The St. Louis Sports Commission:
Delivering the Best in Sports to America’s Best Sports City

The St. Louis Sports Commission is the independent, privately funded nonprofit organization that benefits St. Louis through sports. Its efforts focus on attracting, creating and managing major sporting events for the St. Louis region – and contributing to its quality of life.

Since its inception in 1989, the Sports Commission has fulfilled its mission by producing a diverse lineup of high-profile events that excite area sports fans, generate revenue for the region, and garner positive exposure for St. Louis. By pursuing events that matter to the area, the results-driven organization helps make St. Louis a stronger and more vibrant community.

A RECORD OF SUCCESS

Supplementing the excitement generated by the area’s professional and collegiate teams, the Sports Commission makes America’s best sports city even better. Its past accomplishments include the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival; 1996 & 1998 Big 12 Football Championship Games; 1998 U.S. Open – Track & Field’s Farewell to JJK; 2000, 2004, 2005 & 2008 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships; 2000 U.S. Gymnastics Championships; 2001 NCAA Women’s Final Four; 2004 U.S. Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials; 2004 U.S. Olympic Diving Trials; Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay & St. Louis’ Olympic Centennial Celebration; 2005 NCAA Men’s Final Four; 2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships; 2006 NCAA Men’s Soccer College Cup; 2007 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four; and the Illinois vs. Missouri State Farm Arch Rivalry football series.
The Sports Commission’s future event calendar includes the 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships; 2009 NCAA Women’s Final Four; 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game; and the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional.

In September 2008, St. Louis was one of six cities selected as an NCAA “Championship City.” The Sports Commission is representing the region in this new pilot program, which features multiple host opportunities of Division I, II and III men’s and women’s championships through 2012. As part of the program, the Sports Commission and its local partners will produce the 2010 and 2011 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship; the 2011 Division I Men’s Ice Hockey West Regional; and the 2012 Division I Wrestling Championships. Prior to being awarded these events, St. Louis had already been designated to host a remarkable 10 Division I championships from 2000 to 2009.

The Sports Commission’s dedication to amateur and women’s sports adds depth and diversity to the local sports scene, making St. Louis a well-rounded sports town. Its commitment to celebrating St. Louis’ Olympic legacy reminds the community of its unique place in Olympic history. And its effort to attract blockbuster events has turned St. Louis into “Championship City.”

ENRICHING THE COMMUNITY

In addition to bringing the best in sports to St. Louis, the Sports Commission coordinates a series of youth programs through its affiliated St. Louis Sports Foundation. The Foundation was established as a legacy of the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1994 to enrich the lives of area children.

Today, the Foundation’s signature initiative focuses on promoting and encouraging sportsmanship, particularly at the youth level. The Sports Commission’s Sportsmanship Initiative seeks to make St. Louis a model community for good sportsmanship and to create more positive environments for kids to play sports so they will remain active and lead healthier, happier lives. The organization reaches out to coaches, parents, officials, athletes and fans to make youth sports more enjoyable and to reinforce the ideals of respect, civility, integrity, and fair play at all levels.

Partnering with the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance, the Sports Commission produces the AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards. The annual event celebrates all that’s right in sports – recognizing athletes and personalities from around the nation for their integrity, class, selflessness, perseverance, kindness, community service and overall commitment to sportsmanship.

By highlighting individuals who set a high standard with their approach on and off the field, the Sports Commission hopes to set the tone for all parents, coaches and fans to be “good sports” and to pass those values on to children in the community.

AN INDUSTRY & REGIONAL LEADER

A catalyst for civic benefit, economic development and charitable good, the Sports Commission has been recognized as a leader in its industry and in the community. The National Association of Sports Commissions selected the St. Louis Sports Commission as its “Member of the Year” in 2002 and 2005. Among many other awards the organization has received, the Sports Commission was named a “Top 50 Company” by the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association in 2007, and received the Levee Stone Award from The Partnership for Downtown St. Louis in 2005.

The recognition is a testament to the Sports Commission’s value to St. Louis and efforts to help make the area a better place to live, visit, work and play.
For more information on the St. Louis Sports Commission and its events, visit www.stlsports.org.