For more information, contact:
The St. Louis Sports Commission
314-992-0687
sports@stlouissports.org

(News Release from the Downtown St. Louis Partnership)

ST. LOUIS SPORTS COMMISSION RECEIVES
2005 LEVEE STONE AWARD FROM
DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS BUSINESS COMMUNITY

St. Louis, MO, June 30, 2005 - The Downtown St. Louis business community is proud to honor the St. Louis Sports Commission with the John H. Poelker Levee Stone Award. The annual award recognizes courageous leadership, extraordinary vision and personal commitment in advancing the revitalization of downtown St. Louis. 

The award will be presented to the organization at the Annual Meeting of the Downtown St. Louis Partnership on Thursday, June 30, 2005 at Noon in the Majestic Ballroom of the Renaissance Grand Hotel. Governor Matt Blunt will be the keynote speaker.

“Certainly, hosting the Final Four has made 2005 a hallmark year for sports in our community," stated Downtown Partnership Chair and Stifel Nicolaus CEO Ron Kruszewski. "But the St. Louis Sports Commission has been excelling at putting St. Louis , and particularly Downtown St. Louis, in the national spotlight for many years. And, with a busy slate of prestigious events coming up, we will continue to attract broader awareness, more visitors and expanded economic development thanks to their efforts.”

The St. Louis Sports Commission is most recently known for co-hosting the 2005 NCAA Final Four and the 2005 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The two events combined attracted approximately 70,000 visitors to St. Louis and generated an estimated $80 million in economic impact. The organization was also named the National Association of Sports Commission's 2005 Sports Commission of the Year.

“The Sports Commission is honored to be recognized by the Downtown St. Louis Partnership and its constituents,” said Sports Commission President Frank Viverito.  “We share their commitment to Downtown St. Louis and take great pride in the fact that many of our events are playing an integral role in downtown's resurgence. It's very meaningful to our organization to receive such a prestigious award.”

The St. Louis Sports Commission is a privately funded nonprofit organization that was created in 1989 to benefit the St. Louis region through sports. Upcoming events include; the 2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships; 2007 NCAA Men's Basketball St. Louis Regional; 2007 NCAA Frozen Four; and the 2009 NCAA Women's Final Four.

Recent Levee Stone Award winners include; Tom Reeves, Executive Director of Downtown Now!; The St. Louis Cardinals; and former US Senator and U.N. Ambassador John Danforth. Tickets to the annual meeting cost $65 for members and $75 for non-members. To reserve tickets, contact Bonnie Greider at 436-6500 ext. 225.