The St. Louis Sports Commission:
Delivering the Best in Sports to America’s Best Sports City

The St. Louis Sports Commission is the independent, privately funded nonprofit organization that benefits St. Louis through sports.  Its efforts focus on attracting, creating and managing major sporting events for the St. Louis region and contributing to its quality of life.

Since its inception in 1989, the Sports Commission has fulfilled its mission by producing high-profile events that excite local sports fans, generate revenue for the region and the state, garner positive exposure for the area, and showcase St. Louis at its best.  The organization helps make St. Louis a stronger and more vibrant community.  It supplements the excitement generated by the area’s professional and collegiate teams to make America’s best sports city even better.  The Sports Commission’s event résumé includes:

U.S. Olympic Festival (1994)
Big 12 Football Championship (1996 & 1998)
The U.S. Open – Track & Field’s Farewell to JJK (1998)
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships (2000, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009 & 2012)
U.S. Gymnastics Championships (2000)
NCAA Women’s Final Four (2001 & 2009)
Illinois vs. Missouri State Farm Arch Rivalry football series (2002-2003 & 2007-2010)
NCAA Men’s Basketball 1st/2nd Rounds (2002)
NCAA Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional (2004, 2007, 2010 & 2012)
U.S. Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials (2004)
U.S. Olympic Diving Trials (2004)
Athens Olympic Torch Relay & St. Louis’ Olympic Centennial Celebration (2004)
NCAA Men’s Final Four (2005)
U.S. Figure Skating Championships (2006)
NCAA Men’s Soccer College Cup (2006)
NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four (2007)
Major League Baseball All-Star Game (2009)
NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship (2010 & 2011)
NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey West Regional (2011)
USA Cross Country Championships (2012 & 2013)
USA Gymnastics Visa Championships (2012)
Senior PGA Championship (2013)
NCAA Men's Basketball 2nd/3rd Rounds (2014)
PGA Championship (2018)

The Sports Commission also represents St. Louis in the NCAA’s Championship City pilot program, which features multiple host opportunities of Division I, II and III men’s and women’s championships.  St. Louis is one of six cities designated as an NCAA “Championship City.”  Since 2000, the area has hosted a remarkable 11 Division I championships in five different sports.

ENRICHING THE COMMUNITY

In addition to bringing the best in sports to St. Louis, the Sports Commission operates the St. Louis Sports Foundation, its charitable affiliate.  The Foundation was established as a legacy of the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1994 to enrich the lives of area children.  Today, it focuses on promoting and encouraging sportsmanship, particularly at the youth level.  The Sports Commission’s Sportsmanship Initiative informs and inspires those involved in youth sports.  It seeks to make St. Louis a model community for good sportsmanship and create positive environments for kids to play sports so they remain active and lead healthier, happier lives.  Through several innovative programs, the organization reaches out to coaches, parents, fans and young athletes to make youth sports more enjoyable and to reinforce the values of respect, civility, selflessness and integrity at all levels.

As part of the Sportsmanship Initiative, the Sports Commission produces The Musial Awards.  The annual event celebrates all that’s right in sports by honoring the greatest moments and stories of sportsmanship from around the country.  It is one of the most meaningful and inspiring nights in sports.

In 2011, the Sports Commission was selected by the Institute for International Sport as one of 20 American organizations that have enhanced the national consciousness of the importance of sportsmanship and have made significant contributions to the practice of fair play.  The list of 20 included ESPN Outside the Lines, Little League Baseball and Softball, the NAIA, the NCAA and USA Today.

AN INDUSTRY & REGIONAL LEADER

A catalyst for civic benefit, economic development and charitable good, the Sports Commission has been recognized as a leader in its industry and in the community.  The National Association of Sports Commissions selected the St. Louis Sports Commission as its “Member of the Year” in 2002 and 2005.  The organization has received several awards from local civic groups, including the St. Louis Attractions Association’s 2010 Spirit of St. Louis Hall of Fame award and The Partnership for Downtown St. Louis’ 2005 Levee Stone award.  In addition, the Sports Commission was named a Top 50 Company by the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association in 2007.

The recognition is a testament to the Sports Commission’s value to St. Louis and efforts to help make the area a better place to live, visit, work and play through sports.

For more information on the St. Louis Sports Commission and its events, visit www.stlsports.org.