04 Nov 2019
HOK and Snow Kreilich's MLS stadium to bring mixed-use regen to St Louis
BY Stu Robarts
The HOK and Snow Kreilich Architects designs for the planned St Louis MLS team stadium will not only fit in with the surrounding area, but will help to drive regeneration with mixed-use elements too.
The development, initial plans for which were revealed earlier this year, will sit on a site of approximately 30ac (12ha) in the Downtown West area of St Louis.
Updated plans show that it will incorporate the stadium, green and public gathering spaces and a development adjacent to the stadium for training facilities, offices and events.
An initial planned capacity of 22,500 – rising to a potential 25,000 – with steeply raked seating will ensure that all fans are within 120ft (37m) of the pitch.
A canopy around all four sides of the stadium, meanwhile, will help to shelter fans from the elements and to retain crowd-noise with the aim of boosting matchday atmosphere.
The stadium has been designed to fit in with the architectural vernacular of the local area and the pitch will sit 40ft (12m) below street level, helping to keep the above-ground profile of the stadium lower than it would otherwise have been.
A plaza outside with retail offerings and restaurants will provide a place for fans to gather before and after games, as well as a space for the public to use on non-matchdays.
In addition to hosting MLS fixtures, the main stadium will be used for events like concerts, family shows and other sporting occasions, while the adjacent facility will include an open-air stadium for training and offices from which the St Louis team will be run.
Carolyn Kindle Betz, president of the team's part-owners Enterprise Holdings, said: "Our vision is to create a district around our proposed MLS stadium that will get people excited to visit Downtown West, not only before and after games, but on non-game days as well. We believe this district will not only be the heart of St. Louis soccer, but a special piece of downtown that will fuel the renaissance currently underway."
The stadium is expected to be ready for the team's inaugural MLS fixture in March 2022.
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