Independent Ohio Wrestling Promoter Denied License

An interesting story is coming out  of Hamilton, Ohio today. A local independent promotion, Future Great Wrestling, starting in the city was denied a license to host wrestling matches at a local gym do to traffic concerns that local residents have. The article can be read HERE, and is posted below.

Brian LeVick opened Future Great Comics in October of 2017.

“I did notice right before the construction that I was getting a little bit of an upswing and getting a lot more customers that routinely came in week-to-week,” LeVick said.

It’s right next to a construction zone.

“It’s not looking too great for me to stay open during construction. So, if the wrestling company isn’t going on, I will probably have to shut the store down and move it elsewhere,” LeVick said.

But now, LeVick said he needs to find a way to make some more cash to keep the business afloat until the construction is finished.

“I have loved wrestling my whole life. I was a sponsor for a local wrestling company that in a sense went debunked and all the wrestlers left. They needed a home. I cared about these people. They are first-class wrestlers and they needed a home, so I looked at that and said, ‘You know what? This is something I’ve always wanted to do. Plus, this might help out the store.’ So, I said, ‘Hey, why not give it a shot?’” LeVick said.

LeVick came up with Future Great Wrestling. He found a space to have the matches on North Brookwood Avenue inside ELITE Performance & Wellness that is already open, but he didn’t know the neighbors across the street would be so opposed to his idea.

The people against bringing wrestling to the gym said they are not against wrestling at all. They’re worried about the traffic and noise that comes with having 250 people leave an event at the same time.

LeVick expected up to 265 people would come to watch the matches that would be held on Friday nights. He also wanted to sell snacks like popcorn and nachos, and there would also be beer and wine available. He explained to the city planning commission that everything would be over by 9:30 or 10 p.m.

That is what has people, like Faye Baker, in the Colonial Lake community worried.

“People are not just going to rush out and leave at that time. There will be lingering, and they’re going to come outside and do whatever they do. They’ll probably be hanging around there until 11 o’clock or later,” Baker said.

Baker said the neighborhood is mostly retirement-age people. They are worried because all the parking lot exits empty right in front of their houses.

LeVick and the neighborhood made their cases to the planning commission earlier in December. The city staff recommended the commission OK the project. It voted a 3-3 tie and it was not approved.

“My thought was, at least give it a chance. They were talking about maybe doing a 30-day review or something like that. At least give it a chance. If there is anything that half the people there were concerned about, let me know and we will fix it. I’m not the type of person that will let things go by like that. So, if the city has concerns, at least give me a chance to get off the ground,” LeVick said.

The neighbors said they wouldn’t mind if the wrestling happened anywhere but right across from their homes.

“If it was somewhere other than right over here, I mean, there are areas around here that are vacant. There is the plaza, like you said, right behind over there, and most every storefront in there is empty right now,” Baker said.

LeVick will present a new plan to the commission at a meeting on Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. at 345 High Street in Hamilton. The public is welcome to attend.

LeVick has started an online petition in favor of his proposal.

Jason’s Take
I am a little shocked that this city is concerned about extra traffic. I live in small town North Dakota, and wrestling events big and small do great business for the local area stores, hotels, and restaurants, so it is a bit surprising they do not want wrestling in their community. People can be very narrow minded when it comes to their perception of wrestling and wrestling fans, and this seems to be one of those instances.