The Dome at America's Center facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Dome at America's Center

The Dome The BattleDome
The Dome in 2006
Former names	Trans World Dome (1995–2001) Edward Jones Dome (2002–2016)
Address	701 Convention Plaza
Location	St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Coordinates	38°37′58″N 90°11′19″W / 38.63278°N 90.18861°W / 38.63278; -90.18861
Public transit	Add→ Red Blue At 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 American football games) Half stadium: 40,000 (such as for basketball games)
Surface	AstroTurf RootZone 3D3 Series (2025-present) AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D (2010–2024) FieldTurf (2005–2010) AstroTurf (1995–2004)
Construction
Broke ground	July 13, 1992; 33 years ago (1992-07-13)
Opened	November 12, 1995; 29 years ago (1995-11-12)
Renovated	2009, 2010, 2024
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 (UFL) 2020, 2023–present

The Dome at America's Center is a huge building in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. It's used for many different things like concerts, big meetings, and sports games.

It used to be called the Trans World Dome from 1995 to 2001. Then it was known as the Edward Jones Dome from 2002 to 2016. The Dome was built mainly to bring a National Football League (NFL) team to St. Louis. It also serves as a large space for conventions.

The St. Louis Rams NFL team played here for 21 seasons, starting in 1995. They moved back to Los Angeles after the 2015 season. Now, the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League play their games here. Fans often call it the BattleDome.

The Dome can hold many people, up to 82,624 for some events. It has special areas like luxury suites and club seats. The stadium is connected to the America's Center convention center. You can get there easily by using the MetroLink train system.

Building Design and Look

The outside of the stadium is made of brick, limestone, and a special kind of concrete. These materials are colored to look like red sandstone. The goal was to make the building look more like an old public library or school, not just a stadium.

A Look Back: The Dome's History

The idea for the Dome started after the city's first football team, the Cardinals, left St. Louis in 1988. St. Louis wanted a new NFL team. They planned to build a domed stadium and connect it to the convention center. This would make the convention center much bigger.

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

After this, a St. Louis businessman tried to move the New England Patriots to the city. But the Patriots' stadium owner wouldn't let the team break its lease. So, the Patriots stayed in New England.

Finally, in 1995, the Los Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis. The team's owner, Georgia Frontiere, decided to bring the Rams to the city. The NFL owners initially voted against the move. But Frontiere threatened a lawsuit, and the league eventually agreed.

The Dome wasn't quite ready for the start of the 1995 season. The Rams played their first few home games at another stadium. Their first game in the Dome was on November 12, 1995. They won against the Carolina Panthers.

Stadium Upgrades and Changes

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 upgrade in 2009. This included new LED video screens for scores and messages. They also added new special areas for fans. Some of the paint inside was changed to the Rams' team colors.

In 2010, the Rams' locker room was rebuilt and moved to a different end of the stadium. In 2011, new high-definition monitors were put in throughout the Dome.

The playing field also got a new surface before the 2010 season. It was a special AstroTurf system that could be rolled up and stored. Before that, the Dome used a different type of turf called FieldTurf from 2005 to 2009.

The Rams Depart St. Louis

The Dome faced a big challenge because of the lease the Rams signed in 1995. 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 or stay year-to-year.

Over time, many people felt the Dome was not as good as other NFL stadiums. Even after the 2010 renovations, it often ranked low. Fans gave it low scores for things like tailgating and atmosphere.

By 2005, the Dome was no longer in the top 25%. The Rams agreed to stay after getting $30 million in renovations. But everyone knew the stadium needed a much bigger update to keep the team long-term.

The Rams and city leaders talked for years about major renovations. The Rams proposed a $700 million plan to rebuild much of the stadium. This included a sliding roof and new scoreboards. City officials said it was unlikely they could find public money for such a big project.

In 2014, the Rams' owner, Stan Kroenke, bought land in Inglewood, California. He announced plans to build a new NFL stadium there. This made many people think the Rams would move back to Los Angeles. St. Louis tried to counter with a plan for a new stadium by the riverfront. However, the Inglewood stadium was approved without taxpayer money, which was a big factor.

The last Rams game at the Dome was on December 17, 2015. They won against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On January 12, 2016, the NFL approved the Rams' move to Los Angeles.

After the Rams left, Missouri taxpayers continued to pay off the stadium's debt until 2021. The Dome is still used for concerts and events. There are talks about spending up to $300 million for more upgrades. These upgrades would help attract big concerts, conventions, and major sporting events like college basketball tournaments.

Football Returns with the BattleHawks

Professional football returned to the Dome in 2020. The new XFL league placed one of its eight teams, the St. Louis Battlehawks, in St. Louis. Their home games are played at the Dome.

The Dome is one of only two XFL stadiums with a roof. It's also one of five XFL stadiums located in a downtown city area. The XFL and the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission signed a contract for three seasons. The XFL pays a fee for each game and gets all ticket money. The CVC gets all money from food and drinks.

The first XFL game at the Dome was on February 23, 2020. The BattleHawks beat the New York Guardians. Almost 30,000 fans attended, which was the highest attendance in the XFL at the time.

For the 2023 season, the Battlehawks opened more seating areas due to high demand. Their home opener on March 11, 2023, set a new XFL attendance record with 38,310 fans.

Stadium Names Over Time

When it was being planned, the stadium was called The Dome at America's Center. In 1995, Trans World Airlines bought the rights to name the stadium. It became the Trans World Dome until 2001.

Logo as Edward Jones Dome, 2002–2016

After that, it went back to being The Dome at America's Center for a short time. Then, on January 25, 2002, Edward Jones Investments, a financial company from St. Louis, bought the naming rights. It was known as the Edward Jones Dome until 2016.

For one night in 2006, the stadium was briefly called Russell Athletic Field. This was part of a deal with a sportswear company.

When the Rams moved to Los Angeles in 2016, Edward Jones ended its sponsorship. The stadium has been known as The Dome at America's Center ever since.

Exciting Events at The Dome

The Dome has hosted many memorable events over the years.

NFL Playoff Games

The Dome hosted five NFL playoff games. This included the 1999 and 2001 NFC Championship Games. The Rams won both of those games. The city's previous NFL team, the St. Louis Cardinals, never hosted a playoff game in St. Louis.

UFL Playoff and Championship Games

The Dome has hosted exciting UFL playoff games. In 2024, the St. Louis Battlehawks played in the XFL Conference Championship game here.

The Dome also hosted the 2024 UFL Championship Game. The UFL chose St. Louis because of its strong fanbase for spring football. The Birmingham Stallions won the championship in front of over 27,000 fans. The Dome is also set to host the 2025 UFL championship game.

Concerts and Music Events

The Dome has been a popular spot for major concerts by famous artists.

Professional Soccer Matches

The Dome has hosted international soccer games.

Date	Winning Team	Result	Losing Team	Tournament	Spectators
October 13, 2007	United States women	5–1	Mexico women	Women's International Friendly	10,861
August 10, 2013	Real Madrid	3–0	Internazionale	Club Friendly	54,184
May 30, 2014	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2–1	Ivory Coast	Road to Brazil	14,101

College Basketball Tournaments

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

In April 2005, the Dome hosted the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four. Four top college teams competed, and North Carolina won the championship game.

The Dome has also hosted NCAA Men's Basketball Regional games four times. These are important games leading up to the Final Four. Many exciting matches have taken place here, with teams like Kansas, Florida, and North Carolina competing.

College Football Games

The University of Missouri vs The University of Memphis at The Dome at America's Center. Sep 23, 2023

The Dome hosted the first Big 12 Championship Game in 1996. It also hosted the game again in 1998. It has been a neutral site for games between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Missouri Tigers. This rivalry was known as the "Arch Rivalry". Missouri won all six games played here.

In 2023, the University of Missouri football team returned to St. Louis. They played the Memphis Tigers in front of over 45,000 fans and won. This game was part of a new series to bring Mizzou athletic events to St. Louis.

High School Football Championships

From 1996 to 2015, the Dome hosted the annual Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) football championship games. These games, called the Show-Me Bowl, were held indoors in December. After the Rams left, the MSHSAA moved the championships to other locations.

Legends of the Dome Game

On July 23, 2016, a special charity flag football game was held. It was hosted by the Isaac Bruce Foundation. Many former Rams players from the "Greatest Show on Turf" era came back to play. This included stars like Kurt Warner and Torry Holt. The game raised money for charity and brought back great memories for fans.

Religious Gatherings

The Dome hosts many large religious conferences.

• It was the site of the biggest indoor gathering in United States history on January 27, 1999. Pope John Paul II held a mass there, with over 104,000 people attending.
• In 1999, Rev. Billy Graham held a crusade with over 200,000 people attending over four days.
• The Dome has hosted the International Holy Convocation of the Church of God in Christ several times. It will return in 2026.
• The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Urbana missions conference was held here every three years from 2006 to 2018.
• The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) held its General Conference here in 2009.
• The Dome hosted the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) annual SEEK conference in 2023 and 2024, with nearly 20,000 attendees each time.

North American Youth Congress

North American Youth Congress 2023 during the Thursday evening service on July 27.

The Dome has hosted the North American Youth Congress (NAYC) twice. This is a large gathering for young people from the United Pentecostal Church International. Over 36,000 attended in 2019, and over 33,000 attended in 2023.

Indoor Dirt Track Racing

The Dome hosts the Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals. This event features dirt track racing with late model and modified cars. A special 1/5-mile dirt track is built inside the Dome for the races. It's the largest indoor oval dirt track in the United States.

Other Fun 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 with their robots.
• The Dome hosts the Music for All Bands of America St. Louis Super-Regional championships every year.
• It has hosted an AMA Supercross Championship round since 1996.
• In 1998, the Dome held the largest pro wrestling crowd in Missouri history for a WCW event.
• The Dome hosts Monster Jam events every year, where monster trucks perform stunts.
• In 2022, the Dome hosted the WWE Royal Rumble event. It set a record attendance for a WWE event in the building with 44,390 fans.

St. Louis Football Hall of Fame

The Dome honored former football players from both the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams. Their names were displayed 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