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Jan. 11, 2006 www.stlsports.org

CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK IN ST. LOUIS: NATIONAL TITLES, OLYMPIC TEAM
BERTHS ON THE LINE IN GATEWAY CITY

St. Louis is in the midst of hosting one of the nation’s biggest winter sports events. The 2006 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships -- presented locally by Schnucks -- took the ice over the weekend and continues through Sunday, Jan. 15 at Savvis Center in Downtown St. Louis and the Family Arena in St. Charles. America’s top skaters -- Sasha Cohen (right), Alissa Czisny, Johnny Weir, Timothy Goebel, and many others -- are competing for spots on the U.S. Olympic Team headed to the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy. Tickets are available to all remaining sessions and may be purchased by phone at 314-241-1888, online at www.ticketmaster.com and in-person at the Savvis Center box office. To obtain more information on the Championships, including a competition schedule, log on to www.stlouis2006.com.

ICE NOTES: In all, approximately 250 skaters are participating in the event, which will attract at least 6,000 visitors and generate more than 10,000 hotel room nights… Total attendance for the week is expected to approach 125,000… More than 700 volunteers are assisting the Championships in a variety of areas, including transportation, hospitality, ice patching, and medical. The Sports Commission thanks them for being outstanding ambassadors for the region… The Local Organizing Committee for the 2006 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships includes the Sports Commission, Savvis Center and the Heartland Inter-Club -- an organization made up of seven local figure skating clubs.

NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW BOARD SLATE

The Sports Commission welcomes five new members to its board of directors: Rich Frey (general manager, Pepsi); Bob Johnson (managing director, Merrill Lynch); Bill Seabaugh (partner, Bryan Cave LLC); David Steward (chairman of the board, World Wide Technology); and Tracy Welch (vice president - regional marketing manager, Regions Financial Corp.). The new directors were recommended to serve on the board by the Sports Commission’s nominating committee. The nominations were approved by the board at its quarterly meeting in November. Their terms became effective Jan. 1. Additionally, six individuals began their first full year of board service representing long-time Sports Commission Partners: Mike Hickenbotham (partner, Ernst & Young LLP); Kevin Knopf (senior vice president and senior client manager, Bank of America); Dennis Muilenburg (vice president & general manager for combat systems, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems); Joe Ruggeri (president, St. Louis Area Hotel Association); John Sondag (vice president - external affairs, SBC Missouri); and Tim Walsh (senior vice president - car sales, Enterprise Rent-A-Car). Finally, the board elected National City Bank President Shaun Hayes as the organization’s treasurer. The Sports Commission’s board consists of 66 regional business, community, and sports leaders who play a vital role in the organization’s development and success. To see a complete list of the Sports Commission’s board of directors, click here.

NCAA COLLEGE CUP CONTINUES TO ROLL TOWARD GATEWAY CITY

In December 2006, the Downtown St. Louis skyline will be the backdrop for the 2006 NCAA Men’s Soccer College Cup. The nation’s top Division I soccer teams will compete for a national title at Robert R. Hermann Stadium on the Saint Louis University campus. SLU and the Sports Commission will host the College Cup, which takes place Dec. 1 & 3. Tickets for the event will go on sale in late spring. You can be included on a priority list to receive ticket and other information by visiting www.stlsports.org/soccer. For information on hospitality suites, call 314-992-0683. SLU and the Sports Commission are also excited to partner with the Missouri Athletic Club on its annual Hermann Trophy presentation. The Hermann Trophy is awarded to the nation’s top male and female college soccer players. In 2006, the M.A.C. will conduct the prestigious announcement and dinner on Dec. 2 to coincide with the College Cup in St. Louis.

PLANNING ALSO UNDER WAY FOR 2007 NCAA FROZEN FOUR

The Sports Commission is preparing to host college hockey’s biggest event. Mark your calendar for April 5 & 7, 2007. That’s when the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four returns to St. Louis for the first time since 1975. The event will be held at Savvis Center and hosted by the Sports Commission and College Hockey America (CHA). Last month, representatives from the CHA, including Commissioner Bob Peters, came to St. Louis for a site visit. Organizers will continue to meet in the coming months and will travel to the 2006 Frozen Four in Milwaukee. 2007 Frozen Four tickets will be available through an application process starting in April of this year. For more information on the process, visit www.ncaasports.com or check back to the Sports Commission’s Web site -- www.stlsports.org -- in the spring. (Sports Commission Members will have access to purchase tickets through the organization.) Special packages that support the fundraising efforts for the Frozen Four will also be offered. For more information on these packages, call Chris Roseman at 314-992-0685 or e-mail croseman@stlsports.org. The 2007 Frozen Four and 2006 College Cup are two of the ten NCAA Division I championships taking place in St. Louis this decade.

ST. LOUIS TO HOST NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS JUNE 10

The nation’s best sports will once again be honored in the Gateway City this year. The Sports Commission will produce the National Sportsmanship Awards June 10. St. Louis hosted this event for the first time last June when it was called the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance (CTSA) Awards Dinner. The new name reflects the event’s national prominence and prestige. The National Sportsmanship Awards honor the nation’s top athletes and administrators who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship, citizenship, ethical conduct and community service. Honorees represent the CTSA’s member organizations: Major League Baseball, the NBA, WNBA, NHL, NCAA, and NAIA, among others. Honorees in 2005 included Rams receiver Torry Holt, Olympic gold medalist Paul Hamm, New Orleans Hornets forward P.J. Brown and Blues center Doug Weight. The Awards Dinner is a significant part of the Sports Commission’s ongoing sportsmanship initiatives. Event sponsorship packages that include a series of special benefits are available and can be viewed by clicking here. For more information, call Marc Schreiber at 314-992-0683 or e-mail mschreiber@stlsports.org.

QUICK HITS...

The Missouri River Otters host the 2006 UHL All Star Classic Jan. 25 at the Family Arena in St. Charles. The All Star Classic features the top players and rising stars of the United Hockey League. Prior to the game, the St. Louis Blues Alumni face off against the United Hockey League Alumni at 6 p.m. The Otters are graciously offering discounted tickets to Sports Commission Members. Tickets are available for only $10. To purchase tickets or obtain more information, click here or call 636-896-4235.

Congratulations to St. Louis Union Station, whose “Arch Madness at the Station” entry won a Merit Award in the 2005 ICSC MAXI Awards competition. The MAXI Awards recognize excellence in marketing globally. St. Louis Union Station’s entry highlighted the significant contributions it made to last year’s NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships and the Men’s Final Four. The Station hosted the Division I Wrestling Championships 75th Anniversary Celebration in March and the Men’s Final Four “March to the Arch” in April. The Sports Commission salutes St. Louis Union Station / Jones Lang LaSalle for its continued support as a 2006 Champion member of the organization and a local bronze sponsor of the 2006 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Sports St. Charles County is hosting “Hot Stove 2006” on Thursday, Feb. 9 at the St. Charles Convention Center. The luncheon takes place from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and features Chicago White Sox pitcher and Francis Howell North graduate Mark Buehrle; new Cardinals broadcaster John Rooney; former Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog; and more. Tickets cost $50 and tables of 10 are $500. To purchase tickets or obtain more information, call Teri Seiler at 636-926-8046 or e-mail sportsstcharlescounty@hotmail.com.

SPORTS FOR KIDS CLINICS HELP KIDS BY TEACHING COACHES

In 2005, the Sports Commission’s Sports for Kids program hosted free instructional clinics for track and field, baseball, soccer, and basketball coaches. More than 400 coaches attended the clinics. With each coach working with approximately 20 kids, the clinics had a positive impact on some 8,000 young athletes in the St. Louis area -- further helping the Sports Commission fulfill its mission of making St. Louis a better place to live, visit, work and play through sports. The clinics’ sportsmanship focus also helps the organization achieve its goal of making St. Louis home to America’s best sports. Sports for Kids salutes the Taco Bell Coaches Club for its support of this program. Highlights and photos from the clinics can be found at www.stlsports.org/kids. Sports for Kids is planning a track & field coaching clinic for early March. Contact Troye Frank at 314-992-0689 or tfrank@stlsports.org for more information.

JOIN THE SPORTS COMMISSION TEAM

The Final Four… Frozen Four… College Cup… U.S. Figure Skating Championships… NCAA Wrestling Championships… U.S. Olympic Trials… Missouri-Illinois Football… The one constant in all of these events is the St. Louis Sports Commission. You can be part of the organization responsible for bringing the best in sports to St. Louis 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 more information on how you can support the organization at a higher level as a Champion or Partner, please call Kristin Folkl-Kaburakis at 314-992-0686 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.

ST. LOUIS SPORTS COMMISSION STAFF

Frank Viverito	President	fviverito@stlsports.org
Doug Bray	Communications Manager	dbray@stlsports.org
Jan Carlock	Executive Assistant / Office Manager	jcarlock@stlsports.org
Kristin Folkl-Kaburakis	Director of Development	kfolkl@stlsports.org
Troye Frank	Foundation Director	tfrank@stlsports.org
Kelly Roberts	Event Coordinator	kroberts@stlsports.org
Chris Roseman	Vice President - Event Acquisition & Management	croseman@stlsports.org
Marc Schreiber	Vice President - Marketing & Development	mschreiber@stlsports.org
Gina Bauman	Business Manager	gbauman@stlsports.org

	2006 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships presented locally by Schnucks Jan. 7-15, 2006 – Savvis Center
	CTSA National Sportsmanship Awards June 10, 2006 – TBD
	2006 NCAA Men's College Cup Dec. 1 & 3, 2006 - Robert R. Hermann Stadium
	2007 NCAA Men's Basketball St. Louis Regional March 23 & 25, 2007– Edward Jones Dome
	2007 NCAA Men's Frozen Four April 5 & 7, 2007 – Savvis Center
	University of Missouri vs. University of Illinois Football Series Sept. 1, 2007 · Aug. 30, 2008 · Sept. 5, 2009 · Sept. 4, 2010 – Edward Jones Dome
	2008 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships March 20-22, 2008 – Savvis Center
	2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships March 19-21, 2009 – Savvis Center
	2009 NCAA Women's Final Four April 5 & 7, 2009 – Edward Jones Dome

(As of Jan. 11, 2006)

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS
Ameristar Casino St. Charles	MasterCard	St. Louis Cardinals
Bank of America	Mercy Health Plans	St. Louis Rams
CARHILL Enterprises, Inc.	Merrill Lynch	TALX Corp.
Edward Jones	National City	U-Gas
Fastsigns - Bridgeton	Nestle Purina PetCare	Wells Fargo
Huntleigh McGehee	St. Clair County
Marsh	St. Louis Blues

BRONZE PARTNERS
Adam’s Mark Hotels & Resorts	Laclede Gas	Schnuck Markets, Inc.
Ameren	Laclede’s Landing Merchant’s Association	Sense Corp.
American Airlines	Walter Lamkin	Sheraton St. Louis City Center
BJC HealthCare	Lanter Company	Sporting News
Boeing	Legacy Buliding Group	Sports Enhancement Group
Casino Queen Hotel & Casino	Merisant	St. Louis Area Hotel Association
CitiMortgage	Michael J. Milne, M.D., LLC	St. Louis Business Journal
Central States Coca-Cola Bottling Company	Midwest BankCentre	St. Louis Front Page
Dillard’s	Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood	St. Louis Parking
Ernst & Young	Millennium Hotels and Resorts	St. Louis Town Planner
EVS Realty Advisors, Inc.	Milnot	The Spark Agency
First Bank	Missouri Athletic Club	SWM Printing
Fox Sports Net	The Pavilion Hotel - St. Louis Downtown	Rob Trulaske
Fred Weber, Inc.	Peabody	UMB Bank
Hardee's Food Systems, Inc.	Red Moon	Unico, Inc.
Hyatt Regency – St. Louis Union Station	Regions Bank	US Bank
The Koman Group	Renaissance Grand Hotel	The Western Group
Kwame Building Group, Inc.	Reprox Imaging & Printing	World Wide Technology, Inc.
KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5	The Roberts Companies

CHAMPIONS

'62 Sports Group	Frank Popper Productions	Missouri Machinery & Engineering Company	Sportsimpacts
Anders Minkler & Diehl LLP	Gateway Grizzlies	Missouri River Baseball, L.L.C. / River City Rascals	SSM Healthcare
Anheuser-Busch Center	Gateway International Raceway	Mike G. Moore	St. Louis Post-Dispatch
AON Risk Services	GenXmex Foods, Inc.	Harry Morley	St. Louis Airport Renaissance and Marriott Hotels
BKD, LLP	Goldenberg, Miller, Heller & Antognoli	National Sports Agency & National Sports Studios	St. Louis Shootout
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Missouri	Goldman Promotions	Nike Golf	St. Louis Soccer Club
Chevy's Fresh Mex	Guarantee Insurance Company	Paramount Convention Services	St. Louis Union Station / Jones Lang LaSalle
City of St. Peters	Hamilton Jewelers, Inc.	Pilot Air Freight	Stan the Man, Inc.
City Property Company	Hampton Inn Gateway Arch	Polsinelli Shalton Welte Suelthaus PC	StudioJMC.com
Clayco Construction	Hard Rock Cafe St. Louis Union Station	Precision Foods Inc.	Team Central Gymnastics Academy
CompManagement - HealthLink	Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club	Premier Rentals	The America Group
Christee Cook	HOK	Primaryclick.com	The Daniel & Henry Company
Corporate Benefits Strategies, L.L.C.	Husch & Eppenberger, LLC	ProRehab	The Korte Company
David W. Preston Photography	Hycel Properties Company	Pulaski Bank	The McEvilly Group
DDI Media	Jack Dubinsky & Sons	RubinBrown (Larry Rubin)	The Private Bank
Deloitte & Touche	Keystone Staffing Resources	RubinBrown (Steve Hays)	The Regional Business Council
Destination St. Louis	Jackie Joyner-Kersee	Rehab 1 Network	THF Realty, Inc.
Dierdorf & Hart's Steak House	Chuck Joley	River City Rage Professional Indoor Football Team	Ticketmaster L.L.C.
Downtown St. Louis Partnership	Lashly & Baer, P.C.	Royal Banks of Missouri	Trojahn Plumbing
Drury Inns, Inc.	Major Brands, Inc.	Safety National Casualty Corporation	University of Missouri - St. Louis
Bernie DuBray	Markwort Sporting Goods Company	SBC	U.S. Center for Sports Medicine
Edy's Grand Ice Cream	Maryland Heights CVB	Sheraton Westport Hotel	Vandalia Bus Lines
EFR, Inc.	Steve McFarland	SLCC - Forest Park	Dick Waters
Fabick CAT	McBride & Son Homes, Inc.	SLCC - Meramec	Welsch, Flatness & Lutz
Fitness Designs Physical Therapy Sports Rehab	McGuire Moving & Storage	Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.
Fleishman-Hillard Inc.	Millstone Bangert, Inc.	Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville
Fontbonne University	Mississippi Lime Company	Sports Management Worldwide