March 30, 2005                                                                                                              www.stlsports.org

First "Arch Matness," now March Madness. It's another one of those great chapters in St. Louis sports: a three- week stretch when the region hosts the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, welcomes the NCAA Final Four, and raises the National League Championship Pennant on the final opening day at Busch Stadium. This year, St. Louis has the rare distinction of hosting two NCAA championships in the same season. Two weeks after the Sports Commission hosted the NCAA Wrestling Championships, the Final Four is back in St. Louis for the first time since 1978 -- and our community couldn't be more excited. If the question is, “Are we ready?” The answer is an emphatic “Yes.” We've been preparing for this moment since June 25, 1998 -- the day we were awarded the 2005 Final Four. Since then, hundreds of people have poured their hearts and expertise into getting St. Louis ready for the Big Dance: the St. Louis Organizing Committee (SLOC) staff consisting of Missy Slay and Sue Albers; the SLOC's four member organizations (the Missouri Valley Conference, St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, Saint Louis University, and the Sports Commission); its 24 volunteer-chaired subcommittees -- focused on everything from airport readiness to downtown experience to ancillary activities; and many, many others. Their efforts will be complemented by 2,500 volunteers who serve as our community's best ambassadors. We're ready to go; ready to showcase all that is great about the St. Louis community: its people, its ability to rally around big events, its downtown resurgence and momentum, its unique neighborhoods, its food, and yes, even its weather (the forecast calls for 65 and sunny this weekend!).

MORE FINAL FOUR TIP-INS

The St. Louis community has embraced the Final Four at every level. First, the SLOC achieved its fundraising goal a year in advance of the event. Now all 2,500 volunteer positions are filled. The Sports Commission, which is responsible for recruiting and training all Final Four volunteers, reached its targeted number at the beginning of March… There is no shortage of things to do Final Four weekend -- and many of the affiliated activities are free. You can click here to download the schedule of events surrounding the Final Four. For more information on the 2005 Final Four, be sure to visit the SLOC online at www.stlloc.org… The SLOC has teamed up with Metro to offer a six-day transportation pass for $15.  The pass is valid March 31 through April 5, and will offer unlimited travel on all MetroBus and MetroLink routes, as well as an additional fan shuttle system that will service downtown hotels and St. Louis neighborhoods, restaurants and attractions.  Passes can be purchased by calling 314-982-1495, visiting the MetroRide Store, or simply clicking here.

NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS CELEBRATE 75TH ANNIVERSARY
IN STYLE IN ST. LOUIS

For the third time in six years, the Sports Commission, University of Missouri, and Savvis Center hosted the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. And as was the case in 2000 and 2004, St. Louis received wonderful praise from coaches, athletes, fans, media and the NCAA. An innovative grassroots marketing strategy initiated by the Sports Commission helped attendance soar to 95,459. The figure was the second highest in the Championships' 75-year history -- and just 1,485 shy of the record set by St. Louis in 2000. Three of the five best-attended tournaments have taken place in the Gateway City. Speaking of history, the event celebrated its 75th anniversary in St. Louis. Fifteen of college wrestling's greatest grapplers were named to a 75th anniversary team, selected through fan voting. The team was introduced at the Championships' 75th Anniversary Celebration, which took place at St. Louis Union Station between sessions on Friday, March 18. The Sports Commission now has its sights set on the 2008-11 Championships. St. Louis is one of five finalist cities in the running for the event during those years. Representatives from the Sports Commission and its partner organizations will make a final presentation to the NCAA Wrestling Committee on April 16. The decision on future sites will be made this summer. This year, the Championships drew 15,000 visitors, accounted for more than 12,000 hotel room nights, and generated $10 million in economic impact.

ST. LOUIS CHOSEN TO HOST NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS DINNER

This June, the nation's best sports will be honored in America's best sports city. The Sports Commission will add to the sportsmanship-based initiatives of its Sports for Kids program when it hosts the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance (CTSA) Awards Dinner June 4 at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in downtown. The Sports Commission was successful in its bid for this national annual event, which honors athletes who exemplify outstanding citizenship, sportsmanship, ethical conduct and community service. Honorees represent each of the CTSA member organizations, including Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, NCAA, NAIA, and United States Olympic Committee, among others. Past award recipients include Tony Gwynn, Jerome Bettis, Jim Thome, Darren Woodson, Michelle Kwan, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. The 2005 award winners will be announced prior to the event. The CTSA will also organize several community-based activities around the Awards Dinner. Guest speakers, locations, and further details will be announced soon. The Sports Commission seeks companies and individuals interested in sponsoring the dinner or purchasing a table. For more information, call Marc Schreiber at 314-992-0683 or e-mail mschreiber@stlsports.org. Click here to read the official news release.

JOIN THE SPORTS COMMISSION TEAM

As a privately funded non-profit organization, the Sports Commission relies on individual and corporate support to provide the resources it needs to be successful. One way you can become affiliated with the Sports Commission and support its efforts is by becoming a Friend of the organization. Sports Commission Friends make an annual $100 contribution. To sign up, or for information on how you can support the Sports Commission at a higher level as a Champion or Partner, please call Kristin Folkl at 314-992-0686 or simply click here.

PROGRAM GIVES AREA YOUTH OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS; NABC ALL-STAR BASKETBALL GAME

In the past few weeks, the Sports Commission's Sports for Kids program has been busy distributing tickets to local youth organizations.  Through the generosity of several Sports Commission supporters, including Wells Fargo, Sports for Kids provided hundreds of tickets to area children for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Savvis Center.  Beneficiaries included the Missouri School for the Blind, Kingdom House Recreation Center and Love-n-ary Youth Club.   On March 23, Sports for Kids and the Demetrious Johnson Charitable Foundation received more than 250 tickets for the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-Star Game from Ticketmaster and its Tickets for Kids program.  The program recognizes achievements of deserving young people throughout the community by providing family entertainment tickets.  The NABC All-Star Game April 1 at Savvis Center is among the official events taking place Final Four weekend.  It features the Harlem Globetrotters vs. the NABC College All-Stars plus two alumni games: DeSmet vs. Cardinal Ritter and the University of Missouri vs. the University of Illinois. Through these donations, area children are able to experience sporting events they otherwise may not have the means to attend.

NORMANDY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL SITE OF FIRST
COACH IT RIGHT! CLINIC IN 2005

Sports for Kids hosted its first Coach it Right! clinic of the year on Feb. 26. Nearly 100 coaches attended a track & field clinic at Normandy Senior High School. The six-hour clinic covered a variety of topics, including sportsmanship, proper motivation of youth athletes, hurdles/sprinting, distance running, training, and nutrition. The event also featured a one-of-a-kind jump school -- a 90-minute session dedicated to teaching coaches proper techniques for jumping and throwing events. Under the banner of Coach it Right!, Sports for Kids organizes free coaching clinics that educate and motivate volunteer youth coaches in various sports. The clinics emphasize the value of sportsmanship and develop coaching skills to help participants become better coaches, and in turn, lead to more positive experiences for area children on the playing field. Sports for Kids is planning two Coach it Right! baseball clinics this summer. Details will be available soon. For more information on the Sports Commission's Sports for Kids program, visit www.stlsports.org/kids.

McKendree College will host a discussion on the “Business of Sports” as part of its Distinguished Speaker Series on Thursday, April 14. Sports Commission President Frank Viverito will give the opening remarks before turning the program over to Mark Sauer, president and CEO of the St. Louis Blues, Mark Lamping, president of the St. Louis Cardinals, and Jay Zygmunt, president of football operations for the St. Louis Rams. Tom Ackerman of KMOX Radio will serve as the moderator. The program is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. To RSVP, call 618-537-6863 or register online at www.mckendree.edu/DSS.

The Missouri River Otters honored hundreds of area youth hockey players on March 19 at the Family Arena as part of "Youth Hockey Night." All local division champions received free tickets to the game against the Flint Generals and were recognized between periods during an on-ice awards ceremony. The Sports Commission's hockey committee helped organize the event. The River Otters have three home games remaining this season (April 1, 3, and 8). The club is currently third in the United Hockey League's Western Division and fighting for a playoff spot. Ticket prices range from $7 - $20 and can be purchased through MetroTix at 314-534-1111 or at the Family Arena box office. For more information on the River Otters, visit www.riverotters.com.

Congratulations to the River City Rage on their season opening victory this past Saturday. River City defeated the Fayetteville Guard 46-43. The Rage, formerly known as the Show Me Believers, play in the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). Their next home contest is Saturday, April 9, against the Montgomery Maulers at the Family Arena. Ticket prices range from $10 - $20 and are available through MetroTix by calling 800-293-5949 or at the Family Arena Box Office. For more information on the Rage, visit www.ragefootball.com.

Illinois head coach Bruce Weber will be honored by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association at a breakfast on April 1 at the Missouri Athletic Club downtown. Weber was selected by basketball writers to receive the Henry lba Coach of the Year Award. The Oscar Robertson Trophy -- honoring the national college basketball player of the year -- will also be presented at the breakfast. Weber will be joined by retiring coaches Gene Keady of Purdue and Lou Henson of New Mexico State, who will receive special awards from the basketball writers for their years of service in the coaching profession and cooperation with the media during their careers. The breakfast begins at 8 a.m. Tickets cost $65 and are available by calling the MAC at 314-231-7220 or DeSmet High School at 314-567-3500.

ST. LOUIS SPORTS COMMISSION STAFF

(As of March 30, 2005) 

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