Waterloo will be the new home of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum. Executive director Mike Chapman and Waterloo mayor Tim Hurley made the announcement during a news conference this morning. The facility has been located in Newton since it opened eight years ago. Chapman says relocating to the Cedar Valley will allow the museum to grow.
The facility is expected to have a major impact on the Waterloo-area economy. Chapman says Gable will make periodical appearances and the museum will sponsor a series of events to attract visitors and residents on a regular basis.
The museum’s goal is to promote and educate the public on the sport of wrestling. Chapman says the museum, which is moving from an eight-thousand square-foot building in Newton to a 21-thousand square-foot building in Waterloo, will feature something for everyone. He says they’ll have a ring for people to climb into and a library and a video theatre.
Chapman announced his intentions to move the museum from Newton to Waterloo about six months ago, and then name the facility in honor of Gable. the Waterloo native, Olympic gold medalist, and former Iowa coach says he’s honored that the museum is being named for him. Gable plans to be more involved with the museum after it moves to his hometown. Gable says it’s a whole different ballgame now that it has his name on it.
Gable is confident the museum will have a successful future in Waterloo. He says one of the major reasons they moved was a lack of resources. The move to Waterloo is projected to be November, with a grand opening planned for early next year.