diff --git a/packages/flutter/lib/src/gestures/arena.dart b/packages/flutter/lib/src/gestures/arena.dart
index d9fee7f63e..184a314ac2 100644
--- a/packages/flutter/lib/src/gestures/arena.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter/lib/src/gestures/arena.dart
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ class _GestureArenaState {
   final List<GestureArenaMember> members = new List<GestureArenaMember>();
   bool isOpen = true;
   bool isHeld = false;
+  bool hasPendingSweep = false;
 
   void add(GestureArenaMember member) {
     assert(isOpen);
@@ -79,8 +80,11 @@ class GestureArena {
     if (state == null)
       return;  // This arena either never existed or has been resolved.
     assert(!state.isOpen);
-    if (state.isHeld)
+    if (state.isHeld) {
+      state.hasPendingSweep = true;
       return;  // This arena is being held for a long-lived member
+    }
+    _arenas.remove(key);
     if (!state.members.isEmpty) {
       // First member wins
       state.members.first.acceptGesture(key);
@@ -88,7 +92,6 @@ class GestureArena {
       for (int i = 1; i < state.members.length; i++)
         state.members[i].rejectGesture(key);
     }
-    _arenas.remove(key);
   }
 
   /// Prevent the arena from being swept
@@ -99,6 +102,18 @@ class GestureArena {
     state.isHeld = true;
   }
 
+  /// Release a hold, allowing the arena to be swept
+  /// If a sweep was attempted on a held arena, the sweep will be done
+  /// on release
+  void release(Object key) {
+    _GestureArenaState state = _arenas[key];
+    if (state == null)
+      return;  // This arena either never existed or has been resolved.
+    state.isHeld = false;
+    if (state.hasPendingSweep)
+      sweep(key);
+  }
+
   void _tryToResolveArena(Object key, _GestureArenaState state) {
     assert(_arenas[key] == state);
     assert(!state.isOpen);
diff --git a/packages/unit/test/gestures/arena_test.dart b/packages/unit/test/gestures/arena_test.dart
index ccc861b50a..4f0d062fd6 100644
--- a/packages/unit/test/gestures/arena_test.dart
+++ b/packages/unit/test/gestures/arena_test.dart
@@ -66,4 +66,176 @@ void main() {
     expect(secondAcceptRan, isFalse);
     expect(secondRejectRan, isTrue);
   });
+
+  test('Should win by sweep', () {
+    GestureArena arena = new GestureArena();
+
+    int primaryKey = 4;
+    bool firstAcceptRan = false;
+    bool firstRejectRan = false;
+    bool secondAcceptRan = false;
+    bool secondRejectRan = false;
+
+    TestGestureArenaMember first = new TestGestureArenaMember(
+      onAcceptGesture: (int key) {
+        expect(key, equals(primaryKey));
+        firstAcceptRan = true;
+      },
+      onRejectGesture: (int key) {
+        expect(key, equals(primaryKey));
+        firstRejectRan = true;
+      }
+    );
+
+    TestGestureArenaMember second = new TestGestureArenaMember(
+      onAcceptGesture: (int key) {
+        expect(key, equals(primaryKey));
+        secondAcceptRan = true;
+      },
+      onRejectGesture: (int key) {
+        expect(key, equals(primaryKey));
+        secondRejectRan = true;
+      }
+    );
+
+    arena.add(primaryKey, first);
+    arena.add(primaryKey, second);
+    arena.close(primaryKey);
+
+    expect(firstAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(firstRejectRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondRejectRan, isFalse);
+
+    arena.sweep(primaryKey);
+
+    expect(firstAcceptRan, isTrue);
+    expect(firstRejectRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondRejectRan, isTrue);
+  });
+
+  test('Should win on release after hold sweep release', () {
+    GestureArena arena = new GestureArena();
+
+    int primaryKey = 4;
+    bool firstAcceptRan = false;
+    bool firstRejectRan = false;
+    bool secondAcceptRan = false;
+    bool secondRejectRan = false;
+
+    TestGestureArenaMember first = new TestGestureArenaMember(
+      onAcceptGesture: (int key) {
+        expect(key, equals(primaryKey));
+        firstAcceptRan = true;
+      },
+      onRejectGesture: (int key) {
+        expect(key, equals(primaryKey));
+        firstRejectRan = true;
+      }
+    );
+
+    TestGestureArenaMember second = new TestGestureArenaMember(
+      onAcceptGesture: (int key) {
+        expect(key, equals(primaryKey));
+        secondAcceptRan = true;
+      },
+      onRejectGesture: (int key) {
+        expect(key, equals(primaryKey));
+        secondRejectRan = true;
+      }
+    );
+
+    arena.add(primaryKey, first);
+    arena.add(primaryKey, second);
+    arena.close(primaryKey);
+
+    expect(firstAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(firstRejectRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondRejectRan, isFalse);
+
+    arena.hold(primaryKey);
+
+    expect(firstAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(firstRejectRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondRejectRan, isFalse);
+
+    arena.sweep(primaryKey);
+
+    expect(firstAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(firstRejectRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondRejectRan, isFalse);
+
+    arena.release(primaryKey);
+
+    expect(firstAcceptRan, isTrue);
+    expect(firstRejectRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondRejectRan, isTrue);
+  });
+
+  test('Should win on sweep after hold release sweep', () {
+    GestureArena arena = new GestureArena();
+
+    int primaryKey = 4;
+    bool firstAcceptRan = false;
+    bool firstRejectRan = false;
+    bool secondAcceptRan = false;
+    bool secondRejectRan = false;
+
+    TestGestureArenaMember first = new TestGestureArenaMember(
+      onAcceptGesture: (int key) {
+        expect(key, equals(primaryKey));
+        firstAcceptRan = true;
+      },
+      onRejectGesture: (int key) {
+        expect(key, equals(primaryKey));
+        firstRejectRan = true;
+      }
+    );
+
+    TestGestureArenaMember second = new TestGestureArenaMember(
+      onAcceptGesture: (int key) {
+        expect(key, equals(primaryKey));
+        secondAcceptRan = true;
+      },
+      onRejectGesture: (int key) {
+        expect(key, equals(primaryKey));
+        secondRejectRan = true;
+      }
+    );
+
+    arena.add(primaryKey, first);
+    arena.add(primaryKey, second);
+    arena.close(primaryKey);
+
+    expect(firstAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(firstRejectRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondRejectRan, isFalse);
+
+    arena.hold(primaryKey);
+
+    expect(firstAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(firstRejectRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondRejectRan, isFalse);
+
+    arena.release(primaryKey);
+
+    expect(firstAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(firstRejectRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondRejectRan, isFalse);
+
+    arena.sweep(primaryKey);
+
+    expect(firstAcceptRan, isTrue);
+    expect(firstRejectRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondAcceptRan, isFalse);
+    expect(secondRejectRan, isTrue);
+  });
 }