The Dome at America's Center

The Dome at America's Center

Former names	Trans World Dome (1995–2001) Dome at America's Center (2001–2002) Edward Jones Dome (2002–2016)
Location	701 Convention Plaza St. Louis, Missouri, United States 63101
Coordinates	38°37′58″N 90°11′19″W / 38.63278°N 90.18861°WCoordinates: 38°37′58″N 90°11′19″W / 38.63278°N 90.18861°W
Public transit	Metrolink: Convention Center
Owner	St. Louis Regional Sports Authority
Operator	St. Louis Convention/Visitors Bureau
Executive suites	120
Capacity	66,000
Surface	Astroturf GameDay Grass 3D (2010–present) FieldTurf (2005–2010) AstroTurf (1995–2004)
Construction
Broke ground	July 13, 1992[1]
Opened	November 12, 1995
Construction cost	$280 million ($435 million in 2016 dollars[2])
Architect	HOK Sport (now Populous) Kennedy Associates/Architects, Inc.[3]
Project manager	J.S. Alberici Construction
Structural engineer	EDM Incorporated[4]
Services engineer	Design Consulting Engineering Inc.[5]
General contractor	M.A. Mortenson Company[6]
Tenants
St. Louis Rams (NFL) (1995–2015)

Street side

2005 NCAA Basketball National Semifinal, North Carolina vs. Michigan State

Logo as Edward Jones Dome, 2002–2016

The Dome at America's Center or The Dome, formerly known as the Edward Jones Dome, is a multi-purpose stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It primarily served as the home of the St. Louis Rams until 2015 when the Rams relocated to Los Angeles in 2016. The stadium, previously known as the Trans World Dome from 1995 to 2001, was constructed largely to lure an NFL team back to St. Louis and to serve as a convention center.

The Dome provides multiple stadium configurations that can seat up to 70,000 people. Seating levels include: a private luxury suite level with 120 suites, a private club seat and luxury suite level with 6,400 club seats, a concourse level (lower bowl) and terrace level (upper bowl).^[7] The Dome was completed in 1995.

The Dome is part of the America's Center convention center. The convention portion has a much bigger footprint and adjoins to the west of the Dome, Cole Street to the north, Broadway to the east and Convention Plaza to the south. It is accessible off Interstate 70 eastbound at the Convention Center/Broadway/Busch Stadium exit, I-70 westbound from Illinois at the Martin Luther King Jr./Veterans Memorial Bridge, and Interstate 55 southbound at the Gateway Arch/Busch Stadium exit. The stadium is also serviced by the Convention Center Metrolink rail station.

Naming rights

During its planning and construction, the Dome was known as The Dome at America's Center. Trans World Airlines, a St. Louis-based air carrier, purchased naming rights in 1995 and held them until 2001, when TWA was acquired by American Airlines (American already has its name on two NBA/NHL venues in Dallas and Miami). During this time, the Dome was known as the Trans World Dome.

The facility then briefly reverted to the Dome at America's Center until the naming rights were acquired on January 25, 2002 by Edward Jones Investments, a full financial services firm born in St. Louis with now more than 14,000 offices in the US.

As part of a deal to sell the naming rights to Rams Park (now the Russell Athletic Training Center), the Rams' training facility in Earth City, Missouri, to sportswear manufacturer Russell Athletic, the Rams agreed to rename the Edward Jones Dome to Russell Athletic Field for the Rams' Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears on December 11, 2006. The renaming was for the one night only.

After the St. Louis Rams relocated to Los Angeles in 2016, Edward Jones exercised its right to terminate its sponsorship, and that the facility would once again be known as The Dome at America's Center.^[8]

Notable events

NFL playoff football

The Dome has hosted five NFC playoff games, including the 1999 and 2001 NFC Championship Games, both of which the Rams won. The previous franchise, the St. Louis Cardinals never hosted a playoff game in their history with the city (1960-1987).

Concerts

On November 8, 1997, U2 performed at the Dome during their PopMart Tour.

On December 12, 1997, The Rolling Stones broadcast a live Pay-Per-View concert event from their Bridges To Babylon Tour. The show was later released in edited form on VHS/DVD.

On July 2, 2001, 'N Sync performed at the Dome during their Pop Odyssey Tour.

Metallica's 2003 Summer Sanitarium Tour made a stop at the Edward Jones Dome on July 25, 2003. The tour featured headliner Metallica, with bands Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Deftones and Mudvayne.

On August 27, 2014, One Direction performed at the Dome on a one-night stop on their Where We Are Tour (One Direction) to St. Louis.

Professional soccer

The Dome hosted a soccer match on August 10, 2013, when Real Madrid and Internazionale played a friendly game in front of 54,184 fans, a record attendance for a soccer match in St. Louis.^[9]

College basketball

In April 2005, the Edward Jones Dome hosted the 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Final Four. Louisville, Illinois, Michigan State and North Carolina met, with North Carolina winning the title game against Illinois.

The Dome has hosted an NCAA Men's Basketball Regional four times. In 2004, the St. Louis Regional saw Georgia Tech defeat Kansas in a final that required overtime. Tech had previously defeated Nevada while KU became the first team (and the only one to date) to score 100 points in a college basketball game in the building in its regional semifinal win over UAB. The Dome also hosted the 2007 Midwest Regional, where Florida, en route to winning its second consecutive national championship, defeated Butler and then Oregon, who had defeated UNLV in the other regional semifinal. In 2010, Michigan State eliminated Northern Iowa, and Tennessee knocked off Ohio State, before MSU beat UT to move on to the Final Four. In 2012, North Carolina beat Ohio University and Kansas defeated NC State University. In the regional final, KU defeated UNC to advance to the Final Four.

College football

The Edward Jones Dome hosted the first Big 12 Conference football championship game in 1996 (Nebraska versus Texas). The third game, in 1998, was also held in the Dome (Kansas State versus Texas A&M). The Dome has also been a neutral site for regular-season college football matchups between the University of Illinois and the University of Missouri, promoted locally as the "Arch Rivalry". Missouri has won all six games (2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010).

MSHSAA Show Me Bowl

Since 1996, the Dome has held the annual Missouri State High School Activities Association football championship games. The Show Me Bowl had previously been contested at Faurot Field in Columbia, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City and Busch Memorial Stadium.

Religious conferences

The Dome became the site of the biggest indoor gathering in United States history, January 27, 1999 when Pope John Paul II held mass in the stadium. Over 104,000 people attended the service.

The Dome hosts the annual Joyce Meyer Ministries Love Life Women's Conference, attended by 10,000 to 20,000 women each year.

In 1999 the Rev. Billy Graham held The Greater St. Louis Billy Graham Crusade with well over 200,000 people attending in its four days. Michael W. Smith and Kirk Franklin were among the musical artists that performed.

Edward Jones Dome hosted the 2005 General Conference Session of Seventh-day Adventists.

Edward Jones Dome hosted the 2007 Nazarene Youth Conference.

Since the year 2009, the Dome at America's Center has been the host of the International Holy Convocation of the Church of God in Christ. Every year in November, the members of the COGIC meet in the Edward Jones Dome for the official Sunday morning service of their Holy Convocation.

The Dome at America's Center hosted the 85th annual General Conference of The United Pentecostal Church International on September 30 – October 4, 2009.

Since 2006, the Dome at America's Center has been home to the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Urbana missions conference which takes place every 3 years. The event had outgrown its former home on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana, Illinois (about 17,000 attendees in 2009). The next event will be in 2018.

Other events

From 2011 through 2017, the Dome will host the World Championship of the FIRST Robotics Competition. 600 teams from around the world qualify annually to compete in the championship held in mid-April. The FIRST LEGO League World Festival and FIRST Tech Challenge Championship occur at the same time, in nearby venues.

During the 2015 FLL championship, Edward Jones Dome hosted the world FLL competition while FTC remained at the Union Station.

The Edward Jones Dome has hosted an AMA Supercross Championship round since 1996.^[10]

The Edward Jones Dome also host a Monster Jam events every year as well as a round of the Stadium Super Truck series. ^[11]

The Edward Jones Dome has hosted the Nerium International's Spring Conference in April 2014.

The Edward Jones Dome hosted the hit band, One Direction, in 2014. 54,000 fans came and joined together on August 27, 2014.

The Edward Jones Dome also has hosted the Music for All Bands of America St. Louis Super-Regional championships every October annually since 1997.

The Edward Jones Dome hosted the 35th Annual Herbalife Extravaganza in July 2015.

The Edward Jones Dome was home to the largest pro wrestling crowd in Missouri state history ^[12] when WCW broadcast a live "Monday Nitro" event on December 21, 1998 on the TNT cable station. Nearly 30,000 attended live, braving an ice storm to attend. WCW would return on May 9, 1999 with a Pay-Per-View event titled "Slamboree", which drew 20,516 fans.

In February 2016, it was announced that the Dome would host the Gateway Dirt Nationals on December 16-17, 2016, featuring late model and modified events on a 0.2 miles (0.32 km) track, the largest indoor oval track in the United States.^[13]

Renovations

Interior view prior to 2010 renovations

Interior view after 2010 renovations

Interior view after 2010 renovations

Interior view after 2010 renovations

For the 2010 season, the Edward Jones Dome received a new permanent turf surface. The surface, manufactured by AstroTurf, will be AstroTurf’s Magic Carpet II Conversion System, which features its GameDay 3D Synthetic Turf System. This system is similar to the original turf system that was in the Dome from 1995 to 2004 whereas it can be rolled up and stored underground in a pit at the Dome. The Dome used a FieldTurf brand surface from 2005 to 2009.

The Edward Jones Dome also received a $30 million renovation in 2009, which replaced the scoreboards with LED video displays (one large in north end zone and one smaller in south end zone) and LED fascia boards around the bowl of the Dome. The renovations also added new premium areas (Bud Light Zone and Clarkson Jewelers Club). Some of the paint work in the Dome was lightened as well and painted in Rams colors (Blue, Gold, and White). In 2010, the Rams locker room was re-built and switched ends (from north end zone to south end zone). For 2011, new HD monitors were installed throughout the Dome in place of the older screens at concession stands and other areas.

Future

Under the terms of the lease that the Rams signed, the Edward Jones Dome was required to be ranked in the top tier of NFL stadiums through the 2015 season. If it was not, the Rams were free to break the lease and either relocate without penalty or continue to lease the Dome on a year-to-year basis.^{[14][15][16][17]}

In May 2012 the Dome was ranked by Time Magazine as the 7th worst major sports stadium in the United States.^[18] In 2008 St. Louis fans ranked it in a Sports Illustrated poll the worst of any NFL stadium with particularly low marks for tailgating, affordability and atmosphere.^[19]

The Convention and Visitor Center and the Rams negotiated throughout 2012 and agreed to go into arbitration in 2013 if a deal was not worked out in which three arbitrators mutually agreed on from the American Arbitration Association to arbitrate the case in 2013.^[20]

In January 2012, the CVC proposed $48 million in improvements including a new 947 vehicle garage all funded publicly with the Rams keeping the garage game day revenue.^[20]

After the Rams rejected the $48 million deal the CVC proposed $124 million in renovations including a new three-story structure on Baer Plaza on the east side facing the Mississippi River for a main entrance as well as new suites. The Rams would have picked up $64 million of that project.^[20]

The Rams countered with a $700 million proposal that called for much of the stadium to be rebuilt including a sliding roof panel and a new four-sided center scoreboard. No details on how to pay for the renovations were made.^[20]

The sides did not hammer out an agreement in 2012 and the matter went into arbitration hearings in January 2013. Officials note that even if the arbitrators decide on implementing a more expensive plan and the CVC was unable to fund it the Rams could still be able to break the lease.^[21]

With no agreement there was considerable speculation on the future of the Rams and the stadium with some^[22] suggesting the Rams might return to Los Angeles.

There had also been speculation that a whole new stadium could be built in the St. Louis suburbs possibly at either the intersection of Missouri Route 141 and the Missouri River in Maryland Heights, Missouri or on the site of the demolished Chrysler Saint Louis Assembly plant in Fenton, Missouri. Officials note that the Rams did not own the parking at the Edward Jones Dome. Further revenue from tailgating flowed to private parking areas around the Dome. They also noted that Rams owner Stan Kroenke owns the venues for his other teams including the Pepsi Center in Denver for the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche as well as the Emirates Stadium for the Arsenal F.C.^[21]

Bonds for construction of the Dome are still being paid through 2021 with Missouri paying $12 million/year and St. Louis City and St. Louis County paying $6 million/year each.^[23]

On February 1, 2013, the arbitrators ruled in favor of the Rams' $700 million proposal to tear down half the Dome and replace it as the only way to bring the Dome up to first tier status. Various city and county officials said it was unlikely the public funding would be found for such a project. Officials noted the Rams are contractually obligated to play in the Dome until March 15, 2015 and there is no "buy out" provision to permit the Rams to move before then. City and county officials have said they are considering all options including construction of a new stadium elsewhere in the St. Louis area. Rams officials have indicated their preference to stay in St. Louis.^[24]

The St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority in February 2013 hired Goldman Sachs "to keep the Rams in the Dome, or, if that’s not possible, to maintain a National League Football team in St. Louis." An attorney for St. Louis noted that Goldman had "financed or advised on the financing of every NFL stadium recently built."^[25] In April 2013, it was reported by the Wall Street Journal that this arrangement was being scrutinized by the Securities and Exchange Commission as new Dodd-Frank rules restrict firms from offering financial advice to municipalities where it also underwrites its municipal bond transactions.^[26]

On July 2, 2013, the CVC announced that they were rejecting the Rams' renovation proposal.^[27] Missouri governor Jay Nixon has been negotiating with owner Stan Kroenke since the decision has been made.^[28] If nothing is resolved the earliest the Rams could break the lease on the Edward Jones Dome would be following the 2014 season.

On January 31, 2014, both the Los Angeles Times and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Stan Kroenke purchased approximately 60 acres of land adjacent to the Forum in Inglewood, California. The purchase price was rumored to have been between $90 million - $100 million. Commissioner Roger Goodell represented that Mr. Kroenke informed the league of the purchase. As an NFL owner, any purchase of land in which a potential stadium could be built must be disclosed to the league. Kroenke subsequently announced plans to build an NFL stadium on the site, in connection with the owners of the adjacent 238-acre Hollywood Park site, Stockbridge Capital Group.^[29] This development has further fueled rumors that the Rams intend to return its management and football operations to Southern California. The land was initially targeted for a Walmart Supercenter but Walmart could not get the necessary permits to build it. Kroenke is married to Ann Walton Kroenke who is a member of the Walton family and many of Kroenke's real estate deals have involved Walmart properties. On January 5, 2015, The Los Angeles Times reported that Stan Kroenke and Stockbridge Capital Group are partnering up in developing a new NFL stadium on the Inglewood property owned by Kroenke. The project will include a stadium of up to 80,000 seats and a performance venue of up to 6,000 seats while reconfiguring the previously approved Hollywood Park plan for up to 890,000 square feet of retail, 780,000 square feet of office space, 2,500 new residential units, a 300-room hotel and 25 acres of public parks, playgrounds, open space and pedestrian and bicycle access. The stadium would likely be ready by 2018. In lieu of this St. Louis countered with a stadium plan for the north riverfront area, with the hope of persuading Missouri native Stan Kroenke to keep the Rams in the city. On February 24, 2015, the Inglewood City Council approved the stadium and the initiative with construction on the stadium planned to begin in December 2015.^[30][31] The Rams formally filed their request to leave St. Louis for Los Angeles on January 4, 2016.^[32] On January 12, the NFL approved the Rams' request for relocation to Los Angeles for the 2016 NFL season leaving the Edward Jones Dome with no tenant.^[33]

Missouri taxpayers will shoulder the remaining $144 million in debt and maintenance costs on the stadium until the debt is paid off in 2021.^[34][35]

On February 19, Edward Jones announced it was terminating its naming rights deal for the Dome, which effectively happened March 31.^[36]

St. Louis Football Ring of Fame

Former Cardinals and Rams football players were included in the St. Louis Ring of Fame in the Edward Jones Dome.

St. Louis Rams
No.	Player	Tenure	Inducted
7	Bob Waterfield	1945–1952	1999
25	Norm Van Brocklin	1949–1957	1999
28	Marshall Faulk	1999–2006	2011
29	Eric Dickerson	1983–1987	1999
40	Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch	1949–1957	1999
48	Les Richter	1954–1962	2011
55	Tom Fears	1948–1956	1999
65	Tom Mack	1966–1978	1999
74	Merlin Olsen	1962–1976	1999
75	Deacon Jones	1961–1971	1999
78	Jackie Slater	1976–1995	2001
84	Jack Snow	1964–1975, Broadcaster	2006
85	Jack Youngblood	1971–1984	2001
St. Louis Cardinals
No.	Player	Tenure	Inducted
8	Larry Wilson	1960–1972	1999
22	Roger Wehrli	1969–1982	2007
72	Dan Dierdorf	1971–1983	1999
81	Jackie Smith	1963–1977	1999
Coaches and executives
	Name	Tenure	Inducted
Head Coach	Dick Vermeil	1997–1999	2008
Owner	Dan Reeves	1941–1971	2008
Owner	Carroll Rosenbloom	1972–1979	2008
Owner	Georgia Frontiere	1979–2007	2008

References

1. Mark S., Rosentraub (1999). Major League Losers: The Real Cost Of Sports And Who's Paying For It. New York: Basic Books. p. 220. ISBN 0-465-07143-0.
2. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
3. "Edward Jones Dome - KAI Design & Build".
4. "Projects - EDM".
5. DCE Inc - Educational/Recreational
6. Mortenson Construction - Edward Jones Dome
7. Edward Jones Dome: Seating
8. Feldt, Brian (February 19, 2016). "Edward Jones name to come off dome". St. Louis Business Journal. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
9. Sports Illustrated, Real Madrid dominates Inter to close American tour, August 10, 2013, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130810/real-madrid-inter.ap/?sct=sc_t2_a4
10. 2015 AMA Supercross media guide
11. "Schedule". Stadium Super Trucks. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
12. http://explorestlouis.com/media-page/news-releases-newsroom/releases/the-dome-delivers-mega-events/
13. Turner, Todd (February 16, 2016). "Indoor Late Model event set for St. Louis". DirtOnDirt.com. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
14. "Edward Jones Dome listed as one of 10 worst stadiums". KTRS (St. Louis). May 11, 2012. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
15. deMause, Neil. "Tales of city mismanagement: How the St. Louis Rams won their sweetheart lease". Field of Schemes. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
16. deMause, Neil. "StL stadium chief: Replace dome, or lose Rams / Search Results / Field of Schemes". www.fieldofschemes.com. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
17. Coats, Bill. "New venues put city on notice for keeping Rams". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on 1 June 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
18. Carbone, Nick (May 10, 2012). "7. Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis | Top 10 Worst Stadiums in the U.S.". Time. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
19. "NFL Stadium Rankings". Sports Illustrated. 2008. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
20. Hathaway, Matthew (June 15, 2012). "CVC Enters Arbitration With Rams; Deadline is Dec. 31". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
21. Hunn, David (July 23, 2012). "A New Stadium for the St. Louis Rams?". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
22. "Report: NFL may discuss relocating teams to Los Angeles at December meeting". theScore.com.
23. Rathbone, Michael (February 2, 2012). "Dough for the Dome". Show-Me Daily. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
24. Hunn, David (May 14, 2012). "Will Rams Leave St. Louis? 'Take a Deep Breath,' Official Says". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
25. Hunn, David (February 11, 2013). "St. Louis Agency Hires Goldman Sachs to Keep Rams in Dome". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
26. "Regulators Scrutinizing Dome Deal, Report Says". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. April 9, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
27. Associated Press (July 5, 2013). "Edward Jones Dome Won't Get $700M in Upgrades". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
28. "Is L.A. the place for the NFL? It’s hard to tell".
29. Farmer, Sam; Vincent, Roger (5 January 2015). "Owner of St. Louis Rams plans to build NFL stadium in Inglewood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
30. "St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke buys 60 acres of land in Los Angeles". ESPN.com.
31. "Report: Rams owner bought 60 acres of land in Calif.". KSDK. 30 January 2014.
32. Brinson, Will (January 4, 2016). "Chargers, Raiders and Rams file for relocation to Los Angeles". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
33. "St. Louis Rams relocate to Los Angeles". ESPN.com.
34. Robin Respaut (3 February 2016). "With NFL Rams gone, St. Louis still stuck with stadium debt". Reuters.
35. "In Losing the Rams, St. Louis Wins". The New York Times. 16 January 2016.
36. Hunn, David (February 19, 2016). "Edward Jones scraps naming rights on Dome". STLToday.com. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved February 20, 2016.

External links

• Official Site