NFL/MLS Stadium A Better Fit In St. Clair County Illinois
It was recently suggested by former St. Louis Mayor Vince Schoemehl that a new NFL/MLS stadium be built across the river in Illinois. Over the last few years I’ve thought this as well, regular reader & prolific commenter “JZ71” has mentioned several times building a stadium specifically between the approaches to the MLK & Eads bridges. It would be visible from downtown St. Louis and be located adjacent to an existing MetroLink light rail station. I’ve thought that was too tight but knew there’s lots of vacant land there awaiting new use.
In June I got married at the beautiful Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park — directly across from the Arch — maybe South of there? Or to the North of the MLK bridge approach? Looking at maps and serial images only gets you so far, so Saturday afternoon I drove around checking out the Metro East riverfront/bottoms.
I crossed the river on the Eads Bridge since it was direct, I quickly ruled out the land to the South of the Martin Memorial/geyser because of access issues and future CityArchRiver plans, wildlife, etc. So then I looked at the space between the Eads & MLK approaches — as I suspected it appears way too tight for a stadium with enough buffer to keep the bridges open game days.
![Looking South on Front St with the MLK in the foreground, the Eads in the background, and the Arch to the right](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/estl-frontst00.jpg)
![Looking East from Front St, the MLK approach is to the left just out of view, the Eads approach on the right](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/estl-frontst01.jpg)
![Just North of the MLK bridge approach](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/estl-frontst02.jpg)
![Looking East at a gravel road. More on this later in this post.](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/estl-frontst03.jpg)
![East St. Louis Police shooting range head](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/estl-frontst04.jpg)
![Presumably this 80 year old pumping station is still operational](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/estl-frontst05.jpg)
![Very quickly the new SMVMB is in view past the levee](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/estl-frontst06.jpg)
![Industry at the end of the road, no access to I-70 or the new bridge -- yet.](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/estl-frontst07.jpg)
![Looking back at St. Louis across the Mississippi River](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/estl-frontst08.jpg)
So access here kinda sucks too — but not for long. Since it opened in February 2014 I’ve driven across the new Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge (I-70) many times, but this weekend was my first seeing how it connected to IL Route 3. Later this year will mark 25 years I’ve lived in St. Louis, I know the region pretty well, including the Metro East — but the new I-70 approach to the new bridge is very different than it has been. Connectivity is greatly improved and will get better.
![The new I-70/Route 3 interchange has the start of a road heading toward the East St. Louis riverfront](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ili70rte3-01.jpg)
![It's unfinished but will soon provide easy access to the Casino Queen, Malcolm Martin Memorial, and anything else built here.](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ili70rte3-02.jpg)
![The blue line marks where the road will continue. Image from the New Bridge gallery, click to view.](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ili70rte3-03.jpg)
![Aerial shows how the new I-70/iL Route 3 interchange will connect to Riverpark Dr leading Front St.](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ili70rte3-04.jpg)
This is within St. Clair County, an analysis of future MetroLink light rail expansion into neighboring Madison County four of seven possible alignments would pass by to the East along the Route 3 corridor. Additionally transportation officials are working to improve Amtrak speeds between Alton & St. Louis while also considering a new stop in St. Clair County. No historic buildings/districts razed, fewer/no businesses/residents displaced.
A new NFL/MLS stadium, light rail expansion into Madison County, and an Amtrak stop could transform this area and further connect the St. Louis region. Sorry Gov Nixon, Illinois make much more sense!
— Steve Patterson