For more information, contact:
The St. Louis Sports Commission
314-992-0684
bshulman@stlsports.org

ST. LOUIS – July 17, 2008 – The countdown to kickoff for one of the area’s most anticipated sporting events officially begins on Tuesday, July 22.  Tickets for the 2008 State Farm Arch Rivalry go on sale that morning, and fans are invited to a lunchtime pep rally in Downtown St. Louis where they’ll have the chance to win seats to see the Illinois-Missouri season opener.
                                              
The pep rally will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Kiener Plaza.  It will feature appearances by Missouri and Illinois players, who will sign autographs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.  Student-athletes scheduled to appear include: Jeremy Maclin (So.,WR, Kirkwood), Colin Brown (Sr., OL), Tommy Saunders (Sr., WR), Ziggy Hood (Sr., DL), and Brock Christopher (Sr., LB) from Mizzou; and Derek Walker (Sr., DL), Ryan McDonald (Sr., OL), David Lindquist (Sr., DL), and Brit Miller (Sr., LB) from Illinois.  The Mizzou spirit squad and Truman the Tiger will also be on hand.  The band American Dream will provide live music.  Food will be available for purchase.

Fans are encouraged to wear their Illini and Tigers gear – come dressed to impress – as tickets to the 2008 State Farm Arch Rivalry will be given away to the most spirited fans in attendance. 

Those hoping to secure seats through more traditional means should be ready at 10 a.m. on Tuesday when tickets for the game go on sale to the public.  Fans can purchase tickets online at www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 314-241-1888, and in person at all Ticketmaster outlets.  Please note that tickets will not be sold at the Edward Jones Dome box office.  Orders are limited to a maximum of four tickets.  With both Illinois and Missouri coming off outstanding seasons and projected to enter the 2008 season ranked, tickets will be in high demand for their primetime showdown on Aug. 30 at the Edward Jones Dome.  This year’s State Farm Arch Rivalry kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN.  It is the second year of the schools’ annual Labor Day weekend series in St. Louis.  

Tuesday’s pep rally is presented by KMOX Radio and organized by the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission and the St. Louis Sports Commission – the hosts of the Arch Rivalry series.

MEDIA NOTE:  Missouri and Illinois student-athletes appearing at the pep rally on Tuesday will be available for media interviews from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Kiener Plaza.  Media can also join the players for lunch at Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood at 12:30 p.m.  Media wishing to attend the lunch are asked to RSVP with Sports Commission Communications Manager Brent Shulman at 314-992-0684.

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.

- www.stlsports.org -