The Dome at America's Center facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Dome at America's Center

The Dome
The Dome in 2006
Former names	Trans World Dome (1995–2001) 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°W / 38.63278; -90.18861
Public transit	Metrolink: Convention Center
Owner	St. Louis Regional Sports Authority
Operator	St. Louis Convention/Visitors Bureau
Executive suites	120
Capacity	Full stadium: 67,277 (such as for NFL games) Half stadium: 40,000 (such as for basketball games)
Surface	AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D (2010–present) FieldTurf (2005–2010) AstroTurf (1995–2004)
Construction
Broke ground	July 13, 1992; 32 years ago (July 13, 1992)
Opened	November 12, 1995; 29 years ago (November 12, 1995)
Renovated	2010
Construction cost	US$280 million ($538 million in 2022 dollars )
Architect	HOK Sport (now Populous) Kennedy Associates/Architects, Inc.
Project manager	J.S. Alberici Construction
Structural engineer	EDM Incorporated
Services engineer	Design Consulting Engineering Inc.
General contractor	M.A. Mortenson Company
Tenants
St. Louis Rams (NFL) (1995–2015) St. Louis BattleHawks (XFL) (2020)

The Dome at America's Center, often called "The Dome" or "The BattleDome," is a huge building in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It's a multi-purpose stadium used for many different things. People come here for big concerts, large meetings (conventions), and exciting sports events.

This building has had a few names over the years. From 1995 to 2001, it was known as the Trans World Dome. Then, from 2002 to 2016, it was called the Edward Jones Dome. The main reason it was built was to bring a professional football team back to St. Louis. It also serves as a large space for conventions.

The Dome's first main tenant was the National Football League's Los Angeles Rams. They moved to St. Louis for the 1995 NFL season. The Rams played in the Dome for 21 seasons, leaving after the 2015 NFL season to go back to Los Angeles. Later, the St. Louis BattleHawks of the revived XFL started playing games here in early 2020.

The Dome can be set up in different ways to hold many people. It can seat up to 82,624 people for some events. There are special areas like 120 private luxury suites and 6,400 club seats. The lower level has 28,352 seats, and the upper level has 29,400 seats. The Dome is part of the larger America's Center convention center. You can easily get to the stadium using the Convention Center MetroLink train station.

History of The Dome at America's Center

Building a New Stadium for St. Louis

In 1988, the St. Louis Cardinals football team moved to Arizona. This left St. Louis without an NFL team. The city wanted to get a new team. So, they suggested building a domed stadium. This stadium would also connect to the convention center. This would make the convention center much bigger.

The money for this project came from public bonds starting in 1989. Construction on The Dome began in 1992. St. Louis hoped to get a new NFL team called the St. Louis Stallions. However, in 1993, the league chose other cities for new teams.

Bringing the Rams to St. Louis

After not getting a new team, St. Louis still hoped to attract one. In 1995, Georgia Frontiere announced that she would move her Los Angeles Rams team to St. Louis. The Rams played their first few home games of the 1995 season at another stadium. The Dome was not ready yet.

The Rams' first game in The Dome was on Sunday, November 12, 1995. They won 28–17 against the Carolina Panthers. This was a big moment for St. Louis.

Upgrades and Changes to The Dome

Interior view prior to 2010 renovations

Interior view after 2010 renovations shown during a game

Interior view after 2010 renovations

The Dome got a $30 million update in 2009. This included new LED video screens and LED boards around the stadium. They also added new special areas for fans. Some parts of the Dome were painted in the Rams' team colors. In 2010, the Rams' locker room was rebuilt. New HD screens were installed throughout the Dome in 2011.

Before the 2010 season, the Dome also got a new playing field. It was a special turf surface made by AstroTurf. This turf could be rolled up and stored underground. The Dome had used a different turf brand from 2005 to 2009.

The Rams Leave St. Louis

The Dome had a problem with its lease agreement with the Rams. The lease said the Dome had to be among the top 25% of NFL stadiums. This was checked every 10 years. If it wasn't, the Rams could leave their lease.

Over time, fans and the public didn't like the Dome as much. Even after the 2010 updates, many websites ranked it low among NFL stadiums. People thought the outside looked bad. They also felt the inside was too big and empty, even when full.

In 2005, the Dome was no longer in the top 25%. The Rams could have left then. But they agreed to stay if the Dome got $30 million in updates. Both the Rams and city leaders knew the Dome needed major work. Otherwise, St. Louis might lose the team after 2015.

The Rams and the stadium operators talked about renovations in 2012. They couldn't agree. The Rams wanted a $700 million plan to rebuild much of the stadium. This would include a sliding roof. City officials said it was unlikely they could pay for such a big project.

In 2014, the Rams' owner, Stan Kroenke, bought land in Inglewood, California. He planned to build a new NFL stadium there. This made people think the Rams would move back to Los Angeles. St. Louis offered a new stadium plan to keep the Rams. However, the Inglewood stadium would be built without taxpayer money. This likely sealed the Rams' fate in St. Louis.

The last Rams game at The Dome was on December 17, 2015. They won 31–23. On January 12, 2016, the NFL approved the Rams' move to Los Angeles.

After the Rams left, Missouri taxpayers still had to pay for the stadium until 2021. The Dome is now mainly used for concerts and events. It still needs more upgrades to attract big events. These upgrades could cost around $300 million. They would help bring major concerts and sports events like college basketball tournaments to St. Louis.

Football Returns with the BattleHawks

On November 27, 2018, it was confirmed that the XFL would place one of its eight teams in St. Louis. This team, the St. Louis BattleHawks, would play five home games in the Dome in 2020. This was the first time professional football was played in St. Louis since the Rams left.

On December 5, 2018, the XFL announced St. Louis had been awarded a team. The Dome is the only XFL stadium with a roof. It is also one of two XFL stadiums located in a downtown city area.

The XFL agreed to pay a deposit and a fee for each game. The XFL gets all ticket money. The Dome gets all money from food and drinks. This contract was for three seasons. For XFL games, the upper level seats were not used. This brought the capacity down to about 30,000.

The first XFL game at the Dome was on February 23, 2020. The BattleHawks beat the New York Guardians 29–9. The attendance was 29,554, the highest in the XFL that day.

Naming Rights of The Dome

When it was being planned, the Dome was called The Dome at America's Center. In 1995, Trans World Airlines, an airline based in St. Louis, bought the rights to name the stadium. It was then called the Trans World Dome until 2001.

Logo as Edward Jones Dome, 2002–2016

After that, it briefly went back to being called The Dome at America's Center. Then, on January 25, 2002, Edward Jones Investments, a financial company in St. Louis, bought the naming rights. The stadium became the Edward Jones Dome.

For one night, on December 11, 2006, the stadium was renamed Russell Athletic Field. This was part of a deal with a sportswear company. After the St. Louis Rams moved to Los Angeles in 2016, Edward Jones ended its sponsorship. The building is now known again as The Dome at America's Center.

Exciting Events at The Dome

NFL Playoff Games

The Dome has hosted five important NFC playoff games. This includes the 1999 and 2001 NFC Championship Games. The St. Louis Rams won both of these games. The previous St. Louis NFL team never hosted a playoff game in the city.

Concerts and Music Shows

The Dome has been a popular place for many famous music artists to perform.

Professional Soccer Matches

The Dome has hosted exciting soccer games.

Date	Winning Team	Result	Losing Team	Tournament	Spectators
October 13, 2007	United States	5–1	Mexico	Women's Friendly	10,861
August 10, 2013	Real Madrid	3–0	Internazionale	Friendly	54,184

College Basketball Tournaments

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

In April 2005, the Edward Jones Dome hosted the 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four. Four top college teams played here. North Carolina won the championship game.

The Dome has also hosted the NCAA Men's Basketball Regional games four times. These are important games leading up to the Final Four.

College Football Games

The Dome hosted the first Big 12 Football Championship Game in 1996. It also hosted the game in 1998. The Dome has also been a neutral site for college football games between the University of Illinois and the University of Missouri. This rivalry is known as the "Arch Rivalry". Missouri has won all six games played here.

High School Football Championships

From 1996 to 2015, the Dome held the annual Missouri State High School Activities Association football championship games. These games are called the Show-Me Bowl. The Dome was chosen because it is an indoor stadium. This was good for games played in December. After the Rams left, the high school championships moved to other locations.

Other Exciting Events

2014 FIRST Robotics Competition game

• From 2011 to 2017, the Dome hosted the World Championship of the FIRST Robotics Competition. Teams from all over the world came to compete.
• The Dome hosts Monster Jam events every year. These shows feature huge monster trucks.
• In 1998, the Dome had the largest professional wrestling crowd in Missouri history. Nearly 30,000 people attended a live Monday Nitro event.
• Season 12 of the NBC show American Ninja Warrior was filmed at The Dome.

St. Louis Football Ring of Fame

The Dome honored former football players from St. Louis. This included players from both the Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams. Their names were shown on an overhang around the field. Bold names mean they are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

See also

In Spanish: The Dome at America's Center para niños