In the heart of downtown St Louis in Missouri, the Edward Jones Dome a multipurpose stadium is home of the St Louis Rams of the National Football League. The Dome was opened in 1995 with the Rams – Carolina game which the Rams won 28 to 10, an auspicious beginning. The cost of construction was estimated at US$ 280 million.
The facility is around 205 feet in height and covers an area of 14 acres with a roof structure spanning 12.5 acres and weighing 10.5 million pounds. 262 miles of concrete is said to have been used in its construction. Covering an area of around 73,000 square feet, the Astro Turf’s Magic Carpet II which weighed 100,000 pounds was laid in 2010. Hydraulic winches are used to drag out the turf from an area that lies underneath the concrete flooring prior to games. A special mechanism blows air between the carpet and the floor to reduce friction when the turf is pulled across the dome’s floor. After the games the turf is rolled up by a special machine and is put back in its place. The Magic Carpet system takes around three hours to set up.
The dome has a multiple stadium configuration with a seating capacity of up to 66,000 people. Seating levels include those for a private luxury suite, a private club and luxury suit, a concourse level and a terrace level. Fans are treated to superior a site line to the field allowing them to experience the excitement of a game from every seat. The first 14 rows of seats are retractable to provide space for meetings and trade shows.
The stadium’s Club Level has around 42,500 square feet of hospitality space, bars, and food services, the most generous for such stadiums. This space houses the posh Rams Club which is exclusive to club members and suite holders, the Budweiser Brew House which is a casual sports bar and a multitude of casual cafes, merchandise and souvenir shops and vending stations available to fans on game days.
Some of these facilities are also permanent features on site. 968 public toilettes and rest rooms have been provided for the convenience of fans. Spanning 20 feet in height and 26 feet in width, the Sony Jumbo Tron Stadium Score Board System weighs 10,800 pounds and provides information to fans during games.
The Edward Jones Dome was the venue of the biggest indoor public assembly ever held in the US which took place in 1999 when Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass here. Other major events hosted at the dome include five NFC playoff games, several college basketball and football events, religious conferences and regional events. The dome received a US$ 30 million facelift in 2009.
In the heart of downtown St Louis, close to sporting and entertainment venues and several of the city’s well known attractions such as the Gateway Arch, is Millennium Hotel St Louis. It is located in one of the city’s iconic buildings and offers comfortable and contemporary accommodation and leisure and dining options that include the only revolving restaurant in St Louis with 360 degree stunning city views. This St Louis Mo hotel has 65,000 square feet of meeting and event space supported by an array of business facilities and the biggest ballroom in the state that can accommodate 5,500 guests. These impressive modern facilities and amenities make this one of the leading St Louis hotels for business and leisure travel.