Tigers, Billikens Announce Three-Year Series
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
April 29, 1999
St. Louis, Mo. - The University of Missouri and Saint Louis University have agreed to a three-year matchup that will bring about one of the most highly-anticipated games in the state of Missouri. The first meeting will take place at the Trans World Dome in St. Louis on Dec. 12, 1999. It is already being billed as the "Matchup of the Millennium."
Subsequent dates have yet to be determined, but the agreement calls for the game in the year 2000 to be played in Columbia, with the 2001 date to be played in the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Mo.
"Both schools worked tirelessly to make this game happen," said St. Louis Sports Commission President Frank Viverito. "The athletic departments and especially athletic directors Mike Alden and Doug Woolard deserve a lot of credit for getting a deal done that satisfies all parties. There are many people who worked to put this together, and the Sports Commission is proud to be among the facilitators."
The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (CVC) was also instrumental in the event's formation. The CVC operates the Trans World Dome, which will accommodate 40,000 fans when the Tigers and Billikens clash in December.
"It's been a great year for college basketball at the Trans World Dome," said CVC President & CEO Bob Bedell. "In March we hosted the largest crowd ever to watch an NCAA Regional Championship. Today, we've created another tremendous source of excitement for fans in the St. Louis region and across the state of Missouri. The energy inside the Dome during the Regionals was remarkable, so we can only imagine what the atmosphere will be like when these two rivals -- who haven't met in nearly two decades -- collide in December."
Beyond the game itself, organizers have had discussions about developing a youth clinic involving the teams' coaches, a luncheon, alumni gatherings and other events that will involve the fans. "It's going to be more than just a game," Viverito said. "We truly look forward to making this a huge weekend."
Tickets for the "Matchup of the Millennium" will be available in September. Prices will range from $15 to $35, with a select few seats selling at $50. With an agreement now in place between Missouri and SLU, the 19-year on-the-court separation between the two schools will come to an end. The Tigers and Billikens last tangled on Dec. 13, 1980 in Columbia, Mo. Mizzou won that contest, 76-58. The teams' last meeting in St. Louis came in 1979 when the Tigers prevailed in overtime, 77-75. Mizzou holds a 19-18 advantage in the overall series.
