have Ohio State in the finals, I think that speaks volumes for where the growth is for the game of volleyball.” Buckeyes coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg
around easy access and everything Columbus has to offer within walking distance of the venue. The commission also sells the collaboration between Ohio State, the commission and Nationwide Arena, as well as the ability to customize new experiences for the athletes.
Nebraska coach John Cook, who has been to 10 final fours, went out of his way to compliment Columbus’ creativity. He cited, as an example, having a video welcome message from parents of players when the teams arrived at the hotel.
It was the kind of gesture Oldenburg hopes her players can experience one day. She saw the crowd on Saturday night as an example of the energy her program can tap into, and if Ohio State can generate consistent excitement, she believes the decision-makers will take notice, and Columbus could be rewarded with more championship events.
“We want to be that event in the fall when football’s not in town,” Oldenburg said. “Can we be a premier event to go to? I think that would be pretty awesome.” jmyers@dispatch.com @_jcmyers