SALEM — After three years in Salem, the state high school wrestling tournament is retuning to its former home at Portland’s Memorial Coliseum, taking an estimated $1 million in revenues with it.

Brad Garrett of the Oregon School Activities Association cited the rising cost associated with the expansion of the tournament last year and the size of the State Fairgrounds venues as reasons for the move.

“The people there, The Pavilion staffing and all that, they’ve been outstanding,” Garrett said, and praised the amenities in Salem.

“The bottom line is we’re physically responsible to the 280 member schools.”

The event moved to The Pavilion at the fairgrounds for the 2005 championships, shortly after the $10 million facility opened in 2004.

The event featured high school wrestlers from across Oregon. Many, along with coaches and families, stayed in area motels.

Debbie McCune, director of sales for the Salem Convention and Visitors Association, said the estimated economic impact was $1 million.

“The bottom line is they’ve gotten too big,” McCune said. “It was just the facility was too small.”

The OSAA redistricting added two classifications expanding the tournament from around 850 wrestlers to 1,120 last year.

“I thought they were going to be pleased that the event grew so much more in Salem,” said Oregon State Fair manager Dave Koellermeier.

“It’s one of those, ’Oh my God we grew it to where we can’t hold it.”’

The event lost about $65,000 last year because the OSAA’s reimburses schools for travel costs.

Memorial Coliseum has seating for 10,000. The Pavilion, where all the Saturday night finals were held, seats fewer than 5,000.