Trump to Attend NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia This Weekend

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships are set to take place at the Wells Fargo Center from March 20 to 22, featuring some of the best collegiate wrestlers in the country, and former President Donald Trump is expected to attend.

Wells Fargo Center’s general manager, Michael Sulkes, stated that the tournament has been highly sought after, calling it the “hottest ticket in the history of the Wells Fargo Center, dating back to 1996.” Sulkes noted that around 100,000 fans will converge on Philadelphia for the event, with all six sessions selling out quickly.

“All six sessions were sold out a long time ago, well before it was announced that anyone was joining us,” Sulkes said, emphasizing the unprecedented demand for tickets.

Fans anticipate increased security during the event due to the former president’s attendance. Adam Peck from Washington, D.C., remarked, “Anytime elected officials are in the building, it’s always a little bit of an extra layer of security.” Attendees are advised to arrive early to avoid delays.

Garrett Bieri from Aledo, Illinois, plans to leave early, saying, “We will leave a little early to make sure we’re down here, and then there’s plenty to do and see in Philadelphia.”

For those without tickets, a free fan experience called Phan-X will be hosted at Lincoln Financial Field, providing opportunities to purchase merchandise and engage with the wrestling community. This event will run on Saturday and Sunday.

Trump, who graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1968, has a history with the sport and attended last year’s tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Penn State won the national title. He previously invited the Nittany Lions to the White House to celebrate their victory.

During his second term, Trump appointed WWE co-founder Stephanie McMahon as Secretary of Education, a decision that has drawn both interest and controversy. Wrestling has long been a part of Trump’s public persona, evidenced by the two WrestleMania events held at Trump Plaza in the 1980s.

In addition to more than 280 wrestlers qualifying for the championships, Penn’s team will be represented by seven qualifiers, the highest seed being freshman Cross Wasilewski at ninth in the 149-pound weight class.

The championships will culminate with the finals on March 22 starting at 7 p.m. Doors for each day’s session will open at various times, with festivities starting as early as 10:30 a.m. on the competition days. Tickets for the event vary wildly, with some selling for nearly $1,400 on the resale market.

As the championships approach, wrestling fans eagerly await both the competition and Trump’s anticipated presence, contributing to what promises to be a historic weekend in Philadelphia.