ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – The Dome at America’s Center will be extremely busy this weekend. Of course, the biggest event at the dome is the Missouri Tigers football team game against the Memphis Tigers Saturday night, which will be Mizzou’s first game in St. Louis since 2010.
The game will be kept a close eye on by many due to Mizzou’s victory against then-ranked Kansas State Wildcats last week.
But there is another football event alongside the Mizzou game happening this weekend, one to help St. Louis kids outside of trouble.
Along with the Mizzou game Saturday, the Dome will host a flag football game Sunday organized by City of St. Louis, in partnership with the St. Louis Battlehawks, Big Brother and Big Sisters, St. Louis Metropolitan Police and Fire Department and the St. Louis Development Corporation.
“Essentially, it started with an incident with our youth back in June and Mayor (Tishaura Jones) asking us how can we uplift (the community) and what do we need to do,” said Nicolle Barton, Executive Director, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.
Barton says she went throughout the community to seek answers, meeting and talking nearly 50 St. Louis youth for answers on how to help the youth in the area and some of the answers included a three-on-three basketball tournament, an e-gaming event and a flag football tournament.
So far, the events have worked. The Council was able to host a three-on-three basketball tournament on Aug. 12th and they are planning another tournament in October.
Among the events that will happen at the flag football event Sunday include seven-on-seven skill drills, flag football and e-gaming events.
“This is not just for boys,” said Lakesha Robinson City Senior Advisor for Children Youth and Families, “Girls can come play too. We’re super excited to have our youth come out. We been putting a lot of time and energy to make sure we pull this off.”
Both Robinson and Barton say that the goal of these events is to not only have the events stay apart of St. Louis for the long term, but to help the youth the area stay away from danger and making poor choices.
“We’re trying to make sure these (events) continue,” said Barton, “We’re trying to make sure there are places for (these kids) to go, and find a place for where they can relax, even this event this Sunday, you don’t have to participate. We have some girls who say they are coming out to cheer.”
Both say that these events couldn’t begin to happen without the support of St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones.
“(Jones) loves to be able to connect with the youth and this will just be another way,” said Barton.
The flag football will be on Sept. 24 at the Dome From America’s Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free but registration for the event is required. To register for the event click here.
