Scottrade Center

Scottrade Center
Name	Scottrade Center
Location	St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Opened	1994
Owner	City of St. Louis
Operator	St. Louis Blues / Enterprise Center Management
Capacity	19,150 (hockey)
Architect	Ellerbe Becket
Former names	Kiel Center, Savvis Center, Scottrade Center

Scottrade Center is a multi-purpose arena in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, that served as the primary indoor sports and entertainment venue for the region from its opening in 1994 until its rebranding and successor naming. The facility hosted a broad mix of professional NHL and concert events, drawing visitors from the Greater St. Louis area, Missouri River corridor, and neighboring Illinois. Over its operational span the arena became associated with multiple sports franchises, touring productions, and civic events tied to the city's cultural institutions.

History

The arena was developed during a period of downtown revitalization championed by figures in St. Louis Board of Aldermen, municipal planners, and private investors connected with organizations such as the Edison Brothers Stores redevelopment projects and regional development agencies. Construction was carried out after design by Ellerbe Becket with major contractors including firms that previously worked on venues like Madison Square Garden renovations and the United Center in Chicago. The opening season saw events featuring teams from the National Hockey League, exhibition matches involving the United States Ice Hockey programs, and concerts by touring performers who regularly appeared at arenas such as Staples Center, TD Garden, and Wembley Arena.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the arena hosted playoff runs by the local NHL franchise, preseason exhibition games with clubs like the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, and international competition involving squads from Canada and Russia. Municipal oversight involved coordination with the City of St. Louis mayoral administrations, regional tourism bureaus, and the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission to attract conventions linked to organizations such as the National Association of Broadcasters and trade shows akin to those at the McCormick Place complex.

Naming rights

The venue's naming-rights history began with a corporate sponsorship by local entities and national firms. Initially known under a legacy name tied to a historic civic arena on the same site, the arena later adopted corporate names through agreements with firms in the technology, finance, and brokerage sectors. Naming deals mirrored trends seen in other arenas like Staples Center, Pepsi Center, and American Airlines Center, involving negotiations among corporate counsel, municipal leaders, and franchise ownership groups such as the principals behind the local NHL franchise. These agreements were structured to provide revenue streams for debt service, capital improvements, and event guarantees similar to contracts executed by Arenas Worldwide Management and venue operators affiliated with AEG and SMG.

Architecture and facilities

Designed by Ellerbe Becket and influenced by contemporary arena standards at venues like Rupp Arena and Bridgestone Arena, the structure incorporated a steel truss roof, clear sightlines, and a lower-bowl seating bowl oriented for ice hockey and basketball sightlines comparable to The Forum and Madison Square Garden. The interior included luxury suites, club lounges, a scoreboard system akin to installations used at Quicken Loans Arena, and mixed-concourse retail and concession zones featuring partnerships with brands seen in venues such as Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park hospitality programs. Back-of-house facilities accommodated truck marshaling and stage rigging comparable to those required by touring productions routing through Gotham Hall and major amphitheaters.

Events and tenants

Primary tenancy included the local NHL franchise and collegiate events with teams from institutions such as Saint Louis University and Washington University in St. Louis, while touring concerts brought acts that also performed at sites like Madison Square Garden, Wembley Stadium, and Hollywood Bowl. The venue hosted professional wrestling promotions such as World Wrestling Entertainment and All Elite Wrestling events, family shows similar to Disney on Ice, and conventions paralleling gatherings like Comic-Con International satellite shows. Secondary sports tenants and special events included exhibition boxing cards in the tradition of matches held at MGM Grand Garden Arena and rodeo events akin to those staged at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Renovations and expansions

Over time the arena underwent capital projects to upgrade seating, hospitality suites, audiovisual systems, and player facilities, reflecting modernization campaigns comparable to retrofits at Barclays Center and Oracle Arena. Renovation phases included scoreboard replacements, LED lighting retrofits similar to initiatives at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and ice-refrigeration system overhauls drawing on technology used in facilities like Bell Centre. Funding for projects combined municipal bonds, franchise contributions, and corporate sponsorships, employing procurement practices used in civic projects overseen by entities such as the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District for ancillary infrastructure work.

Transportation and access

Situated in downtown St. Louis near the Gateway Arch National Park and linked to the regional transportation network, the arena relied on access from Interstate arteries including Interstate 64 and Interstate 70 and public transit provided by MetroLink (St. Louis Metro), MetroBus (St. Louis County), and park-and-ride services similar to those serving venues like PNC Arena and Nationwide Arena. Pedestrian connections to nearby hotels, the Scenic Riverfront, and convention facilities mirrored urban strategies used to integrate venues such as Nassau Coliseum into downtown districts. Parking assets involved surface lots and structured garages managed by municipal parking authorities with proximity to landmarks like Busch Stadium and the Old Courthouse.

Incidents and controversies

The arena's operational history included controversies typical of large venues, such as disputes over public financing reminiscent of debates around Football Stadium, labor negotiations with unions analogous to actions involving the Local 220 (Stagehands) and event-day security concerns paralleling incidents at MetLife Stadium. Safety incidents at concerts and sporting events prompted reviews by regulatory bodies akin to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and local law enforcement agencies such as the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Legal challenges touched on contractual issues with promoters, accessibility complaints under statutes comparable to provisions enforced by United States Department of Justice civil rights units, and community discussions tied to urban redevelopment projects led by civic organizations like the Local Initiatives Support Corporation.

Category:Sports venues in St. Louis Category:Defunct sports venues in the United States