PICS: New MLS stadium will turn downtown St. Louis west into 'destination' area
ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - For the first time since officially being awarded a Major League Soccer franchise, we're getting a look at a newly proposed concept for the coming downtown soccer-specific stadium. The above renderings were released by the MLS4TheLou ownership group and Snow Kreilich Architects in collaboration with St. Louis-based HOK.
Original reports showed the stadium would sit on the south side of Market St., but the newest plans show practice fields would go there and the 22,500- seat stadium will be just north of Market St. in the place of highway on- and off-ramps.
Construction the stadium would begin next spring for it to be ready in time for the start of the 2022 MLS season and St. Louis' inaugural home game.
Fans will be able to enter the stadium from all sides. The project will be one-of-a-kind for MLS, as no other team has its team front offices, training facility, practice fields and the stadium in the same location, according to Bill "Mr. Soccer" McDermott who was on KMOX with Mark Reardon on Wednesday.
"It's going to turn downtown west into a real destination, a meeting place, a connecting piece to the overall things that are going on, starting at the Arch and going to Forest Park," McDermott says.
The release states the stadium development provides better access for fans and allows for the development of a year-round urban hub surrounding the stadium, beyond just the 17 MLS home games each season.
The MLS ownership led by the Taylor family made the announcement on Aug. 20.
The owners of the St. Louis club include Enterprise Holdings Foundation president Carolyn Kindle Betz and six other female members of the Taylor family, making it the first female majority-owned club in MLS history, and one of few in professional sports. The ownership group is completed by two highly respected executives who also have deep roots in the St. Louis business and philanthropic community: Enterprise Holdings executive chairman Andy Taylor, and World Wide Technology CEO Jim Kavanaugh.
The team name and colors have not yet been announced, but MLS4TheLou previously said it will engage with fans and supporters throughout the process for input.
