For more information, contact:
The St. Louis Sports Commission
314-345-5121
bshulman@stlsports.org

ST. LOUIS NAMED A FINALIST FOR FUTURE
NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

            ST. LOUIS – April 22, 2010 – St. Louis is one of five finalist cities in contention to host the 2013 or 2014 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.  The NCAA narrowed its list of prospective hosts after receiving bids from communities throughout the country.  A decision on the future sites will be made in the next two weeks with the final designation pending approval by the NCAA’s Championships / Sports Management Cabinet in June.

St. Louis’ bid for the Wrestling Championships was submitted in February by the St. Louis Sports Commission.  In the five times St. Louis hosted the event (2000, 2004, 2005, 2008 & 2009), the privately funded nonprofit organization produced the bids and spearheaded the local organizing committee.  The Sports Commission partnered with the University of Missouri on the past events, which all took place at Scottrade Center.  All three entities are working together on the 2013-14 bid, as well as on the 2012 Championships, which have already been awarded to St. Louis.

Four of the highest attended Division I Wrestling Championships took place in St. Louis.  In 2009, the Gateway City established a new total attendance record of 97,336.  The event brought 14,000 visitors to the region, generating an estimated $8.9 million in direct visitor spending and $775,000 in state and local tax revenue.

In addition to the Division I Wrestling Championships, the Sports Commission recently submitted bids for the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four, and the 2012 USA Gymnastics Visa Championships.  Site selections for these events are expected by June.

Upcoming events already secured for St. Louis include the Missouri vs. Illinois “State Farm Arch Rivalry” football game (Sept. 4 at the Edward Jones Dome); the College Hockey Ice Breaker Tournament (Oct. 8-10 at Scottrade Center); the NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship (Nov. 18-20 at Washington University); the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey West Regional (March 25-27, 2011 at Scottrade Center); the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships (March 15-17, 2012 at Scottrade Center); and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional (March 23-25 at the Edward Jones Dome).

The St. Louis Sports Commission is the privately funded nonprofit organization that benefits St. Louis through sports.

Its mission is to make the St. Louis region a better place to live, visit, work and play through sports.

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