Energizer Park

In February 2016, MLS began the search for a downtown site to house a soccer-specific stadium. One of the locations surveyed had previously been intended for a stadium for the St. Louis Rams before the team moved back to Los Angeles.{{cite web|last1=Hunn|first1=David|title=Major League Soccer to begin search for downtown St. Louis stadium site immediately|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/major-league-soccer-to-begin-search-for-downtown-st-louis/article_f3a1bf60-36c5-5c35-b25d-9fded19aef89.html|website=stltoday.com|date=February 5, 2016 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}

On February 17, an exploratory group of local businessmen calling itself "MLS2STL" formed with the goal of bringing an MLS franchise to St. Louis. Among its members were St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III, UniGroup President Jim Powers, St. Louis Blues CEO Chris Zimmerman, Saint Louis FC owner Jim Kavanaugh and Dave Peacock, former president of Anheuser-Busch who had recently co-chaired the unsuccessful NFL stadium task force.{{cite web|last1=Hunn|first1=David|title=Local business leaders form Major League Soccer exploration group|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/local-business-leaders-form-major-league-soccer-exploration-group/article_ad12f69f-8606-558a-a624-68f6ddcdb8b6.html|website=stltoday.com|date=February 17, 2016 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}

On November 18, a proposal for a $200 million stadium, to be built on {{convert|30|acre}} of land owned by the Missouri Department of Transportation, was unveiled. The land was the site of off-ramps from Interstate 64 that were the remnants of a North-South Distributor Highway that was never built.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/archives/those-soon-to-close-highway-ramps-are-remnants-of-a/article_d0933721-fe5f-5827-9876-fa393c40aaaf.html|title=Those soon-to-close Highway 40 ramps are remnants of a never-built north-south highway|last=O'Malley|first=Beth|website=STLtoday.com|date=January 31, 2020 |language=en|access-date=March 6, 2020}} The proposal included a request for $80 million in public money, not counting potential additional land purchases.{{cite web|last1=Faulk|first1=Mike|title=MLS group reveals plan for $200 million stadium downtown|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/mls-group-reveals-plan-for-million-stadium-downtown/article_f4c2d44b-ae03-5fd7-8ba6-da41d28f976d.html|website=stltoday.com|date=November 18, 2016 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|access-date=April 7, 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Clancy|first1=Sam|title=MLS reaches verbal agreement to bring expansion team to St. Louis|url=http://www.ksdk.com/sports/soccer/mls-reaches-verbal-agreement-to-bring-expansion-team-to-st-louis/353574938|publisher=KDSK|access-date=April 7, 2017|archive-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927002454/http://www.ksdk.com/sports/soccer/mls-reaches-verbal-agreement-to-bring-expansion-team-to-st-louis/353574938|url-status=dead}} At the same time, the full prospective ownership group was also unveiled, led by Paul Edgerley, the former managing director of Bain Capital in Boston, and including Peacock, Powers, and Kavanaugh from the original exploratory group.{{cite web|last1=Straus|first1=Brian|title=Prospective St. Louis MLS expansion team names ownership group|url=https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2016/11/17/st-louis-mls-expansion-ownership-group|website=si.com|publisher=Sports Illustrated|access-date=April 7, 2017}}{{cite web|title=MLS OWNERSHIP EXECUTIVES BACKGROUIND (sic)|url=http://www.saintlouisfc.com/mls/MLS_Ownership_Group|publisher=St. Louis FC|access-date=April 7, 2017|archive-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826032313/http://saintlouisfc.com/mls/MLS_Ownership_Group|url-status=dead}}

On December 19, Missouri governor-elect Eric Greitens came out against any public funding for the project, calling it "nothing more than welfare for millionaires."{{cite web|title=Missouri's governor-elect: St. Louis MLS stadium plan is 'welfare for millionaires'|url=https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2016/12/19/st-louis-mls-expansion-stadium-funding-governor-elect|website=Planet Futbol|publisher=Sports Illustrated|access-date=April 7, 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Coreschi|first1=Colton|title=Missouri Governor-elect opposes public funding for St. Louis MLS stadium|date=December 19, 2016 |url=http://sbisoccer.com/2016/12/missouri-governor-elect-opposes-public-funding-for-st-louis-mls-stadium|publisher=SBI|access-date=April 7, 2017}} Edgerley said that without public funding, it would be "hard to get" an expansion franchise in St. Louis.{{cite web|last1=Ortiz|first1=Jose de Jesus|title=Ortiz: Would $80 million derail MLS expansion in St. Louis?|url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/jose-de-jesus-ortiz/ortiz-would-million-derail-mls-expansion-in-st-louis/article_622a7e38-0102-5156-8d5c-927ac943c688.html|website=stltoday.com|date=December 2016 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|access-date=April 7, 2017}} A competing prospective ownership group, Foundry St. Louis, offered to pay the $80 million public portion if they were allowed to join SC STL's bid for MLS expansion.{{cite web|title=Second St. Louis group criticizes public financing of MLS stadium|url=http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3007520/second-st-louis-group-criticizes-public-financing-of-mls-stadium|website=espnfc.com|date=November 29, 2016 |publisher=ESPN|access-date=April 7, 2017}} SC STL later asked for $40 million in state funds, but Greitens reiterated his opposition to any public contribution from the state, either tax credits or direct subsidy.{{cite web|last1=Faulk|first1=Mike|title=Greitens: 'I have completely ruled out state funding for stadiums'|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/greitens-i-have-completely-ruled-out-state-funding-for-stadiums/article_f8a545d1-be13-5239-a034-4fa4c39b1462.html|website=stltoday.com|date=January 3, 2017 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|access-date=April 7, 2017}}

The project was endangered in January 2017 when Alderwoman Christine Ingrassia withdrew the proposal to put the $80 million public contribution to a vote.{{cite web|title=St. Louis bid to join MLS in doubt as stadium funding plan is dropped|url=http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/3036074/st-louis-bid-to-join-mls-in-doubt-as-stadium-funding-plan-is-dropped|website=ESPN FC|date=January 10, 2017 |publisher=ESPN|access-date=April 7, 2017}} Ingrassia said that SC STL was "asking for way more than I feel like we could support here in the city."{{cite web|last1=Faulk|first1=Mike|last2=Addo|first2=Koran|title=St. Louis soccer stadium funding bill is dead|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/st-louis-soccer-stadium-funding-bill-is-dead/article_c11e7ffa-7fc6-59bf-aa51-85f63f85bc33.html|website=stltoday.com|date=January 11, 2017 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|access-date=April 7, 2017}}

By the end of January, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen revised the stadium bill, this time with a public contribution reduced to $60 million.{{cite web|last1=Faulk|first1=Mike|title=New life emerges for St. Louis soccer stadium|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/st-louis-bid-for-soccer-team-back-in-play-after/article_e86ec674-e480-5b4e-baa7-f3119992bd19.html|website=stltoday.com|date=January 27, 2017 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|access-date=April 7, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Aldermen fine-tune new soccer stadium funding plan; vote down Scottrade renovations|url=http://fox2now.com/2017/01/30/aldermen-to-fine-tune-new-soccer-stadium-funding-plan/|website=fox2now.com|date=January 30, 2017 |publisher=Fox 2 St. Louis|access-date=April 7, 2017}} It was passed on February 3, after the 10-week statutory cutoff before the public vote, requiring a judge's approval to be placed on the ballot. That approval came on February 9, when St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Michael Mullen issued a ruling allowing the city election board to add two funding measures to the city ballot.{{cite web|last1=Rosenbaum|first1=Jason|title=Judge paves way for St. Louis soccer stadium, MetroLink initiatives on April ballot|date=February 9, 2017 |url=http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/judge-paves-way-st-louis-soccer-stadium-metrolink-initiatives-april-ballot|publisher=St. Louis Public Radio|access-date=April 7, 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Faulk|first1=Mike|title=Judge puts St. Louis soccer stadium, MetroLink expansion tax on ballot|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/judge-puts-st-louis-soccer-stadium-metrolink-expansion-tax-on/article_1bdad181-0a02-5ad8-80f5-16ef201b1bc3.html|website=stltoday.com|date=February 10, 2017 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|access-date=April 7, 2017}}

With the city contribution on its way to the voters, SC STL formally applied for an MLS franchise on January 31, 2017.{{cite web|title=St. Louis Ownership Group Applies for MLS Franchise|url=http://saintlouisfc.com/mls/St._Louis_MLS_Application|publisher=St. Louis FC|access-date=April 7, 2017|archive-date=July 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708174155/http://www.saintlouisfc.com/mls/St._Louis_MLS_Application|url-status=dead}}

The stadium proposal was brought to a public vote on the April 4, 2017, general municipal ballot, where it was defeated 53 to 47 percent.{{cite web|title=Measure for public funding for MLS stadium defeated in St. Louis|url=https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/04/05/st-louis-mls-stadium-proposal-rejected|website=si.com|date=April 5, 2017 |publisher=Sports Illustrated|access-date=April 7, 2017}} This defeat was seen as being potentially fatal to SC STL's efforts to bring MLS to St. Louis.{{cite web|title=Stadium Measure's Defeat Likely Ends St. Louis' MLS Chances|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/04/05/us/ap-soc-mls-st-louis-stadium.html|work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |access-date=April 7, 2017}} However, there were reports indicating that St. Louis' bid for an MLS franchise was still active.{{cite web|title=St. Louis' bid for an MLS franchise still active|date=September 4, 2017 |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/soccer/st-louis-bid-for-an-mls-franchise-still-active/article_6015e9ee-a033-5865-8efa-4a60b4ac7c8f.html|publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |access-date=September 4, 2017}}

On October 9, 2018, the group "MLS 4 The Lou" announced a new proposal to build a soccer-specific stadium on the same land next to Union Station.{{Cite web|url=https://mls4thelou.com/|title=MLS4THELOU|website=mls4thelou.com|language=en-US|access-date=November 28, 2018|archive-date=December 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218072448/http://mls4thelou.com/|url-status=dead}} The new ownership group was led by the Taylor family, founders of St. Louis based Enterprise Holdings, and Jim Kavanaugh, CEO of St. Louis based World Wide Technology and USL Championship side Saint Louis FC owner. The Taylor family members forming the group would make the team majority-owned by women, the first in the league and one of few ownership groups majority-controlled by women in all of professional sports.{{Cite news|url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/soccer-gets-another-shot-in-st-louis-as-family-that/article_f77a29a7-9a97-577e-84ea-92107ace964c.html|title=Soccer gets another shot in St. Louis as family that owns Enterprise launches bid for MLS team|last=Barker|first=Jacob|work=stltoday.com|access-date=November 28, 2018|language=en}} Given Kavanaugh's stake in both the MLS bid and Saint Louis FC, many people assumed that the new MLS team would inherit the Saint Louis FC identity, similar to other recent MLS expansions. However, the team ownership group clarified that this would not be the case.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=MLS 4 The Lou|url=https://mls4thelou.com/faq/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718040957/https://mls4thelou.com/faq/ |archive-date=July 18, 2020 |access-date=|website=}}

Unlike previous proposals, the ownership group did not ask for any public funding for the stadium. The stadium would be privately funded and owned by the team, with upkeep funded by a tax on tickets and items sold at the stadium. Despite the lack of up-front public financing, the group did receive over $60 million in tax incentives from St. Louis, in the form of amusement and real-estate tax breaks, among other tax considerations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/st-louis-board-oks-additional-tax-at-citypark/article_c51feddc-e20f-11ee-8870-2f47f10cc4d7.html |title=St. Louis board OKs additional tax at CityPark |last=Kukuljan |first=Steph |website=stltoday.com |language=en |date=March 14, 2024 |access-date=April 18, 2024}}

The proposal had widespread support from public officials, including Missouri Governor Mike Parson, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, and former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/soccer-gets-another-shot-in-st-louis-as-family-that/article_f77a29a7-9a97-577e-84ea-92107ace964c.html|title=Soccer gets another shot in St. Louis as family that owns Enterprise launches bid for MLS team|last=Barker|first=Jacob|website=stltoday.com|date=October 10, 2018 |language=en|access-date=April 10, 2019}} The bid met all of the criteria put forth by MLS, including a solid financial backing, local government support, a strong soccer fan base, and a downtown Soccer-specific stadium with access to public transit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/03/14/mls-commissioner-don-garber-visits-expansion-candidate-st-louis|title=MLS Commissioner Don Garber visits expansion candidate St. Louis|last=Rodriguez|first=Alicia|website=MLS Soccer|access-date=April 9, 2019}}

On April 18, 2019, the MLS Board of Governors approved a proposal to expand to 30 teams.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/04/18/mls-announces-plans-expand-30-teams|title=MLS announces plans to expand to 30 teams|last=MLSsoccer Staff|date=April 18, 2019}} This was followed shortly by the release of new stadium renderings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/st-louis-soccer-stadium-shapes-up-as-a-sleek-square/article_48d3d8f6-9994-5938-8390-be91f27a810d.html|title=St. Louis soccer stadium shapes up as a sleek square, first renderings show|last=Hunn|first=David|website=stltoday.com|date=April 21, 2019 |language=en|access-date=April 22, 2019}} On August 20, 2019, MLS announced it had approved St. Louis as the league's 28th franchise with the team expected to join in the 2023 season. Construction on the stadium site began in February 2020 with the closure of the exit 39 and 38B ramps off I-64 that crossed the site.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/five-highway-i--ramps-to-close-permanently-on-feb/article_6c311c99-c464-5506-8296-a994c1c724c3.html|title=Five Highway 40 (I-64) ramps to close permanently on Feb. 3 for new soccer stadium|author=Staff reports|website=STLtoday.com|date=January 24, 2020 |language=en|access-date=March 6, 2020}}

On February 15, 2022, a fifteen-year partnership with Centene Corporation was announced, renaming the stadium to Centene Stadium.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/st-louis-city-sc-will-play-soccer-at-centene-stadium/article_885f07a1-570c-542a-adaf-db4efadee5d6.html|title=St. Louis City SC will play soccer at Centene Stadium |author=Steph Kukuljan |website=STLtoday.com|language=en|access-date=February 15, 2022}}

The stadium was due to open in September 2022 with two scheduled matches featuring St. Louis City 2, St. Louis City's developmental squad, but a power failure caused by an unrelated construction project forced the matches to be moved and for the stadium opening to be delayed.{{cite news |last1=Cummings |first1=Travis |title=St. Louis City SC matches relocated as power issue at Centene Stadium continues |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2022/09/21/st-louis-city-sc-matches-relocated-power-issue.html |access-date=October 25, 2022 |work=St. Louis Business Journal |date=October 25, 2022}}

On October 25, 2022, St. Louis City SC announced that the name was to be changed to CityPark.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stlcitysc.com/news/our-city-our-home?app=true|title=Our City Our Home | website=stlcitysc.com |language=en|access-date=October 25, 2022}} Centene, which had been looking to cut costs, backed out as the naming rights sponsor eight months after agreeing to the deal. The club announced that Centene would remain as a sponsor and that it would be searching for a new naming sponsor.{{cite news|url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/centene-backs-out-of-st-louis-soccer-stadium-naming-deal/article_6a6310e3-0e4e-5263-934b-c3f8330c1b58.html|title=Centene backs out of St. Louis soccer stadium naming deal|first=Annika|last=Marrilees|author2=Kukujan, Steph|website=stltoday.com|date=October 25, 2022|access-date=October 25, 2022}}

The stadium opened on November 16 with a friendly match between St. Louis City 2 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen of the German Bundesliga.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/business-journal/st-louis-city-sc-host-first-match-citypark-stadium/63-94372f87-2a3d-43ca-9ad0-941898f0d83b|title=With power restored at its stadium, here's when St. Louis City SC will host its first match there |first=Nathan |last=Rubbelke |publisher=KSDK |website=ksdk.com |language=en |date=October 27, 2022|access-date=October 31, 2022}} Leverkusen won 3–0.

The first home MLS match for St. Louis City SC was played March 4, 2023, hosting Charlotte FC. The first MLS goal scored in the stadium was scored in the 25th minute for Charlotte by Enzo Copetti; the match ended in a 3–1 win for St. Louis City SC, with goals scored by Eduard Löwen and João Klauss for City SC, in addition to an own-goal scored by Charlotte's Bill Tuiloma.{{cite news |last=Timmermann |first=Tom |date=March 4, 2023 |title=Home sweet home: City SC opens CityPark with 3-1 win over Charlotte |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/soccer/professional/home-sweet-home-city-sc-opens-citypark-with-3-1-win-over-charlotte/article_b56b28e4-5c76-5a87-8c0d-2ff13c2987ed.html |work=St. Louis Dispatch |accessdate=June 15, 2023}}

On October 31, 2024, St. Louis City SC announced that CityPark will be renamed Energizer Park starting in 2025. Energizer, a St. Louis-based company that manufactures batteries, signed a naming rights agreement for an undisclosed fee and length of time. Along with the naming rights, the club announced a new premium seating section in the stadium, presented by Energizer to deliver an 'immersive fan experience'.{{cite news |url=https://www.stlcitysc.com/news/st-louis-city-sc-will-welcome-soccer-fans-to-energizer-park-in-2025 |title=ST. LOUIS CITY SC WILL WELCOME SOCCER FANS TO ENERGIZER PARK IN 2025! |accessdate=October 31, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Kukuljan |first=Steph |date=October 31, 2024 |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/business/st-louis-citypark-soccer-stadium-gets-new-name-energizer-park/article_e0b79978-96f5-11ef-b3f7-1be3d62ed5e3.html |title=St. Louis' CityPark soccer stadium gets new name: Energizer Park |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |accessdate=October 31, 2024}}

The stadium is built within historic Mill Creek Valley, a once-thriving Black neighborhood that was displaced through eminent domain and urban renewal in the late 1950s. Outside the stadium entrance, the "Pillars of the Valley" monument by Damon Davis memorializes the neighborhood and past residents.{{Cite web |last=Norfleet |first=Miya |date=February 16, 2023 |title=‘Pillars of the Valley’ cements the nearly forgotten history of Mill Creek Valley |url=https://www.stlpr.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2023-02-16/pillars-of-the-valley-cements-the-nearly-forgotten-history-of-mill-creek-valley |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=STLPR |language=en}}

The stadium features a grass pitch {{convert|40|ft}} below street level, surrounded by two tiers of seating totaling 22,423 seats (with the ability to add an additional 2,500), topped with a clear plastic awning to keep out weather while keeping in crowd noise and avoiding disrupting shadows on the pitch.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/04/20/st-louis-mls-expansion-bid-releases-proposed-stadium-renderings|title=St. Louis MLS expansion bid releases proposed stadium renderings|last=Rosano|first=Nick|date=April 20, 2019}} Every seat is within {{convert|120|ft}} of the pitch, the closest of any stadium in Major League Soccer.

The stadium contains a supporters' section with space for more than 3,000 standing spectators, three capo stands, a {{convert|257|ft|adj=on}} long integrated tifo rigging system, a drum platform for drum corps during matches, and a dedicated supporters bar.{{Cite web |last=SC |first=St Louis CITY |title=Supporter Section Season Tickets Go on Sale Starting October 19, 2021 {{!}} St. Louis SC |url=https://www.stlcitysc.com/news/supporter-section-season-tickets-go-on-sale-starting-october-19-2021 |access-date=2022-09-07 |website=St. Louis CITY SC |language=en}}

{{Portal|Soccer|United States}}

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Category:Sports venues in St. Louis

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