St. Louis Bidding For Collection Of NCAA Tournament Events

St. Louis In Running To Land Collection Of NCAA Championship Events

St. Louis is "among the finalists for NCAA 'championship city' status," according to Stu Durando of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. The St. Louis Sports Commission (SLCC) has presented a proposal seeking to host a "combination of Division I, II and III regional and championship competitions over a four-year period. The NCAA for the first time is seeking to "package postseason competitions instead of awarding them individually." St. Louis has survived two cuts thus far out of an original group of about 20 cities." SLCC President Frank Viverito said that the NCAA "does not have a timeline for naming the winning cities, but the bids could be awarded for championships as early as 2009." The SLCC's proposal includes a Division I women's basketball regional, Division I women's golf, a regional and the Frozen Four in hockey, Division I and III volleyball, and Division I, II and III wrestling.  The St. Louis plan also includes a "40-year anniversary celebration" in 2012 of Title IX. The SLCC also separately has bid on the men's Division I basketball Final Four for 2012-16 (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 4/26).