The Dome at America's Center
The Dome at America's Center is a multi-purpose stadium used for concerts, major conventions, and sporting events in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Previously known as the Trans World Dome from 1995 to 2001 and the Edward Jones Dome from 2002 to 2016, it was constructed largely to lure a National Football League (NFL) team to St. Louis and to serve as a convention space.
Former names
Trans World Dome (1995–2001)
Edward Jones Dome (2002–2016)
St. Louis Regional Sports Authority
St. Louis Convention/Visitors Bureau
120
Full stadium: 67,277 (such as for American football games)
Half stadium: 40,000 (such as for basketball games)[7]
AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D (2010–present)
FieldTurf (2005–2010)
AstroTurf (1995–2004)
July 13, 1992[1]
November 12, 1995
2010
US$280 million
($560 million in 2023 dollars[2])
HOK Sport (now Populous)
Kennedy Associates/Architects, Inc.[3]
J.S. Alberici Construction
EDM Incorporated[4]
Design Consulting Engineering Inc.[5]
The Dome received its initial main tenant with the arrival of the NFL's St. Louis Rams, who relocated to the city in 1995. The Rams spent the next 21 seasons at the Dome, departing after the 2015 NFL season to return to Los Angeles. The St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League began playing at the stadium in early 2020, with Battlehawk fans commonly referring to the dome as the BattleDome.[8]
The Dome provides multiple stadium configurations that can seat up to 82,624 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) with 28,352 seats, and a terrace level (upper bowl) with 29,400.[9]
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. The stadium is serviced by the Convention Center MetroLink rail station.
Architecture[edit]
The stadium's exterior facade is clad in brick, limestone, and precast concrete tinted to resemble red sandstone. The intended effect was for the venue to less resemble a stadium, and more resemble the look of public libraries and city school buildings built in the era preceding World War II.[10]
Notable events[edit]
NFL playoff football[edit]
The Dome hosted five NFL playoff games, including the 1999 and 2001 NFC Championship Games, both of which the Rams won. The city's previous NFL franchise, the St. Louis Cardinals, never hosted a playoff game in their history with the city (1960–1987); all of the playoff games they played were on the road.
2024 UFL Championship Game[edit]
On March 14, 2024 the UFL announced that The Dome at America’s Center, will be the host site of the 2024 UFL Championship Game on June 16, 2024. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 pm ET/4 pm CT on Fox Broadcasting Company. UFL President and CEO Russ Brandon stated "Selecting the championship game location is more than just the stadium, but the community and the fanbase that surrounds it. This is why we are proud to bring our Championship to St. Louis – a city that has loved and embraced spring football from the start.” St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones released a statement saying "St. Louisans are excited to welcome the UFL championship game and tens of thousands of enthusiastic fans to our city, Soon, UFL fans from across the country will learn: Kaw is the law."[54] The Dome is also going to host the 2024 XFL Conference Championship game between the Battlehawks and the San Antonio Brahmas.