For more information, contact:
The St. Louis Sports Commission
314-992-0687
dbray@stlouissports.org

DOME AT AMERICA’S CENTER UNVEILS NEW BASKETBALL SEATING SETUP

NEW CONFIGURATION GIVES FACILITY PREMIER DOME HOOPS SETUP IN THE NATION

ST. LOUIS — Dec. 19, 2001 — The people have spoken and the Dome has listened. Striving to address fan feedback and make the venue a better facility for basketball special events, the Dome at America’s Center unveiled a new multimillion dollar basketball seating setup today. The project is intended to improve sightlines, provide a more intimate arena-like feel, and ultimately create a more basketball-friendly environment at the Dome.

"With this upgrade, we now have the best dome basketball setup in America," said Bob Bedell, president and CEO of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission. The CVC operates the Dome and America’s Center convention complex. "We’ve tried to be very responsive to input from fans, and we think the new setup will go a long way toward improving the fan experience and enhancing the atmosphere inside the Dome for basketball."

The specific physical measures undertaken as part of the seating reconfiguration are highlighted on the attached fact sheet. The most noteworthy changes include:

• Moving the court 13 feet closer to the south stands, bringing fans closer to the action.
• Increasing the rise between rows near the floor on the north and south sides 50 percent to maximize sightlines and make the best seats in the house truly the best seats in the house.
• Eliminating the gaps between sections on the floor — particularly behind the baskets and in corners — to provide additional floor-level seats and a more arena-like environment.
• Installing walkways to connect the Dome concourses with the temporary stands on the north side to provide fans easier access to their seats, restrooms and concession stands.

Money to cover the project’s $3.2 million cost came from the Dome’s capital improvement fund. And the investment is not just for basketball. In addition to improving the basketball environment inside the facility, the new seating setup also allows the Dome to accommodate convention groups of all sizes in an intimate setting.

"Owning this setup gives us a cost effective way to create an arena-like atmosphere for special events and conventions," Bedell said. "We now have the highest quality equipment for all of our future special event and convention customers in the Dome. We’ll get a lot of use out of this system. And with the cost ranging from a half-million dollars to $900,000 to ready domed stadiums for past Final Fours, it made complete sense to make this investment."

Three NCAA postseason men’s basketball events will be played at the Dome in the next four years: the 2002 South Region First/Second Rounds, the 2004 Midwest Regional and the 2005 Final Four. The Missouri Valley Conference serves as the host institution for those events.

"Because of the improvements in the seating setup, the Dome is now an even more attractive venue for NCAA Basketball events," said Doug Elgin, commissioner of the MVC and member of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee. "The NCAA places great value in coming to a facility that has one of the best dome basketball configurations in the country, and this ultimately enhances St. Louis’ opportunity to host future NCAA events beyond 2005."

St. Louis Sports Commission President Frank Viverito said: "While we realize it may not have the intimacy of a high school gymnasium or a small arena, the Dome can serve a worthy purpose when it comes to basketball — and inclusion is at the top of the list. As the largest indoor venue in the state, the Dome allows for the greatest number of fans to have access to basketball special events. It’s our hope that people see the Dome as an asset to our community, and opportunities to maximize its potential as a generator of excitement and economic activity in downtown should not be overlooked."

Since opening its doors in 1995, the Dome has hosted four college basketball special events: the SLU vs. Illinois Duel in the Dome in 1997, the Earth Grains Classic in 1998, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional in March 1999, and the SLU-Mizzou Bud Light Showdown in December 1999. The 1999 Midwest Regional set an all-time Regional attendance record of 42,519. The crowd of 32,429 for the SLU-Illinois game 1997 is the largest to see a regular season basketball game in Missouri.

Highlights of the Dome’s new basketball seating setup

Improved sightlines:

• The court has been moved 13 feet closer to the south stands, bringing fans closer to the action.
• The rise between rows near the floor on the north and south sides has increased 50 percent to maximize sightlines.
• 2,200 side court seats have been added to the Dome’s seating inventory on the north side.

More intimate feel:

• Gaps between sections on the floor — particularly behind the baskets and in the corners — have been eliminated to provide additional floor-level seats and a more arena-like environment.

More comfort:

• Fans seated in the first 11 rows on the north and south sides will find new chairs equipped with padded backs and seats and an attached cup holder.
• Folding chairs replace the rows of bleachers that were set up on the upper tier of the north side.

More convenience:

• Walkways have been installed to connect the Dome concourses with the temporary stands on the north side. This provides fans easier access to those seats, restrooms and concession stands, and limits congestion on the floor level.

What it all means:

• The seating reconfiguration makes the Dome at America’s Center the premier dome basketball setup in the nation.
• The best seats in the house will truly be the best seats in the house.

Why is the Dome installing a new basketball seating setup…

• The Dome has a great interest in meeting the needs of fans attending basketball special events in the facility and understands the importance of creating a basketball-friendly environment in order to maximize fan enjoyment.
• Prospective partners for Dome basketball special events — the NCAA, Missouri Valley Conference, and the athletic departments at Saint Louis University, University of Missouri and the University of Illinois — are proponents of the Dome reconfiguration and view it as a positive step toward making the facility an even more desirable place in which to play.
• Renting and shipping equipment for NCAA Basketball events and other more intimate dome uses was becoming cost-prohibitive. Owning the new higher quality seating setup is a cost-effective way to create an arena-like atmosphere for special events and conventions of all sizes. The investment goes beyond basketball.

Why play basketball at the Dome…

• Inclusion. As the largest indoor venue in the state, the Dome allows for the most number of fans to have access to major basketball events in St. Louis.
• The Dome is St. Louis’ ticket to attracting college basketball’s most prestigious and sought after events: the Men’s and Women’s Final Four plus other NCAA Tournament action. It’s also important to the NCAA that the Dome gains experience hosting basketball games during the regular season.
• The Dome is a great asset to the St. Louis region and opportunities to maximize its potential as a generator of excitement and economic activity in downtown should not be overlooked.