Stifel Theatre at Kiel Auditorium

moorlander · PostJan 30, 2009#2512009-01-30T13:33+00:00

riday, January 30, 2009

Blues owners: Opera House no longer on ice

Dave Checketts is putting Kiel Opera House back on the table.

Checketts, chairman of SCP Worldwide, which owns the St. Louis Blues, Scottrade Center and the adjoining opera house, is leading efforts to renovate the long-vacant venue.

New York-based SCP picked up its conversations with city officials in recent months and plans to submit a formal redevelopment plan by March, said SCP Partner Ken Munoz. The firm expects Kiel’s restoration as a first-class entertainment venue to carry a price tag in the $50 million to $60 million range. SCP is targeting a late spring to early summer construction start with the goal of reopening Kiel in the fourth quarter of 2010 with a holiday musical.

McEagle Properties LLC of O’Fallon, Mo., remains SCP’s development partner and is working with SCP to finalize a budget, identify architects and designers, and take responsibility for Kiel’s physical reconstruction.

http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... tory1.html

magnatron · PostJan 30, 2009#2522009-01-30T15:34+00:00

Why do I feel like I am stuck in a roundabout like in "European Vacation"...

Look kids! Big Ben!..... Parliament.......

I really hope this is it.

steve · PostJan 30, 2009#2532009-01-30T17:50+00:00

Magnatron wrote:I really hope this is it.

Me too. Really exciting if this is finally going to happen--just imagine this building lit up at night.

matguy70 · PostJan 30, 2009#2542009-01-30T18:38+00:00

Really hope this is the done deal...

survivor147 · PostJan 30, 2009#2552009-01-30T19:10+00:00

I have no faith in this project anymore. I'm trying, I really am but I am not going to hope. This story isn't even finalized with details. This will still look the exact same in 2010. The musical that is "supposed" to open it off will be showing at the Fox.

MattnSTL · PostJan 30, 2009#2562009-01-30T19:28+00:00

I have a lot more faith in this project right now than I have had in a long time. Checketts is the type of guy that gets things done when he wants them done.

stlcardsblues1989 · PostJan 30, 2009#2572009-01-30T23:14+00:00

I hope this happens. I have faith that Checketts will do his best. I honestly believe he's a man of his word. He may not yet have the success to show it, but I believe he's the best pro sports owner (of the 3) in this city.

courtland · PostJan 31, 2009#2582009-01-31T00:19+00:00

I always thought the Touhill should have been located at the Kiel. $50 million dollar Touhill sitting on the UMSL campus. What a waste.

the central scrutinizer · PostJan 31, 2009#2592009-01-31T05:46+00:00

courtland wrote:I always thought the Touhill should have been located at the Kiel. $50 million dollar Touhill sitting on the UMSL campus. What a waste.

Not really.

stldtfan · PostJan 31, 2009#2602009-01-31T23:48+00:00

Has there ever been an estimate as to how much it would take to make Kiel operational?

Alex Ihnen · PostFeb 02, 2009#2612009-02-02T18:56+00:00

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:
courtland wrote:I always thought the Touhill should have been located at the Kiel. $50 million dollar Touhill sitting on the UMSL campus. What a waste.

Not really.

There are arguments both ways, but the Touhill does seem to be an underutilized venue. If we're honest, the Touhill was built because UMSL was able to get it on the state university to-be-built list. The state would never have worked with UMSL on a $50M renovation of the Kiel, but a new venue . . . SURE. Is the same problem with fed highway $$, etc. Why weren't alternatives to rebuilding 40/64 examined? Because the fed was only giving $$$ for rebuilding Interstates and not for the reevaluation and building of sensible, site-specific, infrastructure.

There are an incredible number of shows and quality venues in the STL area, but I believe these attractions are scattered and suffer from some of the same problems as our scattered municipalities. IMO - it would be great to have a quality speaker series in Mid-town and the STL Opera Co. I can't blame each university or venue, but instead we have Lindenwood doing their thing, UMSL theirs, Webster theirs, Maryville theirs, etc. etc. etc.

dredger · PostFeb 02, 2009#2622009-02-02T20:52+00:00

I do like the idea of how the Kiel will be redeveloped having a very strong private ownerwhip presence and the flexibility of that entitiy has in pursuing what it wants. Their will be a strong effort to attract shows and maintains its use. I think UMSL would have been limited in some respects if it had secured the Kiel

I think KWMU moving to Grand Center really shows what UMSL has missed out on. Too bad UMSL didn't think about that with the Touhill. They could have created a mini performance/secondary campus in the heart of the city tied together by Metrolink. This might have helped its endowment cause as well as provide a reasonable/cost effective factilities to be shared with SLU and Wash U.

bonwich · PostFeb 02, 2009#2632009-02-02T21:04+00:00

Grover wrote:IMO - it would be great to have a quality speaker series in Mid-town and the STL Opera Co. I can't blame each university or venue, but instead we have Lindenwood doing their thing, UMSL theirs, Webster theirs, Maryville theirs, etc. etc. etc.

With all due respect, Maryville sponsors the St. Louis Speakers Series...in Powell Hall, which isn't technically in Midtown, but might as well be.

Alex Ihnen · PostFeb 02, 2009#2642009-02-02T22:54+00:00

bonwich wrote:
Grover wrote:IMO - it would be great to have a quality speaker series in Mid-town and the STL Opera Co. I can't blame each university or venue, but instead we have Lindenwood doing their thing, UMSL theirs, Webster theirs, Maryville theirs, etc. etc. etc.

With all due respect, Maryville sponsors the St. Louis Speakers Series...in Powell Hall, which isn't technically in Midtown, but might as well be.

Touche. I thought Powell Hall is in Midtown.

bonwich · PostFeb 02, 2009#2652009-02-02T23:03+00:00

^ Technically it's the charmingly named Covenant Blu Grand Center neighborhood, according to the City.

Alex Ihnen · PostFeb 02, 2009#2662009-02-02T23:03+00:00

bonwich wrote:^ Technically it's the charmingly named Covenant Blu Grand Center neighborhood, according to the City.

I'll remember that!

moorlander · PostFeb 13, 2009#2672009-02-13T15:08+00:00

Downtown development: What’s moving forward?

Kiel Opera House

Developers: McEagle Properties and SCP Worldwide, owner of the St. Louis Blues and led by Chairman Dave Checketts

Cost: $50 million to $60 million

Location: Adjacent to Scottrade Center

Originally proposed: January 2007

Current status: Kiel’s doors have remained closed since 1991. The city’s Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority approved hiring Thompson Coburn as attorney to represent the city in moving forward with the development on Jan. 27. Deputy Mayor Barb Geisman said the project is beginning to gain steam after a two-year-long delay. “(The developer) is getting ready to progress,” Geisman said. “Mr. Checketts wants to do the project. (Hiring the attorney) sets the stage for doing the project and makes sure we have adequate legal representation.” SCP Worldwide Partner Ken Munoz said the group is working on presenting a development plan to city officials in March for a tentative opening date in late 2010.

http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... tml?page=1

doug · PostFeb 17, 2009#2682009-02-17T22:22+00:00

Touhill is Blanches' legacy. That's why it was on their campus.

publiceye · PostMar 10, 2009#2692009-03-10T23:03+00:00

The inimitable Charlene Prost got a few more people on the record -- pro and con -- about this project for the Beacon:

http://www.stlbeacon.org/development/of ... pera_house

magnatron · PostMar 12, 2009#2702009-03-12T19:25+00:00

I disagree with Rich Baker. While I understand his concern, I would be too if i had potential new competition. But I would like to see more variety in the shows that come to Saint Louis. The number shows that the Fox houses throughout the course of a year are a drop in the bucket to the number of touring shows out there. For one, the Fox houses mostly large popular musicals. I'd like to see more Off Broadway, or non-musical broadway shows come through here. There really is no shortage of that type of touring production. There is so much more to theatre than Phantom of the Opera and Jesus Christ Super Star...

quincunx · PostApr 20, 2009#2712009-04-20T23:16+00:00

Fox2 says it's happening:

Video

ntbpo · PostApr 20, 2009#2722009-04-20T23:25+00:00

Nice, One more Down. Now we need to focus on the Municipal courts and Abrams fed bldg.

magnatron · PostApr 20, 2009#2732009-04-20T23:29+00:00

Hallelujah!... I am still holding my breath though....

Alex Ihnen · PostApr 21, 2009#2742009-04-21T00:34+00:00

Brilliant. These things must happen in order for more people to care about the Gateway Mall, Union Station and the surrounding area. More visitors will support more business, but it will also add more pressure to make the surrounding area friendly to pedestrians, etc. Win-win. People have to visit an area to care about it and people have to care about an area for it be cared for - simple enough huh?

stlcardsblues1989 · PostApr 21, 2009#2752009-04-21T02:55+00:00

Checketts fulfilling the promise that the Blues former owners did not keep when Scottrade was built.

I love it!

Dave Checketts deserves a collective hug from this city. Being from New York, he will probably be able to get some good acts in Keil.

Stifel Theatre at Kiel Auditorium

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