St. Charles County’s beloved Family Arena is getting a significant facelift. Like a seasoned performer ready for an encore, this popular venue is undergoing a comprehensive $13 million renovation project, ensuring it remains a premier destination for entertainment and events for years to come in St Charles, MO.
Since opening its doors in 1999, the Family Arena has been a cornerstone of the community, hosting countless soccer games, concerts, graduations, and various shows, drawing up to 400,000 visitors annually. However, after over two decades of continuous operation, the venue is now receiving its first major upgrade to modernize facilities and elevate the guest experience.
Bob Schnur, Assistant Director of Administration for St. Charles County, emphasizes the importance of this investment: “So many people have enjoyed cheering at soccer games, concerts and shows at the Family Arena. Whole generations of high school students have graduated there. Rejuvenating the aging parts of the arena will be our investment in the next generation of memories.”
Among the most impactful improvements will be the replacement of lower-level seating. At a cost of $3.2 million, new seats will replace the originals that have endured years of heavy use. Tom O’Keefe, marketing and booking manager, notes, “The seats are as old as the building. They have endured a lifetime of spills, and they show it—they look dirty, even after we clean them. Having new seats will be a radical improvement—and they’ll have thicker cushions and be more comfortable, too.” This upgrade promises enhanced comfort for attendees at all events held at the Family Arena St Charles Mo.
Beyond comfort, the seating upgrade also includes a significant operational improvement. The current retractable seating platforms, similar to gym bleachers, require manual labor to set up. The renovation will introduce an automated system, allowing for quick and efficient configuration changes with just the push of a button. O’Keefe explains this will save considerable time and labor costs, streamlining event setup at the Family Arena.
Further enhancing the visual experience, the Family Arena is investing $2 million in new, state-of-the-art video boards. These upgraded displays will offer clearer visuals and more dynamic content capabilities, enriching the atmosphere for concerts, sporting events, and all other shows.
A substantial portion of the renovation budget, $5.6 million, is dedicated to replacing the central heating and cooling systems. This critical infrastructure upgrade will ensure a comfortable environment for guests year-round, regardless of the season, solidifying the Family Arena as a reliable venue in St Charles, MO.
The remaining renovation funds will address several key areas aimed at improving overall guest convenience and modernizing the facility:
- Interior Wi-Fi for guests: Recognizing the importance of connectivity in today’s event experience, the Family Arena St Charles MO will implement new interior Wi-Fi. O’Keefe highlights this as crucial, especially for concert-goers wanting to share their experiences online: “This has become a crucial part of the concert-going experience for many people. They want to share photos and videos while they’re attending an event. Right now, many people can’t get signal inside.”
- New concourse signage: Upgraded signage will improve wayfinding and navigation within the arena, making it easier for visitors to locate amenities and their seats.
- Communication system upgrades: Modernizing communication systems will enhance operational efficiency and safety within the venue.
- Parking lot repaving: Addressing exterior improvements, parking lot repaving will create a smoother and more welcoming arrival experience for guests.
- Roof replacement: Ensuring the long-term structural integrity of the Family Arena, a roof replacement is included in the comprehensive renovation plan.
Funding for this significant project is largely sourced from federal ARPA funding and another federal grant, covering over $10 million of the total cost. St. Charles County funding will cover the remaining $3 million.
These extensive renovations are expected to be completed by the fall of 2024. Upon completion, the Family Arena St Charles MO will offer an enhanced and modernized experience for all visitors, ensuring its continued role as a premier entertainment and event venue in the region. As O’Keefe concludes, “Overall, the improvements are to make the experience more pleasurable for guests, and to modernize the building to keep up with what guests expect at other venues.”
