St. Louis Blues

dweebe · PostJun 19, 2014#1762014-06-19T19:44+00:00

jstriebel wrote:I've been to the United Center. It's a great venue, though it's not nearly as intimate as Scottrade.

It's nicer in the little details. And it's got a nicer underbelly if you will (in a previous job, I got to experience those areas).

I'm not claiming the Scottrade Center is in the upper echelon of arenas. The only claim I'm making is that there is nothing wrong with it. Nothing that will require a massive overhaul. If they want to upgrade the details they can, but that doesn't make or break anything.

The Honda Accord gets you from A to B safely, with great gas efficiency, and very few bothers. And they last a long, long time.

Isn't the United Center the largest arena on a square foot basis?

And I agree with you on the Honda Accord which might be fine for you and me, might not be for Tom Stillman. (Who BTW in real life drives a sweat Porsche Cayenne Turbo.)

jstriebel · PostJun 19, 2014#1772014-06-19T19:58+00:00

It very well may be. It's huge. But the size is actually a downside IMO. Like I said, the Scottrade offers a more intimate environment that you don't get in the upper level at the UC.

The way I see it, Tom Stillman (with his investors) bought the Blues because he loves his St. Louis Blues. I'm sure he'd love them to have a top of the line venue.

But he's not loaded with cash (his personal car aside, lol) to make them all himself. So he may ask the public for some help—MAYBE. But I don't see him threatening to move or anything like that. It'd be a hollow threat because he doesn't want to move, and the building is in fine shape.

More likely is they invest some of their capital at a steady clip to create or enhance revenue (like upgrades to club sections and such). If they feel comfortable upgrading details around the concourses and stuff, that's great, but I can't se sit being a priority. And I think any money the public was asked for would be relatively small compared to the hundreds of millions being discussed in regards to the Dome.

dweebe · PostJun 19, 2014#1782014-06-19T20:17+00:00

jstriebel wrote:It very well may be. It's huge. But the size is actually a downside IMO. Like I said, the Scottrade offers a more intimate environment that you don't get in the upper level at the UC.

United Center is huge and it can be a downside as it makes the place a bit too big. Nosebleed seats there are bad. The only one that's worse is the Staples Center with it's 3 levels of luxury boxes separating the lower and bottom bowls.

jstriebel wrote:The way I see it, Tom Stillman (with his investors) bought the Blues because he loves his St. Louis Blues. I'm sure he'd love them to have a top of the line venue.

But he's not loaded with cash (his personal car aside, lol) to make them all himself. So he may ask the public for some help—MAYBE. But I don't see him threatening to move or anything like that. It'd be a hollow threat because he doesn't want to move, and the building is in fine shape.

More likely is they invest some of their capital at a steady clip to create or enhance revenue (like upgrades to club sections and such). If they feel comfortable upgrading details around the concourses and stuff, that's great, but I can't se sit being a priority. And I think any money the public was asked for would be relatively small compared to the hundreds of millions being discussed in regards to the Dome.

I agree that Stillman seems to be a hockey guy (he still plays in a senior league) with local roots unlike the Lauries and Checketts: the team's not going anywhere.

My guess is the city of St. Louis (which owns the Scottrade Center) and the Blues would do some 50/50 split in the next few years for some more heavy-duty upgrades to get the building into a condition to secure a presidential political convention and/or the NHL All-Star game. I'm just saying nobody should be shocked when the city has to float bonds or do something else to finance tens of millions of dollars to pay for it.

STLEnginerd · PostJun 19, 2014#1792014-06-19T20:44+00:00

^yeah i think a matching investment made by the owner is more than fair especially if its going into a stadium he doesn't even own. I'd think upgrades in the realm of 50M would be tolerable. If a NBA team was in the cards I might be saying 150M.

DogtownBnR · PostJun 19, 2014#1802014-06-19T21:07+00:00

Dweebe: As a hardcore hockey fan, I am satisfied with Scottrade. Obviously, there are things you can nitpick, but overall, you can go there and get a great NHL experience. I think the Kiel adds to the quality of the building. I think it will need an upgrade at some point, but I'm not sure it needs an enormous overhaul. It is the Honda Accord of arenas. At least it's not the Ford Fiesta. Chicago's arena is a terrible place to watch, unless you have great seats. Nice arena, but seems way too big, almost cavernous.

dweebe · PostJun 19, 2014#1812014-06-19T21:25+00:00

DogtownBnR wrote:Dweebe: As a hardcore hockey fan, I am satisfied with Scottrade. Obviously, there are things you can nitpick, but overall, you can go there and get a great NHL experience. I think the Kiel adds to the quality of the building. I think it will need an upgrade at some point, but I'm not sure it needs an enormous overhaul.

I'm not lobbying for upgrades besides some more and bigger TVs on the concourse. The visiting fans I've talked to like the building and only complain about the lack of nearby bars within a 1 or 2 block walk.

Plus I'm old enough to remember the "charm" of the barn on Oakland
-being forced to wear my hiking boots because the mens rooms at the old Arena always had a standing half inch or inch of water/pee in them.
-sitting in the end balcony and feeling it move side to side and up and down after goals/victories
-the birds flying in the building in among the rain and nicotine stained sound drapes they had hanging

The one thing I have noticed is the Scottrade Ctr has the pipes and wires exposed above the 100 level concourse. Seems like every other place has that stuff hidden.

roger wyoming II · PostJun 19, 2014#1822014-06-19T22:10+00:00

dweebe wrote: I'm not lobbying for upgrades besides some more and bigger TVs on the concourse. The visiting fans I've talked to like the building and only complain about the lack of nearby bars within a 1 or 2 block walk.

It looks like the "1300 Market" project (Muni Courts) is actively marketing 10,000 sq. ft. for restaurant/bar as part of the first phase.. second phase would bring more opportunities with the mixed-use new construction directly across Scottrade.

TheNewSaintLouis · PostJun 19, 2014#1832014-06-19T23:42+00:00

I like the Scottrade Center it could use a little bit more love however it's still relatively young. I could only imagine the Sharks bringing up a new facility to blur the many failed attempts in the playoffs..I sure hope the Blues have figured out that not having the best record is important but having the right chemistry in the playoffs will get you further.
The team does new a goal scorer or 2.

dweebe · PostAug 27, 2014#1842014-08-27T19:57+00:00

New rumors of NHL expansion.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/20 ... eport.html

I wonder what it would be like for the Blues if Kansas City got an NHL team to fill the empty Sprint Center?

TheNewSaintLouis · PostSep 02, 2014#1852014-09-02T10:50+00:00

Does the NHL really think it wold work in LV specially when Phoenix is having a hard time keeping its team? I would rather much see Portland Ore get a team than LV.
4 possible expansion teams??
These are the 4 cities i would pick
Quebec
Hamilton or Harford CT
Seattle
Portland
Maybe Milwaukee
Although there be a neat rivalry i say no to Kansas City thats just another Atlanta

dweebe · PostSep 02, 2014#1862014-09-02T16:27+00:00

TheNewSaintLouis wrote:Does the NHL really think it wold work in LV specially when Phoenix is having a hard time keeping its team? I would rather much see Portland Ore get a team than LV.
4 possible expansion teams??
These are the 4 cities i would pick
Quebec
Hamilton or Harford CT
Seattle
Portland
Maybe Milwaukee
Although there be a neat rivalry i say no to Kansas City thats just another Atlanta

I personally think 4 is too much. The 14/16 team west/east imbalance needs to at least be fixed. The league at least needs to fix the Leafs' stranglehold on the Toronto area and get a team to the Hamilton area. Last row upper deck weeknight tickets for a game against Phoenix shouldn't start at $100 in Toronto.

dredger · PostSep 03, 2014#1872014-09-03T00:37+00:00

My two cents to the NHL, don't expand in the US unless you can pair it with a local NBA franchise to take advantage of arena & backoffice/marketing costs. I just don't think NBA and NHL as a whole are in the same league as NFL and MLB and therefore some pairings/dual ownership like Stan K's (I mean his son's) Denver Nuggets/Avalanche in mid size markets make a lot of sense to me. In other words, I would be looking at Portland and Milwaukee for expanding south of the border first and foremost.

Where as KC and Seattle become another St. Louis. Three pro sports teams - NFL, MLB and NHL or NBA in their own stadiums/arenas all trying to capture the same public tax dollars, corporate sponsorship and cable TV dollars.

jstriebel · PostSep 06, 2014#1882014-09-06T04:21+00:00

The NHL and NBA both have actually been most successful in their last many expansions or relocations by avoiding each other. It's almost as if they have an unofficial agreement to do so. I think they find it beneficial to not compete against each other in the same market.

In the situation you suggest, you're talking about billionaire owners that can afford the costs of both teams and not view it as competition against each other. But as you say, these leagues aren't the NFL or MLB, so those owners are much harder to find.

dredger · PostSep 06, 2014#1892014-09-06T05:02+00:00

J, can see your point. As a sports fan in general I would have no problem going to watch an NBA game or in the case of St Louis, a Blues game. But I wouldn't have the cash to consistently go to both and would certainly have to pick one over the other on season tickets.

But I also believe that most NHL or NBA expansion or moves as of late have in or to smaller mid markets. I'm still at a lost on how Oklahoma City has an NBA team but Seattle lost the Sonics. Yes, it was about a stadium but seems that NBA and NHL are trying just as hard to avoid or get out of NFL and MLB cities. Then again, Seattle finally has a billionaire who bought out a team. Just so happens to be in the wrong town.

Question, will Red Wings and Pistons play in the new stadium?

Bart Harley Jarvis · PostSep 06, 2014#1902014-09-06T13:54+00:00

dredger wrote: Question, will Red Wings and Pistons play in the new stadium?

No. I believe it is still just for the Wings. Pistons will continue to play in Auburn Hills.

TheNewSaintLouis · PostSep 06, 2014#1912014-09-06T17:23+00:00

I find the NHL to be far more exciting than the NBA
As far as expansion goes i hope the Blues can actually win a cup before these apparent expansions happen.

stlien · PostSep 07, 2014#1922014-09-07T18:04+00:00

ricke002 wrote:
dredger wrote: Question, will Red Wings and Pistons play in the new stadium?
No. I believe it is still just for the Wings. Pistons will continue to play in Auburn Hills.

For now...

dbInSouthCity · PostOct 07, 2014#1932014-10-07T12:59+00:00

2 days from the opener!

and a possible Blues and Cards at home saturday night!...

TheNewSaintLouis · PostOct 09, 2014#1942014-10-09T22:44+00:00

Hope this is the season they finally bring the cup home!

LETS GO BLUES!!!

blzhrpmd2 · PostOct 10, 2014#1952014-10-10T13:49+00:00

The new uniforms are solid. Wish it would have been a better opening result. The radio guys were lamenting a slow start, but facing off against Stanley Cup contender was bound to be a challenge.

DogtownBnR · PostOct 10, 2014#1962014-10-10T19:46+00:00

The Blues came out flat, played better, then were on their heels when Petro's clearing effort deflected off the seam in the glass... bad luck!!!

I think this will be an exciting playoff... it will all come down to goaltending and THAT is a HUGE concern. How far can Elliot take us and will Jake Allen EVER step up and take the #1 job here!

gary kreie · PostOct 13, 2014#1972014-10-13T02:53+00:00

How is Wheelhouse doing as a Blues game hangout?

RedOctober · PostOct 15, 2014#1982014-10-15T16:45+00:00

KC Royals are on the verge of making it to the WS and can very well capture its 2nd ever championship. Maybe some of that magic will finally rub off onto the Blues who is still seeking its first ever championship. Maybe the Royals can give the Blues a bit of advice on how to stay hot in the playoffs.

dweebe · PostOct 15, 2014#1992014-10-15T18:10+00:00

I guess some day Scottrade will maybe host the NHL All Star Game.

Report: Nashville Predators to host 2016 NHL All-Star Game
http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hoc ... -star-game

I know it's a complete cupcake show: but it would still be nice to have one here. Between that and still no Winter Classic I wonder if the Blues will ever be in the good graces of the league ever again.

RedOctober · PostOct 16, 2014#2002014-10-16T14:11+00:00

I thought St.Louis had hosted a NHL draft before? So far i haven't heard anything about a potential WC involving the Blues and it wouldn't surprise me if the Blues never host or get invited to the WC. Very sad but I'm optimistic someday they'll hoist that beloved Lord Stanley Cup!

St. Louis Blues

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