Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise St. Louis City SC has revealed new renderings for its planned open-air stadium, which it will look to integrate into the surrounding urban environment.
The stadium will be located just west of Union Station, with the latest updates including a unique set of entries to the venue on the 22nd Street side to accommodate fans coming from the Northwest and Southwest. Each side of the stadium will be open and have no back door or back of house, creating an inviting feel for fans and guests.
St. Louis City SC, which will enter MLS in 2023, has been working with St. Louis-based architecture firm HOK and Julie Snow, co-founder of Snow Kreillich Architects, to ensure that the stadium district will support St. Louis’ development and serve as a connection point between the Gateway Arch monument and the city’s Forest Park.
Other new features include design enhancements to the East Plaza, with concessions and restrooms to be integrated into stadium functions to enhance the fan experience and promote non-game day community experiences within the stadium district.
New restaurant and concession areas have also been added, along with pitch-level loge boxes and upper-level outdoor terraces providing views of the pitch and the downtown St. Louis skyline.
The new stadium, which has not been officially named yet, will have a capacity of 22,500 and is scheduled to open during St. Louis City SC’s first season in 2023.
“We designed the stadium district to be more than just about sports,” said Snow. “It’s a key connection point in Downtown West, linking Union Station and businesses on Olive Street, while anchoring the west end of the Gateway Mall. We envision a truly integrated stadium district that is part of the fabric of St. Louis. Not only will the energy from the stadium flow out into the district and the city, but the energy of the city will flow in.”
Matt Sebek, chief experience officer for St. Louis City SC, added: “With the welcoming urban design, we’re able to push boundaries when it comes to the experience on game day, and every day in between. Through the addition of the pitch-level loge boxes, upper-level outdoor terraces and our state-of-the-art technology, City fans will be able to have the ultimate unique game-day experience.”
St. Louis City SC has finished the early construction phase after completing several milestones, including mobilising the site, mass excavating, incorporating the drilled piers, putting in the concrete foundations and tunnel construction. The next major milestone will be the placement of the structural steel into the ground this month.
Images: St. Louis City SC
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