Frank Viverito
President, St. Louis Sports Commission
Frank Viverito makes no secret about it… he has one of the best jobs around. As president of the St. Louis Sports Commission, he lives and breathes sports each day, and he gets to do that in a community heralded as one of America's best sports cities.
Viverito became president of the Sports Commission in 1995. Although he is quick to deflect credit for the Sports Commission's accomplishments over the last decade, Viverito's guidance, perspective, and personality have very much steered the organization and the region down a path of success. Thanks to the support of the area's fans and business community – along with the Sports Commission's Board, Partners, and Members – the organization has helped position St. Louis among the nation's premier sports destinations.
As the privately funded nonprofit organization that benefits the St. Louis region through sports, the Sports Commission attracts, creates, and manages major sporting events for the community – and contributes to its quality of life. The organization 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. The results-driven organization focuses on what matters to the area, hosting events that make St. Louis a well-rounded sports town and a more vibrant community.
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 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships; 2000 U.S. Gymnastics Championships; 2001 NCAA Women’s Final Four; 2002-2003 Missouri-Illinois Football Series; 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 2007 State Farm Arch Rivalry Missouri-Illinois Football Game . The Sports Commission and its partners are preparing to host the the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships; the 2009 NCAA Women’s Final Four; and the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball St. Louis Regional. In addition to bringing the best in sports to St. Louis, the Sports Commission coordinates a series of youth programs that enrich the lives of area children. Its signature initiative focuses on promoting sportsmanship and creating more positive environments for kids to play sports. As part of these efforts, the organization produces the National Sportsmanship Awards – one the most inspiring nights in sports.
Under Viverito's direction, 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. No other organization has won the award twice. In 2005, the Sports Commission also received the prestigious Levee Stone Award from the Downtown St. Louis Partnership for its role in downtown’s resurgence. The recognition is a testament to the Sports Commission’s value to the region and efforts to help make St. Louis a better place to live, visit, work and play.
A native of New York City, Viverito earned a bachelor's degree at Rutgers University and a master's in sports management from the University of Massachusetts. He began his professional career in minor league baseball, working as the director of marketing and promotions for the Tidewater Tides, the New York Mets' Class AAA affiliate. From 1980-82, he was the sports promotion director at Old Dominion University, where he helped stage the first-ever NCAA Women's Final Four. Viverito came to St. Louis in 1983 and served as the sports promotion director for the University of Missouri—St. Louis. He then managed marketing and promotions for Civic Center Corporation / Busch Stadium from 1984-85. In 1986, Viverito joined the staff of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, and subsequently became the organization's vice president of public relations and development. He remained with the CVC until 1995, when he moved down the hall to lead the Sports Commission.