St. Louis chosen to host Women's Final Four in '09

ST. LOUIS -- When it comes to this city playing host to big-money college tournaments and title events, it's becoming kind of a profitable march to the Gateway Arch.

The NCAA on Tuesday announced the women's Final Four -- staged here in 2001 at the Savvis Center -- will return in 2009, this time at the much larger and seating-versatile Edward Jones Dome.

St. Louis, already to host a men's Midwest Regional next year and the men's Final Four in 2005, also was a finalist for another men's Final Four in 2008 through 2011. But the NCAA awarded those Final Fours to San Antonio in 2008, Detroit in 2009, Indianapolis in 2010 and Houston in 2011.

St. Louis and the other runner-up, New Orleans, were given first- and second-round games in 2007 and 2008.

Tuesday's news came just four days after the NCAA tapped St. Louis to host college's hockey championship -- the Frozen Four -- in April 2007.

The city is already set to host the NCAA wrestling championships next year and in 2005.

Beyond the attention heaped on St. Louis by such events, they are also sure to draw millions of dollars in business to local restaurants, hotels and other businesses. For the basketball events alone, "we're talking about a cool $105 million-plus over the next six years," said Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Doug Elgin, head of the committee that courted the NCAA on St. Louis' behalf.

"St. Louis loves NCAA championships, St. Louis does them well, and they're successful here," said Frank Viverito of the St. Louis Sports Commission.

As the planning begins for the 2009 women's Final Four, local organizers suggested Tuesday they expect to aggressively court the NCAA for men's basketball Final Fours in the next bidding cycle, covering the championships after 2012.

When it comes to this bidding round of men's Final Fours, "we just don't believe it was our time at this point," Elgin said. "But it's apparent we are near or at the head of the line in the next bid cycle."

Jim Livengood, the NCAA Men's Basketball Committee's chairman, said he expected St. Louis to bid for future men's Final Fours.

"The NCAA interest in St. Louis certainly is very, very good," he said.

Local officials said various factors worked in St. Louis' favor when it came to bidding for the events, including downtown development.