Share
this

Nothing Blue About It

Official Review by Jack Winter, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

Located in the heart of downtown, the Scottrade Center is the home of the NHL's St. Louis Blues. The arena opened on October 8, 1994 as the Kiel Center, and the Blues became its permanent tenant after moving from nearby St. Louis Arena, a historic but run-down barn-style venue built in the 1920s. In 2006, the naming rights to the Kiel Center were sold to local online start-up Scottrade, giving the building its current title.

The Center has been used for numerous different events since its opening. Along with hockey, college basketball, arena football, and indoor soccer have been played at Scottrade, and it routinely hosts concerts, circuses, and ice shows as well. The biggest crowd in the arena's history is 22,612 for the 2007 Missouri Valley Conference basketball tournament, but its capacity for hockey is slightly lower at 19,150.

Food & Beverage    4

One of the more impressive aspects about the Scottrade Center is its wide array of concessions both upscale and traditional. Everything from Nathan's hot dogs to freshly-cut pork sandwiches, beer to chardonnay, and peanuts to chicken mac n' cheese is offered to hockey goers. While expensive, all are competitively priced with those of other professional sports venues.

If you're not feeling like casual stadium fare like a burger and popcorn, stop by a stand and pick up a "maple glazed pork loin with whole grain mustard and garlic thyme aioli" sandwich. It's as fresh, delicious, and intricate a meal you can get at any sporting event in the country.

The only thing lacking here is a selection of food and drink exclusive to the St. Louis community. At this point, though, that's nitpicking. Arrive at Scottrade on an empty stomach and you won't be disappointed.

Atmosphere    4

Fan interactions in cheers and promotions aside, there's a specific feeling one looks for at sporting events, especially as a casual fan with no allegiances. Is there a pre-game buzz? Are people hurrying through corridors to their seats? Or is it quiet, and the arena cold and empty? The atmosphere at Scottrade answered all those questions favorably.

Waiting in line at will call, a palpable murmur was slowly building among the several hundred excited Blues fans getting their tickets. A similar sense of anticipation prevailed walking through the arena's concourses, everyone dressed in blue and gold waiting anxiously for the game's beginning. Just as telling, the crowd settled into their seats in time for introductions and was ready to go as the puck dropped.

In all, the exciting, engaged, and all-encompassing feeling professional sports should have was evident at Scottrade. While far from a unique atmosphere, the fact that positive sense reverberates throughout the arena is no doubt a boon for the Blues experience.

Neighborhood    3

Though not in the most bustling portion of downtown St. Louis, the Scottrade Center is still within walking distance of numerous different bars and restaurants. Several parks sit on either side of the arena, too, though depending on the time of year being outside might not be appealing.

Though the area surrounding Scottrade is far from a detriment, it's also not a positive of the overall experience. There are several places to grab a quick bite or drink before or after the game, but if you want to make a night of it, head elsewhere.

Fans    3

Known as one of the most passionate and dedicated fan bases in the NHL, the crowd's size and enthusiasm in general was perhaps affected by the city's extreme and overwhelming interest in the St. Louis Cardinals' World Series chances during my visit in the fall of 2011.

Still, this was by no means a below average crowd. Several thousand seats were unoccupied, but you'd hardly know from how engaged Blues fans were during the game. They booed the referees, cheered big hits, and let out excited gasps in unison as play on the ice unfolded. The crowd was also well-versed in specific cheers and chants.

Overall, Blues fans seemed a run-of-the-mill type, solid crowd. For a fan base with the reputation as one of hockey's most raucous, their performance was met with relative disappointment, though one wonders how St. Louis' obsession with October baseball affected them.

Access    4

One of the nice things about attending a game at the Scottrade Center is how easily accessible it is by any method of transportation. Taking a cab? It sits right next to a major highway and is a small taxi fare away from anywhere in the St. Louis metro. Driving? There is a huge parking garage adjacent to Scottrade that houses over 1,200 spaces. Traveling by train? The local Amtrak station is within a few hundred yards of the arena's main entrance.

Once inside, making your way through the arena is just as easy as getting there. Scottrade's interior is encircled by wide hallways, accessed by several different escalators and elevators. Steps to the seats aren't too steep, and signs pointing you in the right direction dot the walls.

The only negative is that available parking, while prevalent, is costly. Be warned, too, that getting out of the parking garage after an event often takes longer than you'd like.

Return on Investment    4

There isn't a bad seat in an arena like the Scottrade Center, where good sight-lines are anything but at a premium. Tickets to a typical game are priced in line with the rest of the NHL, too. Considering the above-average atmosphere, awesome food, and easy access to the arena, you'll leave a Blues game knowing you got your money's worth.

Extras    1

The Scottrade Center is a typically well-updated and maintained arena for today's professional sports. In terms of any big aspect that makes it unique, though, it is lacking. Having said that, an additional point is awarded for the upscale offerings of food and drink. It's not everyone's style, obviously, but that the opportunity to enjoy prime rib while sipping on Cabernet is available is certainly worth noting.

You must be a Stadium Journey member to post a comment.

Already a member? Sign in or Create a Stadium Journey Account

-- OR --