St Louis Sports Commission

What St Louis Sports Commission does

The St. Louis Sports Commission is an independent, privately-funded 501(c)(6) nonprofit founded in 1989 that operates a full-service event promotion and production model for the St. Louis metropolitan area. Headquartered at 308 N. 21st Street in St. Louis, Missouri, the organization runs with a ten-person staff overseen by a board comprising regional business, community, and sports leaders, and is operationally linked to two affiliated 501(c)(3) entities: the St. Louis Sports Foundation (1994) and the National Sportsmanship Foundation (2012). Its core activity is attracting, creating, and managing major sporting events — including the Musial Awards, Biz Dash 5K, Sportsmanship Classic Golf Tournament, NCAA events, the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon, and LA28 Olympic Football — to deliver economic impact (e.g., $15.8M from a single 2026 championship event) and charitable reach (over 35,000 children through Musial Moments, 40,000+ people through Let 'em Play).

Name

St Louis Sports Commission

Legal name

St. Louis Sports Commission

Website

https://stlsports.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The St. Louis Sports Commission is an independent 501(c)(6) nonprofit that attracts, creates, and manages major sporting events for the St. Louis region, serving corporate sponsors, regional civic bodies, and youth through event production, sportsmanship awards, and charitable foundation programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Event Promotion & Commission Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Amateur Event & Tournament Organizers (Meets, Invitationals, Opens) (MPAKACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Olympic & Multi-Sport Movement Organizations (NOCs, Olympic Committees) (MPAKACAI), Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

Keywords

• Sports event promotion
• Sports tourism management
• Sportsmanship education programs
• Corporate sports sponsorships
• Youth sports development

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Privately funded through support from corporate partnerships at various levels (Gold Directors, Silver Directors, Bronze Directors, Partners, Champions, Members). Corporations receive recognition, event tickets, board seats, and access to premium events in exchange for financial support.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership tiers ranging from $150 (Young Professional) to $25,000 (Gold Director), providing access, recognition, and event benefits to members.
3. Event Revenue and Fundraisers: Revenue generated from events and fundraisers including the Sportsmanship Classic golf tournament, Musial Awards, and other event participation fees.
4. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations to the 501(c)(3) St. Louis Sports Foundation supporting sportsmanship programs like Musial Moments, Let 'em Play, Sportsmanship Scholarship, and Olympic Legacy Project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The St. Louis Sports Commission is an independent, privately-funded nonprofit organization that attracts, creates, and manages major sporting events for the St. Louis region. It sells corporate membership and sponsorship tiers, produces signature events such as the Musial Awards and Sportsmanship Classic Golf Tournament, and runs youth sportsmanship programs through its affiliated 501(c)(3) foundations. The organization generates economic, social, and reputational benefits for the region through events and charitable programs.

Product overview

The St. Louis Sports Commission is a nonprofit sports organization comprising three main entities: the St. Louis Sports Commission (the core 501(c)(6) organization), the St. Louis Sports Foundation (its affiliated 501(c)(3) charitable arm), and the National Sportsmanship Foundation. The organization operates through two primary channels: event production/attraction (including the Musial Awards, Biz Dash 5K, Sportsmanship Classic Golf Tournament, and hosting major sporting events like the NCAA tournaments and BMW Championship) and community programs focused on sportsmanship (including the Carl Fricks Sportsmanship Scholarship, Musial Moments presentations, Let 'em Play referee support initiative, and Olympic & Paralympic Day celebrations). The 1904 Olympic Legacy Initiative connects St. Louis' historical Olympic heritage to ongoing community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• St. Louis Sports Foundation: The charitable affiliate of the Sports Commission implementing programs that promote sportsmanship and create positive environments for kids to play sports
• National Sportsmanship Foundation
• Musial Awards
• Sportsmanship Classic
• Carl Fricks Sportsmanship Scholarship
• Let 'em Play
• Musial Moments

Products and services

• Corporate Membership and Sponsorship Tiers Tiered annual membership and sponsorship packages offered to corporate partners and individuals, with benefits ranging from event invitations and website recognition to complimentary championship tickets, board seats, and tournament player spots. Targeted at corporate partners and community members seeking brand visibility and event access.
• Sportsmanship Classic Golf Tournament Annual charitable golf tournament (4-person scramble format) with drinks, snacks, on-course games, post-round dinner, and a $10,000 Hole-in-One Challenge. Open to participants at $125 per person, with all proceeds benefiting the Carl Fricks Sportsmanship Scholarship.
• Biz Dash 5K Annual evening 5K run/walk and happy hour festival for the local business community, presented by World Wide Technology at Energizer Park in Downtown St. Louis. Designed for corporate teams to celebrate fitness, networking, and team camaraderie.
• Musial Awards Annual nationally televised awards ceremony, held since 2005 at Stifel Theatre in St. Louis, celebrating the year's greatest moments of sportsmanship, class, and character in sports. Named for Stan "The Man" Musial and presented by Maryville University.
• Carl Fricks Sportsmanship Scholarship Annual scholarship program since 2009 awarding graduating high school seniors in the St. Louis metro area who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship (approach, character, and respect for others rather than athletic performance). Top award of $10,000 plus six $1,000 awards annually.
• Musial Moments Free interactive 45-minute character education program delivered to schools (3rd grade through high school) in Missouri and Illinois by the Sports Foundation Director. Teaches kindness, integrity, and selflessness through sportsmanship stories inspired by Stan Musial.
• Let 'em Play National referee respect and retention initiative by the St. Louis Sports Foundation, addressing the nationwide referee shortage (80% of new referees quit within two years due to abuse) through signage at youth sports venues, parent and coach pledges, and educational campaigns with 18 youth sports partner organizations.
• Olympic & Paralympic Day Annual free community celebration of the Olympic movement held at Francis Olympic Field on Washington University's campus, featuring activities with local Olympians and Paralympians and the historic 1904 Olympic stadium track.
• 1904 Olympic Legacy Initiative Multi-phase initiative to elevate St. Louis' participation in the Olympic Movement as America's first Olympic city (1904), including interpretive signage at historic venues and educational initiatives tied to the city's Olympic heritage.
• St. Louis Sports Foundation (Charitable Programs) Affiliated 501(c)(3) charitable organization of the St. Louis Sports Commission, established in 1994, implementing programs that promote sportsmanship and create positive environments for kids to play sports and lead healthier, happier lives.
• National Sportsmanship Foundation National 501(c)(3) nonprofit created by the Sports Commission in 2012 to expand sportsmanship efforts nationally, empowering people across the nation to lead healthier, happier lives through the values of sportsmanship and creating a more civil society.
• Major Sporting Event Hosting & Promotion Core organizational service of attracting, creating, and managing major national and international sporting events for the St. Louis region. Recent events hosted include the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships ($15.8M economic impact), 2025 NCAA Men's Frozen Four, 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament 1st and 2nd Rounds, annual MVC Tournament (Arch Madness), BMW Championship, and NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Quantifiable outcome

• $15.8 million total economic impact from the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships with $944,000 in combined sales tax revenue
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, gold director, silver director and minor.

• GO! St. LouiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026Premier event production nonprofit and running community organization. Co-organizer with the Sports Commission of the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon, bringing athletic events and active lifestyle programming to the St. Louis region.
• Anheuser-Buschgold directorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold-level corporate sponsor of the St. Louis Sports Commission. Head of Innovation – St. Louis at Anheuser-Busch serves on the Board of Directors. Long-standing regional corporate partner supporting sports initiatives in St. Louis.
• World Wide Technology (WWT)gold directorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor technology and supply chain solutions company; title sponsor of the Biz Dash 5K presented by World Wide Technology. Track owner of World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) hosting NASCAR events.
• Maryville Universitygold directorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the Musial Awards presented by Maryville University. Located in St. Louis; supports sportsmanship and character education through this national award show.
• Stifelgold directorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services firm and title sponsor of Stifel Theatre where the Musial Awards are held. Provides venue naming rights and supports major sports events in St. Louis.
• Emersongold directorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal manufacturing and engineering technology company headquartered in St. Louis. Long-standing Gold Director sponsor supporting the Sports Commission's mission.
• Edward-Jonesgold directorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services firm; VP & Treasurer at Edward-Jones serves on the Board. Gold Director level sponsor of the Sports Commission.
• Enterprise Mobilitygold directorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal mobility company and Gold Director sponsor. VP/GM at Enterprise Mobility serves on the Board of Directors.
• Explore St. Louisgold directorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial tourism promotion organization for the St. Louis region; President & CEO Brad Dean serves on the Board of Directors. Critical partner in sports tourism efforts.
• St. Louis Cardinalssilver directorGTM or Marketing PartnerMLB team whose CEO Bill DeWitt III and VP of Community Relations Michael Hall serve on the Board. Anuk Karunaratne (President of Business Operations) also on Board. Key regional sports partner.
• St. Louis Bluessilver directorGTM or Marketing PartnerNHL team whose Chairman Tom Stillman and President & CEO of Business Operations Chris Zimmerman serve on the Board. Hosts exclusive Board & Partner evenings with the Sports Commission.
• St. Louis CITY SCsilver directorGTM or Marketing PartnerMLS expansion team owned by Carolyn Kindle; COO/General Counsel Jason Thein serves on the Board. Home venue at Energizer Park hosts the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon finish.
• Missouri Valley ConferencecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollegiate athletic conference whose Commissioner Jeff Jackson serves on the Board. The MVC Men's Basketball Tournament (Arch Madness) is hosted annually at Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
• World Union of Olympic CitiescoreOthersOrganization endorsed by the International Olympic Committee for past and future host cities. The Sports Commission represents St. Louis in this body as America's first Olympic city (1904).
• Missouri Youth SoccercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor youth soccer organization requiring the Let 'em Play pledge for parents, coaches and players during registration. Part of a network reaching 40,000+ people to promote referee respect.
• St. Louis Youth Soccer Association (SLYSA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading youth soccer organization requiring the Let 'em Play pledge during registration. One of 18 partner organizations in the Let 'em Play initiative.
• CYC (Christian Youth Championships)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerYouth sports organization requiring the Let 'em Play pledge for parents and coaches during registration. Partner in promoting referee respect and sportsmanship.
• National Federation of Sports Officials (NASO)minorOthersNational governing body for sports officials. Survey data (17,000 referees surveyed) showing 80% of new referees quit within two years due to abuse provides the research basis for the Let 'em Play program.
• SportsimpactscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports economic impact research firm founded in 2000, led by Dr. Patrick Rishe. Conducted comprehensive economic impact study for the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, measuring $15.8M total economic impact.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pittsburgh Sports Commission: Destination sports commission under VisitPittsburgh responsible for attracting and producing major sporting events for the Pittsburgh region. Direct comparable in scale, nonprofit structure, and event-attraction focus.
• Greater Cleveland Sports Commission: Mid-sized nonprofit destination sports commission that attracts and manages major sporting events for the Cleveland region. Closely comparable to the St. Louis Sports Commission in mission, structure, and scale — both focus on event attraction, corporate sponsorships, and community sports programs.
• Nashville Sports Council: Nonprofit sports council operating as part of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp that attracts major sporting events to the Nashville region. Directly comparable destination sports commission.
• Charlotte Sports Foundation: Nonprofit sports foundation that attracts and hosts major sporting events for the Charlotte region. Closely comparable destination-sports-commission model with corporate sponsorship and community program components.
• Atlanta Sports Council: Nonprofit council operating under the Metro Atlanta Chamber that bids for and manages major sporting events in the Atlanta region. Comparable structure and mission to the St. Louis Sports Commission.
• Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau Sports: Sports division of Philadelphia's destination marketing organization that attracts major sporting events and hosts NCAA and other anchor events. Comparable structure to the St. Louis Sports Commission but operates within a larger CVB umbrella.
• Houston Sports Commission: Nonprofit sports commission attracting major national sporting events to the Houston region. Directly comparable as a destination sports commission with similar event-attraction, corporate partnership, and community programming structure.

Broad incumbents

• Indianapolis Sports Corp: Established nonprofit sports commission hosting major recurring events (NFL Combine, Big Ten Football Championship, NCAA events). Directly comparable operating model — nonprofit event attraction and management — but operates at significantly larger scale and portfolio breadth than the St. Louis Sports Commission.

Others

• National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC): Industry trade association for U.S. sports commissions; the body that awarded the St. Louis Sports Commission its three Member of the Year honors (2002, 2005, 2013). Industry-body peer rather than a competitor, but directly relevant for benchmarking and recognition.
• Explore St. Louis: Regional destination marketing organization (DMO) for the St. Louis metro and a Gold Director of the Sports Commission. Not a direct competitor but a key ecosystem partner and customer; comparable in that it pursues sports-tourism-driven economic impact for the same region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stlsportscom
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@stlsportscom314
• Facebookfacebook.com/stlouissports
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st-louis-sports-commission
• Instagraminstagram.com/stlsportscom
• TikToktiktok.com/@stlsportscom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St Louis Sports Commission