The St. Louis Sports Commission is the independent, privately-funded nonprofit organization that makes St. Louis a better place to live, visit, work and play through sports. Its efforts focus on attracting, creating and managing major sporting events for the St. Louis region. The organization uses the power of sports to enhance the area’s quality of life and to create economic and social benefit for the community.
Since its inception in 1989, the Sports Commission has fulfilled its mission by producing high-profile events that generate excitement, revenue and positive exposure for the region. The organization helps make St. Louis a stronger and more vibrant community. It adds to the impact of the area’s professional and collegiate teams to make a great sports community even better. By achieving the highest level of success with its events, the Sports Commission has fortified St. Louis’ status as an outstanding sports destination.
The organization’s event résumé includes:
1994 U.S. Olympic Festival
1996 & 1998 Big 12 Football Championship
1998 U.S. Open – Track & Field’s Farewell to JJK
2000 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships (Also hosted in 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017 & 2021)
2000 U.S. Gymnastics Championships
2001 & 2009 NCAA Women’s Final Four
Missouri vs. Illinois “State Farm Arch Rivalry” (2002-2003 & 2007-2010)
2002 NCAA Men’s Basketball 1st/2nd Rounds (Also hosted in 2014, 2016 & 2026)
2004 NCAA Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional (Also hosted in 2007, 2010 & 2012)
2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Women’s Marathon
2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Diving
2004 Athens Olympic Torch Relay
2005 NCAA Men’s Final Four
2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
2006 NCAA Men’s Soccer College Cup
2007 & 2025 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four
2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
2010-2011 & 2021 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship
2011 & 2024 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Regional
2012 & 2013 USA Cross Country Championships
2012 USA Gymnastics Visa Championships
2013 Senior PGA Championship
2014 Curtis Cup
2015, 2021 & 2022 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships
2015 & 2018 NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship
2016 P&G Championships – Women’s Gymnastics
2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Gymnastics
2017 NHL Winter Classic
2017 NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four
2017 & 2018 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships
2018 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament
2018 SEC Gymnastics Championship
2018 PGA Championship
2020 NHL All-Star Game
2021 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics
2021 & 2023 U.S. Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships
2022 & 2024 ACHA National Championships
2023 Mizzou vs. Memphis Football
2023-2024 Mizzou to the Lou Series
2030 Presidents Cup
ANNUAL EVENTS:
Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament
Biz Dash 5K
The Musial Awards
Reflecting a vision to be a leader and innovator in addition to an event producer, the Sports Commission takes the lead in celebrating and furthering St. Louis’ Olympic legacy as host of the 1904 Summer Games, the first Olympics in America. The organization represents St. Louis in the World Union of Olympic Cities and has implemented several visible projects that raise the profile and impact of the region’s Olympic affiliation. The Sports Commission aims to positively impact St. Louis through its opportunities as an Olympic city.
The Sports Commission also operates the St. Louis Sports Foundation, its 501(c)(3) charitable affiliate. The Foundation was established as a legacy of the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1994. Today, it focuses on promoting sportsmanship in St. Louis and fostering a culture of kindness, respect, civility and selflessness. Foundation programs also strive to make youth sports more enjoyable and to create positive environments for kids to play sports so they stay active and lead healthier, happier lives.
As part of its commitment to sportsmanship, the Sports Commission manages the National Sportsmanship Foundation and produces the Musial Awards, the most inspiring night in sports. Named for the great Stan Musial, this nationally televised event celebrates the year’s greatest moments of sportsmanship and those in sports who embody class and character. The show takes place annually on the Saturday before Thanksgiving at Stifel Theatre in St. Louis. In addition to keeping alive the legacy of Stan The Man, the mission of the Musial Awards is to inspire people across the nation to be good sports.
A catalyst for civic benefit, economic development and charitable good, the St. Louis Sports Commission has been recognized as a leader in its industry and in the community. The organization has been selected as the national sports commission of the year three times (2002, 2005 and 2013). The Sports Commission also has received several awards from local civic groups, including the Saint Louis Attractions Association’s 2010 Spirit of St. Louis Hall of Fame Award, FOCUS St. Louis’ 2006 What’s Right With The Region Award, and Downtown STL’s 2005 Levee Stone Award. Additionally, the Sports Commission was named a Top 50 Company by the St. Louis Regional Chamber in 2007. The recognition is a testament to the Sports Commission’s value to St. Louis and its efforts to help grow, strengthen and advance the region through sports.