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Women's Final
Four
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This month,
St. Louis hosts the most prestigious women’s collegiate sporting
event.
By Liese Hutchison
Four years ago the NCAA Women’s Final Four announced the news regional
sports fans wanted to hear—the premier tournament was coming to
play in St. Louis. On Friday, March 30, four of the nation’s best
Division I women’s basketball teams will play semi-final matches
at the Savvis Center. On Sunday, April 1, the finalists will battle
it out in front of thousands of live fans and millions of television
viewers.
“It was a terrific coup for St. Louis,” notes Ellen Sherberg, civic
chair and publisher of the St. Louis Business Journal. “The
tournament gives us a chance to showcase St. Louis since the games
will be broadcast on ESPN. It also brings 20,000 people to the region.”
“Part of our mission,” says Missy Slay, executive director, “was
to make this event so successful that the NCAA will want to come
back to St. Louis. If we can become a premier host of sporting events,
it brings prestige and money; it also keeps St. Louis highlighted
in the national arena.”
Since the event is sold out and has been for months, there are several
ways area fans can get involved. One is volunteering. Staging a
huge event takes years of planning and approximately 1,000 volunteers.
From airport greeters to transportation support to working at the
numerous events evolving around the tournament, volunteering is
“a great way for people to get involved,” Slay states.
Also, on Saturday between the two playing days, the last two teams
standing will hold open practice at Savvis, which is free and open
to the public. Autograph and photography sessions will also be held.
Hoop City, an interactive event that tests basketball fundamentals
and celebrates college basketball’s greatest teams, players and
coaches also starts Friday, March 30th and runs until Sunday afternoon
at America’s Center. Three-on-three basketball tournaments, and
interaction with players is also on the agenda. America’s Center
will be home to 2,000 coaches the week of the tournament holding
their annual conference.
Young fans can participate in the NCAA YES Clinic (Youth Education
Through Sports) at five locations—University of Missouri– St. Louis,
Saint Louis University, Washington University, Mathews-Dickey Boys
Club and the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center on Saturday. At no cost
to fans 10 to 18 years old, college coaches and student athletes
will teach challenging sports skills, life skills and conditioning
sessions.
Leading up to the tournament, the young fans of St. Louis can also
participate through Middle School Madness. More than 100 schools,
representing 25,000 students, will learn math, language, science,
art and health skills by relating those topics to athletics.
“We want to make this an event for all of St. Louis, not just for
the 19,000 people watching the games,” Slay states, referring to
the constant hub of activity surrounding the actual basketball games.
Without business and community support, Sherberg says, the event
would be difficult to stage. “The St. Louis community has really
stepped up to the plate to host this event. People are starting
to realize that St. Louis is a hotbed of collegiate sport.”
With every seat sold out as well as every downtown hotel room, the
economic impact for the region is significant. According to the
RCGA, direct spending alone by the fans and visitors is estimated
at $25 to $30 million.
Liese L. Hutchison is an assistant professor in the department
of communication at Saint Louis University and a free-lance writer.
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