The Scottrade Center is a 19,000-seat sports and entertainment venue in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. It hosts nearly 200 events annually, including St. Louis Blues hockey games, concerts, ice shows, college basketball tournaments, and other sporting events.
Scottrade Center Parking
A covered, 1,300-space parking garage sits adjacent to the building, and numerous outdoor lots are within a couple of blocks. Plan to spend roughly 20 dollars to park in the main garage and 10-15 to park in one of the outer lots. If dropping someone off, head towards the short-term parking area at the 14th St entrance.
Hotels Near Scottrade Center
The Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark (across the street from nearby Busch Stadium) and the Doubletree by Hilton (at Union Station) both offer special rates for visitors in town for sporting events (ask about the STL Fan Appreciation Offer). The Sheraton (two blocks from Scottrade) is a more luxurious lodging. Kid-less adults looking for entertainment after dark frequently opt for Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel.
Seating at Scottrade Center
Before buying tickets, check out the "Seat Locator" feature on Scottrade Center's website for a sneak peek of the view from that section. Seating options range from full-service party boxes and luxury suites to nosebleed seats and standing-room-only passes.
Floor seats, which are often available for concerts and wrestling/boxing/MMA events, are closest to the action, but they aren't tiered, which is why many people prefer the Plaza Level seats in sections 101-126. Family restrooms are situated near sections 119 and 324.
Food at Scottrade Center
Most of the culinary offerings at Scottrade Center are standard sporting venue variety: hot dogs, nachos, burgers, chicken tenders, etc (in the $7-$10 range). Premium entrees (for closer to $12) include Philly cheese steak sandwiches, gourmet wraps and salads, and specialty foot-long dogs (the St. Louis Beer and Pretzel Dog, topped with bacon and beer cheese, is tough to beat). Concession stands and portable carts are spread throughout the arena. The Pepsi Party Plaza, a combination food court/sports bar, is on the Mezzanine level.
Beer at Scottrade Center
With Anheuser-Busch right down the street, it's no surprise that A-B products are well-represented at Scottrade Center. Seven dollars roughly will fetch you a 12-ounce A-B brew, with full-sized pints available for an extra couple bucks. Numerous portable and permanent bars serving hard liquor are situated on the Plaza and Mezzanine levels.
Parking Alternatives at Scottrade Center
Numerous bars in downtown St. Louis -– Maggie O'Brien's, Harry's, and Syberg's, to name a few -– offer shuttle service to and from the game for under $5. Another viable option is to hop aboard the Metrolink and exit at the Civic Center Station, right across the street from the arena. Many downtown hotels offer valet shuttle service to Scottrade as well.
What to Bring to Scottrade Center
Bring: umbrella strollers, binoculars, small posters/signs, smart phones, and warm clothing.
Don't bring: weapons, beverages, balloons, food, laser pointers, professional cameras (with detached lenses), or Blackhawks or Red Wings attire (kidding – sort of).
Insider Tip for Visitors to Scottrade Center
The "Stop and Play" rule is strongly enforced at Scottrade Center during hockey games. Wait until a break in the action before getting up from your seat or attempting to return to it. Those who break this sacred rule of hockey etiquette at Scottrade Center are liable to face the wrath of fans and staff alike.
Author's bio: Marcus Whelchel lives, works, and writes in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife and daughter. Those who know him best suspect he was hit in the head with a hockey puck.