Following a week of big expansion news, the St. Louis bid for an MLS team released a set of renderings for their proposed new stadium in the West Downtown neighborhood of the city.
Here's a glimpse of the interior of the planned 22,500-capacity stadium (which could be expanded to 25,500), and you can check out all the renderings over at MLS4theLou.com:
MLS4TheLou, HOK and Snow Kreilich Architects
A collaboration between Snow Kreilich Architects and global design firm HOK, the proposed stadium plans include a promise that every seat will be within 120 feet of the field, as well as a translucent canopy that will provide cover covering for the fans while allowing light to reach the field. The design will be open to the north and east, which according to the proposal is intended to create "a strong visual connection to the surrounding Downtown West District and surrounding neighborhood."
MLS Commissioner Don Garber did note on Thursday that there was still work to be done by St. Louis ownership group, led by Andy Taylor and Carolyn Kindle Betz of Enterprise Holdings and Jim Kavanaugh, CEO of World Wide Technology, and the city to finalize the proposal.
“We need to finalize the stadium situation [in St. Louis],” Garber said. “They’re further along with their stadium plan in Sacramento than they are in St. Louis. They have work to do with the city, they have work to do with the state. And we’re hoping and expecting that Jim Kavanaugh and the Taylors will sit down with the city and state leaders to get that finalized so that when they come to meet with the league it’s signed, sealed and delivered.”
The reveal of the new renderings comes two days after MLS unveiled plans to expand to 30 teams (up from the previous target of 28) and authorized the Commissioner's office to advance negotiations with the St. Louis and Sacramento ownership groups regarding their bids. There are currently 24 teams playing in the league, with Inter Miami CF, Nashville SC and Austin FC already slated to enter the league, leaving three spots remaining to reach 30 teams.
Sacramento has also been active on the stadium front in recent weeks, with the City Council on April 10 unanimously approving plans for an incentive package that would help a local investment group develop infrastructure around the privately-financed, $252 million soccer stadium that will come to fruition should Sacramento be awarded an expansion team.
