The City of Maryland Heights, the St. Louis Legacy Ice Foundation and the St. Louis Blues today broke ground on the St. Louis Community Ice Center. The brand new, state-of-the-art facility, located at 750 Casino Center Dr., will feature four NHL-sized ice sheets, including a covered outdoor rink designed as a multi-purpose venue for concerts, festivals and other events. The primary tenants and major capital partners of the St. Louis Community Ice Center will include the St. Louis Blues, the St. Louis Blues Alumni, Lindenwood University, the St. Louis Blues AAA program and the St. Louis Lady Cyclones. Overall, the facility projects to attract more than 1 million visitors and drive over 16,000 hotel nights to deliver an estimated $20 million economic impact on an annual basis. In addition, the St. Louis Blues announced the organization will invest $100,000 in the new rink development project in Chesterfield, as well as $10,000 annually in each youth hockey organization that is a part of the Blues Youth Hockey Membership Club.
“Construction of the St. Louis Community Ice Center is a major step forward in the City’s overall development of the Maryland Park Lake District as an environmentally responsible community of recreation, sports, entertainment, hospitality and lifestyle amenities,” said Mike Moeller, Mayor of Maryland Heights. “This ice sports complex fits perfectly into our vision of the Lake District as a catalyst for regional growth and development. We are excited by what the future holds for this area.”
“With over 10 organizations coming together in partnership on this project, this facility is truly a symbol of the strength of the St. Louis community,” said St. Louis Legacy Ice Foundation Chairman Patrick Quinn. “Today is a pivotal moment for the growth and development of hockey in our region and the fulfillment of this process is a representation of what hockey is all about: teamwork, determination, leadership and perseverance.”
The St. Louis Community Ice Center is a $78 million project funded through a public-private partnership with support from the City of Maryland Heights, St. Louis County and the State of Missouri. The facility will span 277,000 square feet across approximately 25 acres. In addition to on-ice activity, Mercy Healthcare will offer sports medicine, therapy, training and other ancillary medical services through an on-site space. The ice center will also house retail and restaurant spaces as well as concourses and support facilities. The facility will be managed by the St. Louis Legacy Ice Foundation as part of a 30-year agreement with the City of Maryland Heights, who will own the facility upon completion.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome the St. Louis Community Ice Center to the grounds of the Hollywood Casino,” said Michael Jerlecki, Vice President and General Manager of Hollywood Casino St. Louis. “This is a great partnership with the City of Maryland Heights, the St. Louis Blues and the St. Louis Legacy Ice Foundation that will be a catalyst for development of the Lake District and a tremendous asset to the community.”
“We are beyond excited to get this project underway,” said Blues President and CEO of Business Operations, Chris Zimmerman. “The St. Louis Community Ice Center is the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people and serves to advance our efforts to continue to grow the game of hockey throughout St. Louis and our region as a whole.”
The St. Louis Community Ice Center is the premier development initiative included in the St. Louis Blues’ ‘Hockey STL 2020’ campaign. Overall, the campaign aims to bring the St. Louis community together through the game of hockey. The ice center represents a regional movement to engage more youth in skating and ice sports at an early age. Its construction fills a major need in the St. Louis community and will provide the support and resources necessary to continue to foster the growth of hockey and the health and well-being of the region’s youth.
