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SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 4042
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE CHRIST .
6947H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
WHEREAS, Saint Louis University (SLU) is one of Missouri's leading private
2 research universities and a nationally respected institution that serves as a major
3 representative of the St. Louis region and the state of Missouri; and
4
5 WHEREAS, the Big East Conference is one of the most prominent basketball-
6 focused conferences in the United States, known for competitive excellence, national
7 visibility , and institutions with strong academic and mission-driven traditions; and
8
9 WHEREAS, SLU represents a perfect fit for the Big East Conference as a basketball-
10 first institution in a major metropolitan market, aligned with the conference's culture and
11 institutional profile, including private, urban, and mission-centered universities; and
12
13 WHEREAS, SLU also fits naturally within the Big East Conference's existing
14 geographic footprint, strengthening the conference's Midwest presence while maintaining
15 practical travel alignment for member institutions; and
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17 WHEREAS, Missouri has a proven record of benefiting from strategic conference
18 af filiation, including the University of Missouri's move to the Southeastern Conference
19 (SEC), which has delivered substantial and growing conference distributions — most recently
20 totaling $808.4 million distributed across SEC universities for the 2023-24 fiscal year —
21 reflecting the expanding value of premier conference membership; and
22
23 WHEREAS, Missouri State University's move to Conference USA reflects continued
24 momentum for Missouri institutions pursuing increased national opportunities and long-term
25 sustainability , and Missouri State has demonstrated early success in that transition by earning
26 the opportunity to participate and compete in a bowl game in its first season in Conference
27 USA; and
28
29 WHEREAS, acceptance of SLU into the Big East Conference would create
30 significant economic opportunity for Missouri and the St. Louis region through increased
31 visitor spending, higher- demand home sporting events, expanded sponsorship opportunities,
32 and additional national broadcast exposure supporting tourism, talent recruitment, and
33 economic competitiveness; and
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35 WHEREAS, the Big East Conference's recent long-term national media agreement
36 further increases the value of membership for participating universities and the communities
37 they represent; and
38
39 WHEREAS, national basketball leaders have publicly recognized the value of
40 expanding the Big East Conference, including Rick Pitino, a Big East member and nationally
41 recognized coach, who has supported conference expansion and has specifically cited Saint
42 Louis University as a strong potential addition; and
43
44 WHEREAS, United States Senator Eric Schmitt has recently advocated for Saint
45 Louis University's admission into the Big East Conference, reflecting the importance of this
46 opportunity to Missouri's national profile and economic competitiveness:
47
48 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOL VED that we, the members of the Missouri
49 House of Representatives, One Hundred Third General Assembly , Second Regular Session,
50 hereby express support for the Big East Conference's acceptance of Saint Louis University as
51 a member institution, recognizing the civic, educational, and economic value this opportunity
52 would provide to the St. Louis region and the state of Missouri.
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