The St. Louis Arena opened on September 23, 1929, at 5700 Oakland Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri, immediately claiming its place as the second-largest indoor entertainment center in the United States, surpassed only by New York’s Madison Square Garden. Designed by architects Gustel R. Kiewitt and Herman M. Sohrmann, the arena featured an innovative lamella roof supported by 20 cantilever steel trusses that eliminated obstructing interior pillars and created some of the finest sightlines of any major arena in the country.
Affectionately nicknamed ‘The Barn,’ the arena became the permanent home of the St. Louis Blues when the NHL expanded in 1967, hosting the team through three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances from 1968 to 1970. It briefly bore the name ‘Checkerdome’ from 1977 to 1983 after Ralston Purina purchased the Blues and the facility. After 65 years in operation, the arena closed on May 23, 1994, when the Blues moved to the new Kiel Center, and it was brought down in a controlled implosion on February 27, 1999.
Stats at a Glance
- Teams: St. Louis Blues (NHL, 1967–1994); Spirits of St. Louis (ABA, 1974–1976)
- Location: 5700 Oakland Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri
- Opened: September 23, 1929
- Closed: May 23, 1994
- Demolished: February 27, 1999
- Opening Capacity: 14,200
- Final Capacity: 17,188
- Notable Events: Three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals (1968–1970); NCAA Final Four (1973, 1978)
An Architectural Marvel of Its Era
When the St. Louis Arena opened in 1929, its engineering was considered cutting-edge. The distinctive lamella roof — an interlocking grid of short steel rafters — spanned the entire structure without interior columns, giving every seat an unobstructed view of the ice or floor. This design made The Barn beloved among fans and athletes alike and was regarded as an architectural showpiece for its time.
Built at a cost of $1.5 million, the arena stretched 476 feet long and 276 feet wide. Its initial capacity of 14,200 grew through various renovations over the decades, reaching a final hockey seating capacity of 17,188 by the late 1980s.
The Blues, the Checkerdome, and a Legacy of Big Moments
The arena’s greatest chapter came with the arrival of the St. Louis Blues in 1967. The team reached the Stanley Cup Finals in each of its first three seasons — 1968, 1969, and 1970 — all played at The Barn. Beyond hockey, the arena hosted the 1973 and 1978 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, the 1975 NCAA Frozen Four, and the 1970 and 1988 NHL All-Star Games, cementing its reputation as one of the country’s premier event venues.
When Ralston Purina purchased the Blues in 1977, the arena was rebranded the Checkerdome — a nod to the company’s well-known checkerboard logo — a name that stuck until 1983, when new ownership restored the original title. After the Blues departed for the new Kiel Center in 1994, the arena sat vacant for nearly five years before its implosion ended 70 years of St. Louis sports history.
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St. Louis Arena FAQs
Why was the St. Louis Arena called the Checkerdome?
The arena was renamed the Checkerdome in 1977 when the Ralston Purina Company — whose checkerboard logo was widely recognized — purchased the St. Louis Blues and the arena. The name lasted until 1983, when new owner Harry Ornest reverted to the original St. Louis Arena name.
When was the St. Louis Arena demolished?
The St. Louis Arena was demolished on February 27, 1999, in a controlled implosion. It had been closed since May 23, 1994, when the Blues moved to the new Kiel Center (now Enterprise Center).
Did the St. Louis Blues ever win the Stanley Cup at the arena?
No. Although the Blues reached three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals at The Barn in 1968, 1969, and 1970, they were swept in all three series — twice by the Montreal Canadiens and once by the Boston Bruins. The Blues did not win their first Stanley Cup until 2019.
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Photo: “Tichnor Quality Views,” Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. Made Only by Tichnor Bros., Inc., Boston, Mass. / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.