1992

In 1992, the design of the major building systems was completed for a facility with 1.7 million square feet of finished space, two 726-foot north-south roof trusses, five 600-foot east-west roof trusses, a moveable overhead light grid, a retractable playing surface to ease transition between football configuration and other uses, 180,000 square feet of exhibition space, ample restroom facilities with male/female parity, a roof area of 529,000 square feet covering more than 12 acres, 17,500 lighting fixtures, 2 million pounds of sheet metal ductwork, 1.3 million bricks, 600,000 concrete blocks, a floor grid on a 30-inch pattern allowing vendors access to water, compressed air, electricity, and telephone hookup, and enough wire and cable to extend from St. Louis to Joplin, Missouri, and back; on June 13, formal groundbreaking was held and site preparation began, and the completion date was accelerated from May 1996 to October 25, 1995, to accommodate part of the 1995 NFL football season.

St. Louis, Missouri · United States