ST. LOUIS — Hundreds gathered Sunday for the first Big Ten conference event at St. Louis' CityPark. It's a milestone for the city, welcoming more than just inaugural awards to some of the competing women's soccer players.
The wins on the field may also be a triumph for the local economy.
Three weeks ago, the Big Ten women's soccer championship game didn't have a field after a conflict arose with their original facility. That's when they called the St. Louis Sports Commission.
Now, the city getting a kick out of hosting their first ever Big Ten conference event for any Division 1 sport, vice-president of events Brad Wachler said as the collegians tackled the CityPark pitch.
"This is great to be able to build that relationship with the Big Ten first and foremost is really important for us," Wachler said. "Having an event like women's soccer here in a really big soccer community is just a tremendous opportunity for St. Louis to host this type of event."
With the additions of Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington in August, this year's Big Ten tournament started in a 10-team format but ended with a championship match on the same CITY SC field that has cheered on the likes of Roman Bürki, Tim Parker and João Klauss.
Looking at Sunday's championship match-up between UCLA and Rugers, Wachler said, "It's funny because you couldn't get farther away from St. Louis."
"It's great that we're in the middle of the country with USC, UCLA, Washington and Rutgers," Wachler said.
Playing at noon Sunday was Saint Louis University's women's soccer team. They were competing in the A10 tournament, eventually locking in their seventh-straight championship title 3-1 against the University of Massachusetts on Nov. 10.
Downtown St. Louis is also in the "W" column, Wachler said, as more Big Ten events potentially come and support local businesses.
"There aren't a whole lot of facilities that are like CityPark," Wachler said. "To have that opportunity to host the event in this facility has been really great and allowed us to showcase some of the things that St. Louis does have to offer."
Adding to this massive weekend of women's soccer in St. Louis, Lindenwood University won its first conference tournament title since moving up to Division 1. The Lady Lions were down Sunday, 2-0 at the half. Then, came from behind to win the OVC Tournament Championship Game 3-2.
No Big Ten events are on the calendar for 2025, but the sports commission said conversations are in the works.