Last weekend, we were in downtown St. Louis and I took these photos of the City all awash in red and blue banners as the town prepared for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It 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 in 1966. Visit my sport blog www.shorthandedgoal.blogspot.com if you wish to see more photos covering the event and Busch Stadium including locker rooms.
According to the business journal, the 2009 All Star game is expected to make an approximate $60 million economic impact not only to the City of St. Louis but to the entire bi-state region (Missouri-Illinois). An estimate of 250,000 people will attend other events such as FanFest (above photo) at the America's Center, the Home Run Derby, and Charity Concert at the Riverfront. 
A national tourism event like the All-Star Game is great as it brings in much needed economic boost. It is estimate that visitors would spend an approximate $30 million in dining, hotels and retails. Photo below shows the food and merchandise tents are ready to accomodate visitors' shopping needs. 
Downtown St. Louis, anchored by the mighty Gateway Arch, was founded by Pierre Laclede in 1764. The town became a vital hub of transportation in the early 1800s with the arrival of the steamboat. Like many urban centers, the City of St. Louis has gone through many changes and renewal efforts have continued to bring a resurgence of residential living and business community. Here is an interesting fact - 16.4 million visitors spent their vacation annually including 4 million people visited the Gateway Arch. I wonder what the 12.4 million people do while in St. LOuis if they did not go up the top of the arch. 
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