Dec. 20, 2004                                                                                                              www.stlsports.org

As 2004 comes to a close, we extend holiday greetings and our gratitude to the many individuals and entities that have been part of the Sports Commission's efforts during the past year. This is an exciting time for the organization -- in the middle of its busiest and most successful two-year period ever. It's also the start of a new era: the Sports Commission will have a new chair, new director of development, and a new logo at the start of 2005. Details on those developments appear below. But first, and most importantly, we acknowledge our outgoing chair, Doug Albrecht, CEO of Centric Group. While Doug's two-year term ends Dec. 31, his chairmanship will have a lasting effect on the organization. His commitment, selfless service, and contributions to the Sports Commission have raised the bar for all who follow. The Sports Commission enters 2005 stronger than ever. Many people have helped the organization get to this point, and Doug is at the forefront.

SCOTT SCHNUCK NAMED
SPORTS COMMISSION'S NEW CHAIR

SPORTS COMMISSION ADDS SEVEN NEW BOARD MEMBERS

In addition to Schnuck's appointment, the Sports Commission's board approved the nomination of seven new directors to three-year terms:

Joe Ambrose – Executive Vice President, First Bank Commercial Banking
Ben Bishop – CEO, Western Construction Group
Paul Kalsbeek – Executive Vice President & Southeast Regional Manager, Wells Fargo Bank
Kathleen Killion – Executive Director - Health Literacy, BJC HealthCare
Chris Mileski – Director of Exercise Physiology, Sport Science and Human Performance, Sports Enhancement Group
Dr. Michael Milne – Private Orthopedic Surgeon
Paul Rhea – Senior Vice President - Private Client Group, U.S. Bank

KRISTIN FOLKL JOINS STAFF AS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT;
ORGANIZATION PROMOTES CHRIS ROSEMAN AND MARC SCHREIBER

Kristin Folkl, a native St. Louisan and one of the greatest athletes to hail from the area, has been hired as director of development for the Sports Commission. Folkl joins the staff from the Institute for Science and Health in St. Louis, where she served as development officer. In her role with the Sports Commission, Folkl will direct the revenue generation and fundraising efforts for the organization and its affiliated St. Louis Sports Foundation. Prior to moving into the development field, Folkl played professional basketball for more than six years, including a five-year stint in the WNBA. She graduated with a degree in economics from Stanford University, where she was a four-time all-American in volleyball, a basketball all-American as a senior, and a two-sport academic all-American. Folkl appeared in a total of six Final Fours (four in volleyball and two in basketball) and won three national championships in volleyball. She is a 1994 graduate of St. Joseph's Academy in St. Louis, where she was a member of eight state championship teams. In addition to Folkl's hiring, the Sports Commission promoted Chris Roseman to vice president of event management & acquisition and Marc Schreiber to vice president of marketing & development. To read more on Folkl's hiring and other staff developments, click here to view the news release.

SPORTS COMMISSION UNVEILS NEW LOGO

The Sports Commission has adopted a new logo, intended to provide easier identification of the Sports Commission name as well as instant recognition of St. Louis when the organization sells the region nationally. The new logo also incorporates a tag line that communicates an important message: The Sports Commission is a privately funded organization. Centric Group, a gold level partner of the Sports Commission, contributed its creative services talent to produce the logo. Andy Padberg and Greg Webber of Centric Group were responsible for its development.

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HOOP CITY: ACTIVITIES FOR FANS WILL FILL
FINAL FOUR WEEKEND IN ST. LOUIS

Dec. 22 marks 100 days out from the NCAA Final Four for St. Louis. As the countdown continues, local organizers are finalizing the official schedule of events that will surround the semifinal and championship games (April 2 & 4). To give you an idea of how much will be going on during Final Four weekend in St. Louis, here's a sampling of just some of the events local residents and visitors will have the chance to experience:

•  NCAA Hoop City – April 1-4 at America's Center: A highly interactive fan festival that celebrates college basketball and provides an opportunity for the general public to participate in the excitement of the Final Four weekend.

•  NCAA Final Four Open Practice – April 1 at the Edward Jones Dome: Fans can watch the Final Four teams practice. Admission is free.

•  NCAA Final Four Pep Rally – April 1 in Kiener Plaza: Features the bands and cheerleaders of the participating schools.

•  Taste of St. Louis – April 1-3 in Kiener Plaza: Includes many of St. Louis' top restaurants plus local blues and jazz performers and family entertainment.

•  NABC All Star Games – April 1 at Savvis Center: A basketball tripleheader: a high school all star game, Mizzou vs. Illinois alumni showdown, and the NABC All-Stars vs. The Harlem Globetrotters.

•  NCAA YES Clinics – April 2 at multiple locations: Free to boys and girls ages 10 to 18. College coaches and student-athletes will lead sessions on sports, life and conditioning skills.

•  March to the Arch – April 3 in downtown: Thousands of fans will dribble basketballs along Market Street from Union Station to Kiener Plaza.

•  Dasani Festival – April 3 in the Gateway Mall: Entertainment festival featuring live headline entertainment.

More Noteworthy Final Four Info:

•  Fans cans make hotel reservations for the Final Four online at www.explorestlouis.com/ncaa or by calling 800-916-8926. Fan block information can also be found under the Hotel Reservations link at www.stlloc.org.

•  The Sports Commission continues its volunteer recruitment efforts. To volunteer for the Final Four, call 314-992-0684 or visit www.stlloc.org.

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TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR 75TH NCAA DIVISION I
WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ST. LOUIS

St. Louis hosts the 2005 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships March 17-19 -- two weeks before the Final Four. Good seats are still available and can be purchased by calling 877-722-1604 or by completing the order form posted at www.stlsports.org/wrestling/ticket.html. In addition to all-session tickets, groups of 15 or more can take advantage of special group prices starting at only $5 per ticket. To order group tickets, or for information on other fan packages, call 877-722-1604. This year's tournament marks the 75th anniversary of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. To celebrate, fans are helping to select a 75th anniversary team, which will include 15 of the greatest grapplers in collegiate wrestling history. Fans can cast their votes at www.nwcaonline.com or by accessing the link at www.ncaasports.com. The team will be introduced at the 75th Anniversary Celebration set for March 18 at St. Louis Union Station.

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HELP US MAKE AMERICA'S BEST SPORTS CITY EVEN BETTER

With the 2005 NCAA Final Four just months away, and more outstanding events to come, there's no better time to become involved in the Sports Commission. The organization is seeking companies and individuals to join its Partner, Champion and Friends programs in 2005. These groups enable the organization to fulfill its core missions of benefiting St. Louis through sports, enriching the lives of area children, and making the region a better place to live, visit, work and play. Sports Commission Friends support the organization with a $100 contribution; Champions make a $1,000 investment. Sports Commission Partners make a cash or in-kind commitment of $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000. To learn how you can support the Sports Commission, call Marc Schreiber at 314-992-0683 or e-mail mschreiber@stlsports.org. Information can also be found at www.stlsports.org/join/index.htm. Current Sports Commission supporters will receive renewal information in January. Thank you for your support!

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QUICK HITS...

On Dec. 19 the Baseball as America exhibit opened at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. The exhibit includes approximately 500 of the most precious artifacts from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y. Some of the highlights are: Jackie Robinson's 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers jersey; a variety of items from the All American Girls Professional Baseball League; and record-setting bats from the McGwire-Sosa home run chase of 1998, as well as those of Babe Ruth and Roger Maris. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $4 for children (under 6 are free). For more information, visit www.mohistory.org or call 314-746-4599.

The second annual Sports Trivia Championship will be held Saturday, Jan. 30, 2005 at Savvis Center. Billed as the largest sports trivia event ever staged, the championship will bring together sports fans from across the area to determine who will take home bragging rights as St. Louis' most knowledgeable sports fans. Dozens of sports celebrities will be on hand, including hosts Dan Dierdorf and comedian Kathleen Madigan. Proceeds benefit St. Patrick Center, which feeds, clothes, counsels, educates, trains, employs and houses thousands of individuals and families in St. Louis. For more information on how you can participate, visit www.sportstriviachampionship.org or call 314-802-5445.

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ST. LOUIS IN THE RUNNING TO HOST
NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS DINNER

St. Louis is being considered as a potential host for the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance (CTSA) awards dinner in 2005. The Sports Commission submitted a bid to the CTSA selection committee in November, and a decision is expected soon. CTSA representative Ted Breidenthal expressed appreciation for the Sports Commission's efforts, and noted two strengths of the bid: Sports for Kids' existing sportsmanship programming and the strong support from the local corporate community. The CTSA is the largest coalition of professional and amateur athletics organizations in the United States focused on building character through sport. The organization's 12 members include Major League Baseball, the NCAA, NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, and U.S. Olympic Committee. Each year, the organization hosts a banquet to recognize athletes for outstanding citizenship, sportsmanship, ethical conduct, and community service. Past honorees include Michelle Kwan, Jim Thome, Ray Allen, and Darren Woodson. The CTSA's primary target audiences are coaches and parents who participate in youth sports, which is a focus of Sports for Kids. For more information on the CTSA, visit www.sportsmanship.org.

SPORTS FOR KIDS HOSTS INAUGURAL COACHES SYMPOSIUM & SPORTSMANSHIP SUMMIT

More than 65 youth and high school coaches, parents, and administrators attended the first-ever Sports for Kids Coaches Symposium & Sportsmanship Summit Dec. 11 at Missouri Baptist University. The free event featured several panel discussions that focused on topics that impact youth and high school athletics. Bruce Brown, national spokesperson for the NAIA Champions of Character program, was the keynote speaker and delivered a terrific presentation about teaching character through sports. The program was the first of its kind in the St. Louis area. It gave participants the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics, including promotion of good sportsmanship, sports psychology, coaching female athletes, and fundraising.

ST. LOUIS SPORTS COMMISSION STAFF

(As of Dec. 15, 2004) 

'62 Sports Group; American Amateur Golf Tour of St. Louis; American Recreation Products; American Red Cross; Anheuser-Busch Center; ARS of Missouri - St. Louis; AT&T Wireless; Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Missouri; Brown Smith Wallace, L.L.C.; Busch Soccer Club; Butler's Pantry; Casino Queen; Charter Advertising; Chase Park Plaza; Chevy's Fresh Mex; City of Maryland Heights; City of St. Peters; Clayco Construction; Collins Printing; CompManagement – Healthlink; Christee Cook; Corporate Benefits Strategies, L.L.C.; DDI Media; Deloitte & Touche; Destination St. Louis; Donovan, Rose, Nester & Joley; Downtown St. Louis Partnership; Drury Inns, Inc.; Bernie DuBray; East-West Gateway Coordinating Council; Edy's Grand Ice Cream; EFR, Inc.; Embassy Suites St. Louis Downtown; Fabick Power Systems, Inc.; Fine Arts Ltd; Fitness Designs Physical Therapy Sports Rehab; Fontbonne University; Forest Park Golf Course; Frito-Lay; Gateway Football Conference/Missouri Valley Conference; Gateway Grizzlies; Gateway International Raceway; Genxmex Foods, Inc.; Goldenberg, Miller, Heller & Antognoli; Goldman Associates; Gray & Associates; Wayne Hagin; Hamilton Jewelers; Hampton Inn Gateway Arch; Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club; HOK; Holiday Inn Westport - St. Louis; Hycel Properties Company; Jack Dubinsky & Sons; Jackie Joyner-Kersee; Lashly & Baer, P.C.; Liquid Light Studio; Major Brands; Markwort Sporting Goods Company; Marsh Advantage America; McBride & Son Homes, Inc.; McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.; McGuire Moving & Storage; Merrill Lynch; Mike Moore; Millstone Bangert, Inc.; Mississippi Lime; Missouri Bone and Joint Center; Missouri Machinery & Engineering Company; MO Employers Mutual Insurance Company; National Sports Agency, Inc.; Nike; Old Hickory Golf Course; PAI Printing; Paramount Convention Services; Joe Pereles; Planet Do It; Polsinelli, Shalton & Welte, P.C.; Precision Foods Inc.; Premier Rentals; Preston Photography; Primaryclick.com; ProRehab; Bob Ramsey; Rawlings; RBG & Company; River City Rascals; Royal Banks of Missouri; SBC; SBC Smart Yellow Pages; Seven-Up Bottling Company; Sheraton Plaza Tower; SIU – Edwardsville; Slay Event Management & Consulting; SLCC - Forest Park; SLCC – Meramec; Smurfit-Stone; Southwest Airlines; William A. Spencer; Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend; Sports Management Worldwide; Sportsimpacts; SSM HealthCare; St. Louis 2004; St. Louis Airport Marriott; St. Louis Marriott Downtown; St. Louis Physical Therapy & Rehab Network, Inc.; St. Louis Post-Dispatch; St. Louis Renaissance and Marriott Hotels – Airport; St. Louis Wheelchair Athletic Association; Stan the Man, Inc.; StudioJMC.com; Team Central Gymnastics; The America Group; The Bank of Edwardsville; The Center for Orthopedics; The Korte Company; The McEvilly Group; The Private Bank; The Regional Business Council; The St. Louis Shootout; THF Realty, Inc.; Tiger Logistics L.L.C.; Trojahn Plumbing; University of Missouri - St. Louis; U.S. Center for Sports Medicine; U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Diving; Vandalia Bus Lines; Vetta Sports Clubs; Dick Waters; Waylon Ad, Inc.; Welsch, Flatness & Lutz; Wise Events.

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