When it comes to the ongoing downtown revitalizations in cities throughout the nation, destination points always are part of such plans, since they bring in visitors. A good downtown revitalization always includes a sports stadium or two, since such spots create a vitality that radiates out into the neighborhood surrounding it.
In St. Louis, plans for a proposed Major League soccer stadium downtown are meant to build upon the success of recent developments there. The design plans dovetail into plans of the MLS league to expand to 30 teams.
Recently, MLS4TheLou released a conceptual design of the Major League Soccer Stadium that the booster group would like to see built in the city. The mixed-use, soccer-specific stadium will have a capacity of 22,500 to 25,500 visitors. Fans will be able to enter the stadium from all sides of the facility. A large entry plaza will serve at different times as a pre-game or post-game gathering spot for fans. The stadiums’s pitch will extend 40 feet below ground level—which will provide a unique sports viewer experience. The design plans resulted from a whirl of activity by organizers of the stadium push.
“It has been an amazing 36 hours for our effort to bring an MLS team to St. Louis. With Major League Soccer’s announcement that the league will expand to 30 teams, combined with being able to share our initial stadium design plan, we are inching closer to making this a reality for St. Louis,” says Carolyn Kindle Betz.
See Also: HKS unveils retractable-roof ballpark in Japan
The stadium will be configured so that it is open to the north and east, offering views of the Downtown West District neighborhood. Adjacent to the stadium, as part of the development, will be a grouping of mixed-use buildings and restaurants, which will add more character and definition to the surrounding neighborhood. The design concept for the stadium was partly informed by researching what many others have done in developing their city’s soccer stadium.
“Over the last six months, we’ve visited numerous MLS stadiums to review designs and learn best practices in order to be as thoughtful as possible to our proposed stadium here in St. Louis,” Kindle Betz says. “While they’re still a work-in-progress, we’re excited to finally give fans a glimpse at our proposed stadium.”
The design plans will bolster St. Louis’s chances of winning a new MLS team. Such a team would have about 20 regular season games and three exhibitions per season and be capable of hosting concerts and other events. The ownership group has been working with the partnership of HOK and Julie Snow, co-founder of Snow Kreilich Architects, as the design team helping to shape the initial vision of this project.
Related Stories
| Feb 14, 2014
Crowdsourced Placemaking: How people will help shape architecture
The rise of mobile devices and social media, coupled with the use of advanced survey tools and interactive mapping apps, has created a powerful conduit through which Building Teams can capture real-time data on the public. For the first time, the masses can have a real say in how the built environment around them is formed—that is, if Building Teams are willing to listen.
| Feb 11, 2014
World's first suspended bicycle roundabout [slideshow]
Located in the Netherlands, the project was designed to promote a healthier lifestyle.
| Feb 6, 2014
New Hampshire metal building awes visitors
Visitors to the Keene Family YMCA in New Hampshire are often surprised by what they encounter. Liz Coppola calls it the “wow factor.” “Literally, there’s jaw dropping,” says Coppola, director of financial and program development for the Keene Family YMCA.
| Jan 29, 2014
Hotel, retail, recreation sectors to lead growth in 2014
AIA's Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation’s leading construction forecasters, is projecting that spending will see a 5.8% increase in 2014, led by the hotel, retail, and amusement/recreation sectors.
| Jan 29, 2014
Notre Dame to expand football stadium in largest project in school history
The $400 million Campus Crossroads Project will add more than 750,000 sf of academic, student life, and athletic space in three new buildings attached to the school's iconic football stadium.
| Jan 28, 2014
16 awe-inspiring interior designs from around the world [slideshow]
The International Interior Design Association released the winners of its 4th Annual Global Excellence Awards. Here's a recap of the winning projects.
| Jan 28, 2014
Big Ten Conference opens swanky HQ and museum [slideshow]
The new mixed-use headquarters includes a museum, broadcast studios, conference facilities, office spaces, and, oh yeah, a Brazilian steakhouse.
| Jan 27, 2014
A climber's dream: Rock climbing hall planned near Iran's highest peak
Forget the rock climbing wall. A developer in Iran is building a rock climbing hall. That's right, an entire building dedicated to the sport, with more than 48,000 sf of program space.
| Jan 13, 2014
Custom exterior fabricator A. Zahner unveils free façade design software for architects
The web-based tool uses the company's factory floor like "a massive rapid prototype machine,” allowing designers to manipulate designs on the fly based on cost and other factors, according to CEO/President Bill Zahner.
| Jan 11, 2014
Getting to net-zero energy with brick masonry construction [AIA course]
When targeting net-zero energy performance, AEC professionals are advised to tackle energy demand first. This AIA course covers brick masonry's role in reducing energy consumption in buildings.