urbanSTL

dredger wrote:However, I would rather see MLS embrace/partner and expand current facilities nearby whether it be SLU and or Harris-Stowe.  Setting aside a chunk of West Downtown for another superblock of green space & soccer fields seems like a bad long term plan in my opinion.  

That was my exact idea lol

Totally random thought I had, but I wonder if there would be any appetite for a Centene Community Ice Center type development that could be done, but with soccer instead.  Basically a facility with the pro team as the anchor but additional facilities for youth sports and community events.  Going back to the idea of using the SLU fields, there is plenty of vacant and underutilized land around SLU's various athletic facilities that could house a training and team facility.

Obviously I meant a facility in conjunction with SLU's current fields.

^ I can't see them waiting until the end of the NLCS, provided the Cardinals make it that far.  I think sometime in between seems like a good fit, but who knows.

As far as time frame, they still have time.  Busch was built in just a little over two years and it's quite a bit larger.  If the team is scheduled to start playing in 2022 they've got a few months (especially if the rumors hold true and it goes north of Market, while there is some ramp infrastructure in there there isn't as much as there is south of Market).

^ Unless they don't plan on starting stadium construction for another year or so, I can't see any reason they couldn't wrap up stadium construction before the 2022 season starts.  Busch seats over 46,000 and it opened in 2 years and 4 months.  I don't see how a 25,000 seat soccer stadium is going to take any longer than that.  Provided they are planning for a groundbreaking within the next several months I think their time frame is fine.

I'm also not aware of DeWitt being a minority owner, if he is involved this is the first I'm hearing of it.  I believe it's just the Taylor Family and Jim Kavanaugh.

^^ I think there would still be some pretty stellar skyline views south of Market, not just views of the shed and the wheel.  One thing that does have me somewhat intrigued about the north of Market plan is it's a bit closer to Washington Avenue, which could use a big anchor on the west end.  I don't think too many would disagree that BPV and some other developments in the city have deluded the crowds on Wash Ave a bit.  A big project like this could be a nice boost for that street, especially some of the under developed lots on the western end of the loft district (and yeah the skyline views would be better here too).

One off the wall idea I had for a north of Market site (would work south of Market too) is to redevelop the last 3-4 blocks of the Gateway Mall to tie into the stadium.  They would remain as open park land that could be used for a multitude of things and events, but on game days it could turn into like a "Soccer Village."  But instead of a permanent village like BPV or similar type development you could have spaces for food trucks, street vendors, maybe some souvenir stands, etc that just kind of pop up on game day.  This way the city can avoid adding yet another "entertainment district" that probably isn't needed.  Then, like GC said allow for some organic development to grow around that and the stadium, maybe some office space, residential and some additional retail.

What I would rather not see south of Market is a big urban family park, or a practice field.  I'd rather see the street grid rebuilt and filled in with denser urban development.

urbanitas wrote: ↑

Oct 08, 2019

chriss752 wrote: ↑

Oct 08, 2019

Supposedly a practice field will go on a portion of the land South of Market. We will see if that holds true.

That said, if the stadium goes north of Market, I will be extremely disappointed if they don't take advantage of that huge below-grade volume for all of their parking needs.  They could easily get 2 levels of a massive below-grade parking garage on a large part of that valley area with little excavation required.  The lower levels of the garage could connect under Market Street, along with pedestrian access ramps between the stadium and everything south of Market. 

Hopefully MoDOT doesn't level it out when they remove and rebuild the 22nd interchange because that is a really good idea.  A big garage sandwiched between 21st and 22nd and Market and Clark with below grade access into the stadium.  Would also provide extra parking for Union Station and anything else built in the area.