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For more information, contact: ST. LOUIS SELECTED AS NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP CITYAWARDED FOUR NCAA EVENTS TODAY
ST. LOUIS – Sept. 24, 2008 – The St. Louis Sports Commission is excited to learn today that St. Louis is one of only six cities selected for the inaugural "NCAA Championship City" Pilot Program. The Championship City pilot program will feature multiple host opportunities of NCAA Division I, II and III men's and women's championships through 2012. The centerpiece of the program is a long-term agreement between the NCAA and each host city to bring a wide array of championships and ancillary events to the six geographical areas over the course of several years. It is seen by the Sports Commission as a very significant sports and economic development victory for the entire St. Louis region. As part of today's announcement, St. Louis has been awarded the 2010 and 2011 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championships, the 2011 Division I Men's Ice Hockey Regional, and the 2012 Division I Wrestling Championships. St. Louis had previously been awarded the 2009 Division I Wrestling Championships, the 2009 Women's Final Four, and the 2010 Division I Men's Basketball Regional hosted by the Missouri Valley Conference. According to the NCAA, additional championships may be awarded to the six inaugural pilot program cities. In addition to landing the events, the selection by the NCAA provides St. Louis the rights to use enhanced NCAA marks and to identify the community as an NCAA "Championship City." More details on the announcement can be found in the news release distributed today by the NCAA. A St. Louis-specific Championship City logo is also linked here. Media wishing to arrange interviews with Sports Commission staff regarding the Championship City announcement should call Brent Shulman at 314-992-0684. Sports Commission President Frank Viverito is traveling today and is available for phone interviews. Sports Commission Vice President of Events Chris Roseman is in St. Louis and available for on-camera interviews. Working with multiple partners in the community, the Sports Commission put together the region's Championship City proposal in late 2007 and has worked with the NCAA since to develop and define St. Louis' participation in the pilot program. The Sports Commission will partner with Washington University and Fontbonne University to host the 2010 and 2011 Division III Women's Volleyball Championships; Scottrade Center and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) to host the 2011 Division I Men's Ice Hockey Regional; and the University of Missouri and Scottrade Center to host the 2012 Division I Wrestling Championships. Prior to being awarded these events, St. Louis had already been designated to host a remarkable 10 NCAA Division I Championships from 2000 through 2009.
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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