OSU to Wrestle Iowa in ‘Bout at the Ballpark’ at Globe Life Field in Arlington

Oklahoma State, Iowa, USA Wrestling and Globe LIfe Field officially announced plans Tuesday for the “Bout at the Ballpark,” a wrestling match between Oklahoma State and Iowa along with another between the United States and Iran.

The match will take place at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 and is slated to alternate matches between duals.

Tickets go on sale for the event at 10 a.m. Oct. 14.

Rev Entertainment President Sean Decker said that Oklahoma State Athletic Director Chad Weiberg was the first to pitch this general idea and get the wheels in motion for the project.

“We are proud to have the opportunity to host a competition that celebrate four of the most iconic brands in the sport of wrestling, the Oklahoma State Cowboys against the Iowa Hawkeyes and USA Wrestling versus Iran,” Decker said. “I want to thank these four great programs for their incredible cooperation in helping us put together this spectacular wrestling event.”

The piece of this plan that seems to be met with the most ire so far is the alternate match plan.

From USA Wrestling:

“The Oklahoma State-Iowa collegiate meet and the United States-Iran exhibition meet will take place simultaneously beginning at 6:30 p.m. on February 12 with bouts from the two competitions alternating throughout the event on two different mats. This will mark the first time a senior-level international meet and an NCAA meet will operate in this format.”

It’s a different format that wrestling fans are used to, and seems to not be fully beloved by many on social media. It remains to be seen how the format will play out in the actual event.

The two wrestling mats will be located between the areas of the pitcher’s mound and second base and will be placed on raised stages to improve sightlines from the seating bowl. Floor seating will be added with the Globe Life Field capacity expected to be at least 27,000 for the matches.