For a printable version of this newsletter, click here.
Dec. 13, 2007 |
Editor's Note: Happy Holidays from the St. Louis Sports Commission! All of us at the Sports Commission wish you a joyous and safe holiday season, and a happy and prosperous New Year. Speaking of which, we have plenty of exciting news to share on our upcoming events in 2008 and beyond, so we hope you’ll read on! |
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SPORTS COMMISSION EARNS
TOP 50 RECOGNITION
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The Sports Commission is proud to have been selected as a 2007 Greater St. Louis Top 50 company by the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association. The Top 50 program recognizes companies for their significant contributions to the St. Louis region and how they positively affect the future of the business community. The Sports Commission will receive its award at the 12th Annual Top 50 Awards gala on Monday, Dec. 17 at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis. For more information on the event, click here. Thanks to all who have supported the Sports Commission's efforts and helped the organization achieve this recognition. |
COUNTDOWN TO 2009 NCAA WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR® OFFICIALLY UNDER WAY
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One of basketball’s premier events returns to St. Louis when the NCAA Women’s Final Four takes place at Scottrade Center in April 2009. The NCAA Women’s Basketball staff visited the Gateway City in October to begin the countdown to the event and unveil the logo. To celebrate, the St. Louis Organizing Committee - comprised of the Missouri Valley Conference, St. Louis Sports Commission and St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission - conducted a youth basketball clinic at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Boys and Girls Club in East St. Louis. The Tip-off Clinic gave area kids a chance to hone their basketball skills and learn about the importance of academics, nutrition, and exercise.
The 2009 NCAA Women’s Final Four will be the third Final Four to take place in St. Louis this decade. St. Louis was home to a memorable Women’s Final Four in 2001 featuring Jackie Stiles and the Missouri State Bears. St. Louis hosted the Men’s Final Four in 2005. The SLOC recently announced that Missy Slay will serve as executive director of the 2009 Women’s Final Four. She held the same role for the 2001 and 2005 Final Fours in St. Louis.
Companies and individuals interested in supporting the event through the purchase of suites and fundraising packages can call 314-421-0339. |
Participants from the Women's Final Four Tip-off Clinic pose in front of the event's 2009 logo, unveiled in October.
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In This Issue |
Top 50 Recognition |
Countdown to 2009 NCAA Women's
Final Four |
Sports Commission Hires Foundation Program Manager |
Hayes Named
Sports Commission's New Chair |
Arch Madness Continues for MVC and St. Louis |
Taste of the NFL Scores for Kids |
NCAA Wrestling Comes Back to the Arch |
Sports Foundation Awards Grants |
2008 AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards Date Set |
Mizzou, Illinois Enjoying 2007 Football Success |
Notes |
Join the Sports Commission team |
Sports Commission
Staff Lineup |
Upcoming Events |
Partners & Champions |
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SPORTS COMMISSION HIRES PROGRAM MANAGER
TO LEAD ITS FOUNDATION
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| The Sports Commission is excited to welcome Solomon Alexander to its staff as the organization’s Foundation Program Manager. Filling this new position, Alexander will implement, coordinate and manage the programs and activities that are part of the organization’s Sportsmanship Initiative. He comes to the Sports Commission from Lift for Life Gym and Academy – another St. Louis nonprofit organization – where he served as program coordinator and athletic director for the gym and was a grade level team leader and teacher for the academy. He had worked at Lift for Life since 1998. With Alexander now part of the team, the Sports Commission looks forward to expanding its sportsmanship programs in the coming year. Additionally, the organization is pleased to have in the office Travis Harris, an intern who is working on the 2008 NAIA Track & Field Championships and is a graduate of Millikin University; and Kelly Peery, a fall semester intern who is a graduate of the University of Missouri. |
SHAUN HAYES NAMED NEW CHAIR
OF THE SPORTS COMMISSION
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The Sports Commission’s board of directors elected Shaun Hayes, president - Missouri Banking of National City Bank, as the organization’s new chair. Currently the Sports Commission’s vice chair and treasurer, Hayes begins a two-year term leading the organization’s volunteer board on Jan. 1, 2008. He succeeds Scott Schnuck, who served as chair since 2005. Under Schnuck’s leadership, the Sports Commission produced the 2007 Mizzou vs. Illinois State Farm Arch Rivalry, 2007 NCAA Frozen Four, 2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships – presented locally by Schnucks, 2005 NCAA Wrestling Championships, and was part of the St. Louis Organizing Committee for the 2005 NCAA Final Four. The organization also earned several prestigious honors during his tenure, including the 2005 Downtown St. Louis Partnership Levee Stone Award, 2006 FOCUS St. Louis What’s Right With The Region Award, and 2007 St. Louis RCGA Top 50 Award. The Sports Commission is privileged to have Hayes as its incoming chair and thanks and salutes Schnuck for his guidance and support. Schnuck will continue to serve on the organization’s board and executive committee.
In addition to Hayes’ appointment, the Sports Commission’s board approved the nominations of six new directors for three-year terms: Craig Albrecht (Bodley Group); Rodney Crim (St. Louis Development Corporation); Mary Deverman (Centene Corporation); Todd Epsten (Major Brands, Inc.); Rich Gray (consultant, Centric Group); and Greg Strauss (Fleischmann's Yeast). |
ARCH MADNESS CONTINUES FOR MVC AND ST. LOUIS |
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The Missouri Valley Conference is keeping the “Arch” in March Madness. Last month, the St. Louis-based conference agreed to a four-year contract extension to conduct its men’s basketball championship at Scottrade Center through 2011. The league holds an option for two additional years. The State Farm MVC Tournament has been in St. Louis since 1991. The 2008 event takes place March 6-9. The Valley also will host its women’s basketball championship at the Family Arena in St. Charles March 13-16. For more information, click here to visit the Valley’s website. The Sports Commission salutes the Valley, Scottrade Center and the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission for working to keep the men’s tournament in St. Louis. |
FIFTH ANNUAL TASTE OF THE NFL SCORES
FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS AND FOODBANK |
Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon signs autographs at the fifth annual Taste of the NFL. |
The fifth annual Taste of the NFL, presented by Edward Jones, raised more than $80,000 for the Sports Commission's Youth Programs & Sportsmanship Initiative and the St. Louis Area Foodbank. Held in October at the Foodbank’s new headquarters in Earth City, the event offered attendees a chance to mingle with Rams players and cheerleaders while enjoying outstanding dishes prepared by chefs from St. Louis' top restaurants. Rams players in attendance included event captain La'Roi Glover, Brett Romberg, and Will Witherspoon. The Sports Commission salutes the Rams organization for its generous annual support of Taste of the NFL. Special thanks also to the participating restaurants and chefs; sponsors Edward Jones, Aramark, Emerson and UPS; event emcee Malcolm Briggs; and all who were in attendance. |
NCAA WRESTLING COMES
BACK TO THE ARCH IN MARCH
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The NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships return to Scottrade Center March 20-22, 2008. It’s the fourth time the Sports Commission and the University of Missouri host the event this decade. All-session tickets for the 2008 Championships are on sale now. To order tickets, call 866-646-8849 (toll free) or 314-241-1888 (in St. Louis); log on to www.ticketmaster.com; or click here for more details. Group ticket packages, featuring single-session access and discounted rates for groups of 15 or more, are also available. For more information, click here. (Sports Commission members will have an opportunity to purchase prime tickets through the organization in January.) |
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SPORTS FOUNDATION AWARDS
SPORTSMANSHIP GRANT |
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The Sports Commission’s Sports Foundation is pleased to award a $6,650 grant to the Metro Edge Figure Skating Club. The club applied for the funds through the Foundation’s Gifts & Grants program, which seeks to assist organizations instituting programs or projects addressing sportsmanship. In its grant application, Metro Edge proposed developing a comprehensive sportsmanship, team development and leadership program that would help its skaters, coaches and parents. The Sports Commission’s Sports Foundation was established following the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival. Proceeds from the Festival still fund the grants awarded by the organization. For more information on the Gifts & Grants program, call Solomon Alexander at 314-992-0689. |
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE 10TH ANNUAL
AT&T NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS
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The most moving night in sports returns to the Chase Park Plaza’s Khorassan Ballroom on June 5, 2008, as the 10th Annual AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards honors America’s most respected athletes and sports personalities. Presented by the Sports Commission and the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance, the event celebrates individuals from around the nation who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship, citizenship, ethical conduct and community service. The 2008 honorees will be announced soon. In 2007, the event featured Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn and Sharon Robinson, daughter of the late Jackie Robinson, along with local favorites Marc Bulger and Jamal Mayers. Individual tickets and table sponsorships are available for the 2008 AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards. For more information, call 314-992-0686. |
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MIZZOU, ILLINOIS SETTING THE STAGE FOR
EXCITING 2008 STATE FARM ARCH RIVALRY GAME
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The Sports Commission and St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission congratulate the Mizzou and Illinois football programs on their tremendous 2007 success. With both schools enjoying outstanding seasons, excitement is building for the 2008 State Farm Arch Rivalry game on Aug. 30 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. Check statefarmarchrivalry.com for ticket information in January. For information on coporate sponsorships and hospitality packages, including great seats, parking, and tailgating fun, call 314-206-7388. |
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| The Sports Commission congratulates the Washington University women’s volleyball team on winning the 2007 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship on Nov. 17. The Bears defeated the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in five games to win their ninth volleyball national championship and first since 2003. It was the second NCAA title for head coach Rich Luenemann, who won his 900th match as a collegiate head coach earlier in the NCAA Tournament. |
JOIN THE SPORTS COMMISSION TEAM |
The Final Four... Frozen Four... College Cup... NCAA Wresting Championships... Mizzou-Illinois State Farm Arch Rivalry... U.S. Figure Skating Championships... U.S. Olympic Trials... AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards... The one constant in all of these events is the St. Louis Sports Commission. You can be part of the organization responsible for delivering the best in sports to America’s best sports city by becoming a Friend of the Sports Commission. Friends make an annual $100 contribution and help the Sports Commission fulfill its mission of making St. Louis a better place to live, visit, work and play through sports. To become a Sports Commission Friend, or for information on how you can support the organization at a higher level as a Champion or Partner, please call Kristin Folkl-Kaburakis at 314-992-0687 or simply click here. The Sports Commission salutes its current Partners, Champions and Friends for their support. The list of companies and individuals supporting the organization's development programs appears below. |
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March 6-9, 2008 - Scottrade Center |
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March 13-16, 2008 - The Family Arena - St. Charles, Mo. |
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March 20-22, 2008 – Scottrade Center |
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May 22-24, 2008 – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville |
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2008 Sports For Kids Golf Classic
May 27, 2008 – Boone Valley Golf Club |
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June 5, 2008 – Chase Park Plaza |
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August 30, 2008 – Edward Jones Dome |
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September 1-7, 2008 - Bellerive Country Club |
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September 9-14, 2008 |
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March 19-21, 2009 – Scottrade Center |
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April 5 & 7, 2009 – Scottrade Center |
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May 21-23, 2009 – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville |
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July 14, 2009 – Busch Stadium |
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September 5, 2009 – Edward Jones Dome |
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March 26 & 28, 2010 – Edward Jones Dome |
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September 4, 2010 – Edward Jones Dome |
Gold Partners
Silver Partners
- American Airlines
- Ameristar Casino St. Charles
- The Boeing Company
- Edward Jones
- FastSigns - Bridgeton
- Huntleigh McGehee
- Marsh
- MasterCard International
- Mercy Health Plans
- Merrill Lynch
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- National City
- Nestle Purina PetCare Company
- Schnuck Markets, Inc.
- Sense Corp
- St. Louis Blues
- St. Louis Cardinals
- St. Louis Rams
- TALX Corp.
- U-Gas
- Wells Fargo Bank
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Bronze Partners
- Adam’s Mark Hotels & Resorts
- Ameren Corporation
- AT&T
- Bank of America
- Brinkmann Constructors
- Bryan Cave
- Casino Queen Hotel & Casino
- CitiMortgage
- Coca-Cola Enterprises
- Colliers Turley Martin Tucker
- CompManagement/HealthLink
- Jeff Cooper
- Dillard’s
- Document & Network Technologies, Inc.
- Arnold W. and Hazel A. Donald Charitable Fund of the
Greater Saint Louis Community Foundation
- Ernst & Young
- EVS Realty Advisors, Inc.
- First Bank
- Fitness Designs Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab
- Fleischmann’s Yeast
- Fred Weber, Inc.
- FSN Midwest
- Grey Eagle Distributors
- Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc.
- Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark
- Hogan Motor Leasing, Inc.
- Hyatt Regency - St. Louis Union Station
- Kwame Building Group, Inc.
- The Laclede Group
- Laclede’s Landing Merchant’s Association
- Walter Lamkin
- Lanter Company
- Lucas Sales Company / Group 4 Materials
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- Luxco
- Marcone
- McEagle Properties
- Scott Meader
- Michael J. Milne, M.D., LLC
- Midwest BankCentre
- Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood
- Millennium Hotel St. Louis
- Missouri Athletic Club
- Paric
- Peabody
- PepsiAmericas, Inc.
- Regions Bank
- Renaissance Grand & Suites Hotel
- Sheraton St. Louis City Center Hotel
- Smurfit-Stone
- Sporting News
- Sports Enhancement Group
- St. Louis Area Hotel Association
- St. Louis Business Journal
- St. Louis Front Page
- St. Louis Parking Company
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association
- St. Louis Town Planner
- Stifel Nicolaus
- Switch
- Rob Trulaske
- Unico, Inc.
- UMB Bank
- US Bank
- Western Construction Group
- Wilkes Direct Mail
- World Wide Technology, Inc.
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Civic Partners
2007 Champions
- '62 Sports Group
- The America Group
- Anders Minkler & Diehl LLP
- AON Risk Services
- Armstrong Teasdale LLP
- BFC Enterprises
- BKD, LLP
- Carmody MacDonald P.C.
- Celebrate St. Louis
- Chase Park Plaza
- Chevys Fresh Mex
- City Property Company
- Clayco, Inc.
- Chris' Pancake and Dining
- David W. Preston Photography
- Deloitte & Touche
- Destination St. Louis
- Dierdorf & Hart's Steak House
- Downtown St. Louis Partnership
- Bernie DuBray
- Edy's Grand Ice Cream
- EFR, Inc.
- Event One LLC
- Fabick CAT
- Fleishman-Hillard Inc.
- Fontbonne University
- Frank Popper Productions
- Gateway Arch Riverfront
- Gateway Football Conference
- Gateway Grizzlies Baseball LLC
- GenXmex Foods, Inc.
- Goldenberg Heller Antognoli Rowland Short & Gori, P.C.
- Goldman Promotions
- Gray & Associates
- Greater St. Charles CVB
- Hamilton Jewelers, Inc.
- Tripp Hardin - CB Richard Ellis
- Steve Hays
- Heritage Exposition Services
- HOK
- Holmes Murphy
- Husch & Eppenberger, LLC
- Hycel Properties Company
- Keystone Staffing Resources
- The Korte Company
- Lashly & Baer, P.C.
- MAC Sports and Entertainment
- Major Brands, Inc.
- Markwort Sporting Goods Company
- Maryland Heights CVB
- Maryville University
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- Millstone Bangert, Inc.
- Mississippi Lime Company
- Missouri Machinery & Engineering Company
- Mike Moore
- Harry T. Morley
- National Sports Agency
- Nike Golf
- NSI
- John O’Connell
- Joseph B. Pereles
- Paramount Convention Services
- Pilot Air Freight
- Planet Do It
- Polsinelli Shalton Welte Suelthaus PC
- Precision Foods Inc.
- Premier Rentals
- The Private Bank
- ProRehab, PC
- Raese Simpson, Inc.
- The Regional Business Council
- Rehab 1 Network
- Jerry Ritter
- Royal Banks of Missouri
- RubinBrown
- Safety National Casualty Corporation
- Sheraton Westport Hotel
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- SSM Healthcare
- St. Louis Airport Marriott
- St. Louis Community College - Forest Park
- St. Louis Community College - Meramec
- St. Louis Soccer Club
- St. Louis Union Station / Jones Lang LaSalle
- Stan the Man, Inc.
- StudioJMC.com
- Team Central Gymnastic Academy
- THF Realty, Inc.
- Thompson Coburn LLP
- Ticketmaster L.L.C.
- University of Missouri - St. Louis
- Vandalia Bus Lines
- Dick Waters
- Webster Fabric
- Welsch, Flatness & Lutz
- The Westin St. Louis
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