Frank Viverito
President, St. Louis Sports Commission
Frank Viverito makes no secret about it… he has one of the best jobs around. As president of the St. Louis Sports Commission, he lives and breathes sports each day, and he gets to do that in a community heralded as one of America's best sports cities.
Viverito became president of the Sports Commission in 1995. Although he is quick to deflect credit for the Sports Commission's accomplishments, Viverito's guidance, perspective, and personality have very much steered the organization and the region down a path of success. Thanks to the support of the area's fans and business community – along with the Sports Commission's board, members and volunteers – the organization has helped position St. Louis among the nation's premier sports destinations.
As the privately funded nonprofit organization that benefits the
St. Louis region through sports, the Sports Commission attracts, creates, and manages major sporting events for the community – and contributes to its quality of life. The organization has fulfilled its mission by producing a diverse lineup of high-profile events that excite area sports fans, generate revenue for the region, and garner positive exposure for St. Louis. Pursuing events that matter to the area, the Sports Commission 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)
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 Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional (2010 & 2012)
College Hockey Ice Breaker Tournament (2010 & 2011)
Currently, the Sports Commission 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 through 2012. St. Louis is one of six cities designated as an NCAA “Championship City.” As part of the program, the Sports Commission and its local partners will produce the 2010 and 2011 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship; the 2011 Division I Men’s Ice Hockey West Regional; and the 2012 Division I Wrestling Championships. These events follow a remarkable 10 Division I championships that St. Louis hosted from 2000 to 2009.
In addition to bringing the best in sports to St. Louis, the Sports Commission coordinates a series of youth programs through its affiliated St. Louis Sports Foundation. Its signature initiative focuses on promoting sportsmanship and creating more positive environments for kids to play sports. As part of these efforts, the organization produces the National Sportsmanship Awards – one of the most meaningful and inspiring nights in sports.
Under Viverito's direction, 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. Among many other awards the organization has received, the Sports Commission was named a “Top 50 Company” by the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association in 2007, and received the Levee Stone Award from The Partnership for Downtown St. Louis in 2005.
A native of New York City, Viverito earned a bachelor's degree at Rutgers University and a master's in sports management from the University of Massachusetts. He began his professional career in minor league baseball, working as the director of marketing and promotions for the Tidewater Tides, the New York Mets' Class AAA affiliate. From 1980-82, he was the sports promotion director at Old Dominion University, where he helped stage the first-ever NCAA Women's Final Four. Viverito came to St. Louis in 1983 and served as the sports promotion director for the University of Missouri—St. Louis. He then managed marketing and promotions for Civic Center Corporation / Busch Stadium from 1984-85. In 1986, Viverito joined the staff of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, and subsequently became the organization's vice president of public relations and development. He remained with the CVC until 1995, when he became president of the Sports Commission.
