November 15, 2023
A Family Arena facelift
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United Services for Children celebrates new location. Pg. 3 Fort Zumwalt seniors earn National Merit recognition. Pg.3
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Automobilre Alley, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1 CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3 Photo by Karl Lund The Family Arena, located at 2002 Arena Parkway, is set to receive some needed renovation over the course of the next 12 months. If the county council approves the upgrades as requested, the arena will receive $10.5 million in renovations over the next four years.
Moore On Life & Crossword. Pg. F-4
The Family Arena is St. Charles County’s largest event venue and looks to add $10.5 million in renovations over the next four years
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By Brett Auten Much like the rest of us, The Family Arena is in need of a little self-care. For nearly 25 years, the arena has rocked and rolled, played host to every type of niche event you can think of and, as of late, been the home to nearly 30 high school graduations. That wear and tear has started to show and the arena, which is owned by St. Charles County, has already began some of the improvements. Located at 2002 Arena Parkway (formerly the South River Road) in St. Charles, the arena’s prime location has been a big part of its draw. It is just 1.5 miles south of the 5th Street Exit at Interstate 70 and is less than eight miles from Lambert International Airport.
The Family Arena opened in 1999 and hosts 125-plus events per year. With the ability to seat up to 11,000 people, it is the largest event venue in the county and home to an indoor pro soccer team, the St. Louis Ambush and a multitude of concerts from an array of artists. “These are very core things,” Tom O’Keefe, advertising and booking manager with The Family Arena, said. “They are much needed and we are very excited about them.” The state of the seats is often the biggest complaint when it comes from patrons. A perusal of the Google reviews highlight such a need. So the most noticeable upgrade will be for the $3 million-plus arena seats. “The biggest complaint we get is that the seats are dirty, when they’re really not,” O’Keefe said. “They are just stained from
years and years of use. They look dirty no matter what we do.” The new, retractable seats will make things much more efficient when the need for more floor space is needed and the ease in which to do it will cut labor costs as well. Other potential upgrades include a new heating and cooling system and for LED-powered concourse signs. The arena’s roof is leaking and past its useful life span, with three of the five lower sections of roof needing replacement. The existing dome will be repaired and the addition of LED-powered lights in the parking lot will help save money. If the county council approves the upgrades, the arena will receive $10.5 million See ‘FACELIFT’ page 2
Serving St. Louis, St. Charles and Lincoln Counties | FREE Online at mycnews.com | Vol. 25 No. 46 | 636-379-1775
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