New Missouri Valley Conf. HQ by Scottrade Center

dweebe · PostAug 19, 2006#12006-08-19T17:42+00:00

From the 8/19 Bernie's Bits in the Post-Dispatch

The St. Louis-based Missouri Valley Conference hopes to soon close a deal with the city to acquire land near Savvis Center that will be developed into new headquarters for the MVC.

I wonder where this could be? On the other side of the MetroLink tracks by the new train/bus station?

blzhrpmd2 · PostAug 19, 2006#22006-08-19T19:58+00:00

Good question. I think there is another thread (cant recall topic) that addresses this in more detail. More new construction in the area will be great; especially given the proximity to the metro stop. What are the chances that this new headquarters could include retail?

bgeldy · PostAug 19, 2006#32006-08-19T22:14+00:00

Retail...say a shop with MO Valley athletic goods??? Or were you going for something else?

framer · PostAug 20, 2006#42006-08-20T05:06+00:00

This is good news. A perfect match. If the City had blown this deal, I don't know what I would have done...

blzhrpmd2 · PostAug 20, 2006#52006-08-20T13:12+00:00

I meant like a restaurant, sports bar, or something of potential use for the residents in the area. I know this would depend on what kind of building they plan on putting there. Being so close to Saavis and the metro stop, it could be cool to have more dining, drinking options pregame/event. Maybe "retail" was the wrong word to use.

jmedwick · PostAug 20, 2006#62006-08-20T15:46+00:00

^ What matters is where the building is located. If it is located along Clark, a major retail/ resturant portion is a must for the building. But if the building is located between Spruce and the highway, I would be less concerned with having the shopping and retail, as I wonder how much foot traffic makes its way back there.

debaliviere · PostAug 20, 2006#72006-08-20T17:09+00:00

I couldn't find our previous discussion about this development, but I think that the city-owned parking lot just west of the MetroLink station (the former home of the Arena Club bar) is the site that's being considered.

sniba snaba · PostAug 20, 2006#82006-08-20T17:26+00:00

Where is the current headquarters located at???

debaliviere · PostAug 20, 2006#92006-08-20T21:21+00:00

^

Chouteau, near 18th.

southslider · PostAug 21, 2006#102006-08-21T13:50+00:00

The site is on the southwest corner of the turn in MetroLink tracks between the Union Station and Civic Center stations. Bounded by MetroLink tracks on the north and east, the site is also bounded by 15th on the west and Spruce on the south. Across the tracks to the north on Clark is the Savvis Center and parking garage. To the south of Spruce is the future intercity bus terminal portion of the Multi-Modal Center. To the east-southeast is the Civic Center MetroLink station and MetroBus loop. Though highly visible from MetroLink and the Savvis Center, pedestrians must go over MetroLink via 15th or cross the tracks at-grade at the Civic Center station to access this site. While only destination retail/restaurants like a NCAA store or sports bar could likely survive given the diverted foot traffic, at least this site will become more than its current use as a surface parking lot.

debaliviere · PostNov 13, 2007#112007-11-13T23:08+00:00

An update on the HQ:

Link

MattnSTL · PostNov 13, 2007#122007-11-13T23:12+00:00

Sounds good. Now let's seal the deal and hopefully get a nice looking and urban building. At least as urban as that site can be.

newstl2020 · PostNov 14, 2007#132007-11-14T01:24+00:00

I was initially fairly pissed that this lot was going to be used for this purpose. Thinking realistically, however, I think this will be a nice addition to the area, as it will (hopefully) create more foot traffic between the CBD and Union Station, and will fill a void currently occupied by surface parking. In addition, we are basically gauranteed this tournament for a while past 2011 if they have a fully functioning headquarters with a "media center" and other ameneties.

moorlander · PostNov 14, 2007#142007-11-14T02:02+00:00

What size building are we talking here? Their current building the size of a house. I doubt anyone from scottrade and the blues would want a building tall enough to block the highway view.

Alex Ihnen · PostNov 14, 2007#152007-11-14T02:36+00:00

newstl2020 wrote:I was initially fairly pissed that this lot was going to be used for this purpose. Thinking realistically, however, I think this will be a nice addition to the area, as it will (hopefully) create more foot traffic between the CBD and Union Station, and will fill a void currently occupied by surface parking. In addition, we are basically gauranteed this tournament for a while past 2011 if they have a fully functioning headquarters with a "media center" and other ameneties.

Good call - I guess with I-64 south of this lot, it won't be part of the fabled greenway anyway.

debaliviere · PostNov 14, 2007#162007-11-14T15:41+00:00

A poster on the MVC's message board has some great ideas for the HQ:

1. The Missouri Valley Experience: This would contain an interactive exhibit with a 10 min. video in one of those little museum video rooms documenting the history of the Valley. The Missouri Valley Experience would also contain the Missouri Valley Hall of Fame and a gift shop along with the banner of every conference champion for that year.

2. Basketball courts on the roof. (you gotta get some basketball courts somewhere in the building)

3. A TV Studio. From there they could broadcast a weekly Internet TV program as well as hold interviews and press conferences. Radio stations could also broadcast live from there during the MVC tourney.

4. Retail space for a sports bar on the first floor. Given its location by the Scottrade Center, Union Station and the Saint Louis Sheraton I think they could fill the space. I nice Missouri Valley/Blues themed sports bar would work I think. Maybe you could even tie this in with the basketball courts on the roof?

5. Since it is bordered by Interstate 64 to the South, I would like to see some major signage along the south side of the building. What better way to promote the Valley than 50,000 cars passing by every day on a cool new building? Perhaps we could even work a sports theme into the building design or something?

Here's the link: Valley Talk

dweebe · PostNov 14, 2007#172007-11-14T15:51+00:00

DeBaliviere wrote:A poster on the MVC's message board has some great ideas for the HQ:

1. The Missouri Valley Experience: This would contain an interactive exhibit with a 10 min. video in one of those little museum video rooms documenting the history of the Valley. The Missouri Valley Experience would also contain the Missouri Valley Hall of Fame and a gift shop along with the banner of every conference champion for that year.

2. Basketball courts on the roof. (you gotta get some basketball courts somewhere in the building)

3. A TV Studio. From there they could broadcast a weekly Internet TV program as well as hold interviews and press conferences. Radio stations could also broadcast live from there during the MVC tourney.

4. Retail space for a sports bar on the first floor. Given its location by the Scottrade Center, Union Station and the Saint Louis Sheraton I think they could fill the space. I nice Missouri Valley/Blues themed sports bar would work I think. Maybe you could even tie this in with the basketball courts on the roof?

5. Since it is bordered by Interstate 64 to the South, I would like to see some major signage along the south side of the building. What better way to promote the Valley than 50,000 cars passing by every day on a cool new building? Perhaps we could even work a sports theme into the building design or something?

Here's the link: Valley Talk

The TV studio would be a cool idea. Maybe Fox Sports Midwest could build a small studio and HDTV switching center there? That way every Cardinal and Blues game could be in HD.

Comcast Sports Philadelphia built a similar setup halfway between the Eagles football stadium, the Phillies ballpark and the arena where the 76ers and Flyers play.

newstl2020 · PostNov 14, 2007#182007-11-14T19:13+00:00

I like the ideas posted, although the part about having a sports inspired design is absolutely abhorent. Nothing more tacky than a 4 story basketball. Going with the idea of a sports bar, I'm not sure how well that would work out, due to the fact that this lot is positioned across the metro tracks from both Scott-trade and the Sheraton. However, this could work well if they invested in pedestrian walk-ways over the tracks. Actually, 2-3 ped bridges designed and lit in an aesthetically conscious manner might actually be a very cool attraction to this area of downtown. That would do wonders for the street-scape of the area. Combine that with some updated lighting along the sidewalks all the way down Clark to Union Station, and we might see a bit of a revitalization of this area.

little egyptian · PostNov 15, 2007#192007-11-15T02:26+00:00

newstl2020 wrote:I like the ideas posted, although the part about having a sports inspired design is absolutely abhorent. Nothing more tacky than a 4 story basketball. Going with the idea of a sports bar, I'm not sure how well that would work out, due to the fact that this lot is positioned across the metro tracks from both Scott-trade and the Sheraton. However, this could work well if they invested in pedestrian walk-ways over the tracks. Actually, 2-3 ped bridges designed and lit in an aesthetically conscious manner might actually be a very cool attraction to this area of downtown. That would do wonders for the street-scape of the area. Combine that with some updated lighting along the sidewalks all the way down Clark to Union Station, and we might see a bit of a revitalization of this area.

Could you do a pedestrian bridge over the Metrolink? That seems like a suicide waiting to happen.

If they could, I think that would be cool, though. It would bring a whole new angle to that area.

I think this MVC Headquarters could be sort of a cool place, but I don't really know that Athletic Conferences are interested in all that stuff listed above. I'm not sure they have the resources for that and I am not sure anyone would be all that interested even if they did. Don't get me wrong, I like the MVC, especially the Salukis, and especially like the revenue it brings to the city, but to expect them to do some sort of interactive building seems like sort of like a high expectation.

I don't expect this to be much more than an office building and I am not even sure it will be 2 stories. I just don't know what they would do with all the space.

MattnSTL · PostNov 15, 2007#202007-11-15T02:33+00:00

There's already a few bridges around the area, as well as right up the street, so I don't know what the concern would be there. I think it's a great idea.

newstl2020 · PostNov 15, 2007#212007-11-15T05:39+00:00

Could you do a pedestrian bridge over the Metrolink? That seems like a suicide waiting to happen.

That logic would apply to any bridge ever created.

I don't expect it to be all that much more, but they described it as a "media/meeting center" as well as the MVC headquarters. To me, this would signal a possible increase in foot traffic, as there must be people to have meetings. I think 2 bridges over the tracks from Clark (in front of Scottrade) would make a big difference for this area, especially during events. It would facilitate easier use of the new transit hub, and hopefully look amazing at night. Anything that makes being downtown more pleasant is bound to be a good thing, and those are two direct positives that I could see coming out of something like this.

jlblues · PostNov 15, 2007#222007-11-15T08:21+00:00

Grrr. I wish they would build this up to Clark, over the Metro tracks, but it doesn't sound like that is going to happen.

debaliviere · PostNov 15, 2007#232007-11-15T14:22+00:00

Like dweebe said, I think a TV studio would be the best idea. It would be great to have a cap over the MetroLink tracks, connecting the building with Clark Street, but I'm guessing that would never happen. An additional pedestrian bridge would be nice though.

I'm guessing part of the land will be used as a parking lot for the building - it really is a huge lot.

jmedwick · PostNov 15, 2007#242007-11-15T15:07+00:00

It would be great to have a cap over the MetroLink tracks, connecting the building with Clark Street, but I'm guessing that would never happen.

While you are correct, the fact that Metro is seeking a tax increase and not making use of possible outside revenue streams such as selling the air rights along Clark does seem a bit odd.

debaliviere · PostNov 15, 2007#252007-11-15T15:13+00:00

JMedwick wrote:While you are correct, the fact that Metro is seeking a tax increase and not making use of possible outside revenue streams such as selling the air rights along Clark does seem a bit odd.

Interesting - I hadn't thought of that.