Major (League) Passion
There are the official backyard sports of St. Louis, like washers, cornhole, and horseshoes. The Hill features bocce ball. Pickleball is having a serious surge. There are even vintage baseball teams on both sides of the Mississippi River, who play baseball by the rules of 1860, and dress like it, too. But it’s our major league sports that get us the most attention.
Our newest team has generated huge excitement and anticipation: St. Louis CITY SC (Soccer Club). With an inaugural season in 2023, it’s re-energized an entire city around it. As America’s First Soccer Capital, St. Louis has a storied history with the sport, and getting a Major League Soccer (MLS) team reinforces the passion that runs deep for it. St. Louis CITY SC has constructed a Downtown West stadium district that reflects our history and looks toward the future. Ownership is 100% local and creates the first majority female-owned team in MLS history.
With 11 World Series titles and 23 league pennants, the St. Louis Cardinals are second only to the New York Yankees in World Series titles and one of the nation’s oldest baseball teams. Our fans understand the nuances of the game. We cheer for former players on the visiting team. And we still listen to games on the radio. It’s a passion that has brought families and friends together for over a century and shows no signs of stopping.
There’s also a powerful (and very, very loud) fan base for the St. Louis Blues NHL team. Win or lose, the electricity at every game is something almost every local has experienced. Die-hard fans are a force. And when we took home the Stanley Cup for the first time in 52 years, the whole city celebrated like never before.
Support for Women’s Sports
From basketball to roller derby, St. Louis is home to women’s sports teams and supportive crowds. The St. Louis Surge is our professional women’s basketball team. We also have the internationally ranked flat track Arch Rival Roller Derby and the four-time champion St. Louis SLAM women’s football team. Not to mention, our decorated collegiate women's athletics teams at the over 40 higher education institutions in the region.
Cycling Is in High Gear
St. Louis has a passion for cycling and has the potential to be one of the hottest destinations for it in the world. St. Louis is home to Missouri’s top cycling event, Gateway Cup – a four-day road race through four unique city neighborhoods that brings out some of the best cyclists in the country. We also boast the Penrose Park Velodrome, a recently renovated outdoor track that opened in 1962 and is still a hub of track racing today.
A Need for Speed
If you hear a revving of engines, it’s likely coming from Madison, Illinois, where World Wide Technology Raceway hosts NASCAR Cup Series, IndyCar Series and NHRA Drag Racing.
So Many Holes in One
With nearly 100 public courses in the region, hitting the green is a St. Louis pastime. We’ve been host to PGA tournament play and are home to the oldest public (Normandie Golf Club) and private (Glen Echo Country Club) golf courses west of the Mississippi River still in operation. And Jack Nicklaus’ golf course design firm has gotten involved with the effort to renovate Normandie.