2009 MLB All-Star Summer To Shine National And International Spotlight On St. Louis

April 22, 2009

For more information, contact
Gary Broome at (314) 444-1171

For Immediate Release:

ST. LOUIS - The 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Week events, from Friday, July 10th through July 14th, will not only bring baseball excitement and economic benefits to the St. Louis region, but will also shine the national and international spotlight on the civic and economic renaissance spreading throughout the City of St. Louis and the bi-state metropolitan area.

The 2009 MLB All-Star Game will be played on July 14th at Busch Stadium, which is the 80th Midsummer Classic between the All-Stars of the American League and the National League. The last time St. Louis hosted the MLB All-Star Game was 1966, the inaugural season of the previous Busch Stadium. 

St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association (RCGA) Chief Economist Ruth Sergenian estimates that the total bi-state regional economic impact of 2009 All-Star Summer will be approximately $60 million. An estimated 230,000 people will attend the All-Star Summer events including Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest, the State Farm Home Run Derby, and the All-Star Charity Concert benefitting Stand Up To Cancer, a free concert under the Arch. Out-of-town visitors are expected to account for 49 percent of overall attendance. Direct spending by visitors (dining, retail, and hotels) and Cardinals operations will be $33 million. The indirect impact of that spending in the region will be $27 million. 

Major League Baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals will donate nearly $5 million of the net proceeds from Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 13th, to local and national charitable causes. The Cardinals will direct their proceeds through their charitable arm, Cardinals Care, to benefit local causes. 

 "St. Louis is generally considered one of the best baseball cities in America --- despite the fact that of the 30 franchises, St. Louis is the 22nd largest market. St. Louis is ranked #2 among the 30 teams, second only to the Boston Red Sox in the percentage of the TV market that views every baseball game. In addition, St. Louis ranks in the Top 5 in the number of tickets sold, consistently attracting 3 million fans a year," noted RCGA President and Chief Executive Officer Richard C.D. Fleming.

"The regional economic impact of All-Star Summer does not measure the 'civic capital and benefits' generated for the region vis-à-vis the additional exposure and visibility the City and region receive from the extensive national and international media attention as a result of All-Star Summer," Fleming added. "This is an ideal time for this type of national and international exposure for St. Louis, as our City and region continue to attract widespread attention. Last year, for example, the National Civic League presented the 2008 All-America City Award to the St. Louis region, the first time St. Louis received this 'Oscar' of community recognition for civic progress and improvement since 1956."

"We will continue to tell the region's quality of life story about St. Louis as a great place in which to live, invest and locate jobs by spotlighting the region's Perfectly Centered, Remarkably Connected marketing campaign," Fleming said. "The economic development future for the St. Louis region looks very promising, in spite of the present regional and national economic challenges. In fact, overall prospect deal flow has nearly tripled since the marketing campaign was launched in first quarter of 2006. Our region's economic development pipeline currently includes some 64 active prospects, representing over 18,000 prospective jobs, and over $2.5 billion in potential new capital investment.   

About the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association (RCGA)
The RCGA is the chamber of commerce and economic development organization for the 16-county, bi-state region. The mission of the RCGA is to unite the region's business community, and to engage dynamic business and civic leadership to develop and sustain a world-class economy and community.

###