Proposed Edward Jones Dome Improvements from the Fans' Perspective

On Wednesday, the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission released its $120 million proposal to the St. Louis Rams, which outlined the improvements that it plans to make on the Edward Jones Dome. 

Due the the current lease, the Rams will be free to leave St. Louis by March 1, 2015 if the Edward Jones Dome does not rank within the top 15 percent of NFL stadiums, which is virtually impossible due to the surge of recently constructed stadiums in various cities, such as Indianapolis, New York, Denver, Houston, Dallas and Glendale. 

The alternative, however, is for the Rams and the CVC to agree on a predetermined number of improvements on the stadium that's satisfying to both parties, which is what the current negotiations are focused on.

So, now that the Commission's proposal has been made public, let's take a look at what us fans will be getting out of this deal if it is ultimately approved.

Television Island

Some, mostly women, have called it a 160-foot monstrosity that hangs from the rafters of Cowboys Stadium and resembles a floating television island.

While some—mostly men, who typically appreciate the beauty of a high-definition television—view it as the Holy Grail of football scoreboards.

What does this have to do with the Rams?

Here is one addition to the Edward Jones Dome that was mentioned in the proposal:

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Hang a 96-foot wide and 26-foot high scoreboard over midfield that should give fans clear views of replays, scores and stats and not interfere with game play. 

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While 96 feet is merely a fraction of what Dallas is sporting in its state-of-the-art stadium, it would still have the same euphoric affect on the fans in attendance. 

Also, the TV island would be great for the various concerts held in the dome. 

Beer Garden over Baer Plaza

One gripe against pregame festivities in St. Louis is the lack of convenient tailgating locations, as the stadium is in the middle of downtown, rather than out on some guy's farm like most NFL cities.

Here is the second proposed improvement:

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Build a new, three-story structure on Baer Plaza that would be connected to the Dome via a bridge over Broadway. It would include a 20,000 square-foot lobby, a rooftop beer garden and a new entrance for fans headed to Dome's club seats and luxury suites.

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Baer Plaza is a landing area right next to the dome, but as you can see in the photo above, there is traffic separating the two, which is certainly a hazard on game day. 

This idea not only provides the fans with a "structure" to gather in, but it will also feature a beer garden, as well as a bridge entrance into the dome that goes over the traffic. 

This way, fans can not only drink beer, but they can stumble into the dome without being taken out by a semi-truck. 

Sounds like a win-win. 

Let There Be Light

For far too long, the interior of the Edward Jones Dome has resembled a cave more than a football stadium. 

The rafters carry rows of lighting, but it is still not enough to completely remove the gloomy atmosphere on the inside, which means natural lighting is probably the only real solution. From the proposal:

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Install large glazed window panels that would allow more natural light inside the Dome, which critics have complained is too dark.

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Window panels, presumably on the roof, would instantly improve the lighting situation and would provide a sleeker look to the dome from an aerial view. 

Also, some of the receivers might be able to actually catch the ball with proper lighting. 

Club It Up

NFL owners are generally big fans of club seats since those tickets cost far more than nose-bleed tickets, resulting in more money in their wallets. The proposal aims to:

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Replace about 1,800 existing seats and four suites with 1,500 new club seats.

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This really only benefits you personally if you're rich enough to afford club seats on a regular basis. 

If you happen to be one of those people, then good for you. Stop rubbing it in to us 99 percenters. Enjoy your free beverages and hot dogs, and shut up. 

But seriously, if this is what it takes to keep the Rams in St. Louis, then it's well worth it. 

You Shall Not Pass!

The Edward Jones Dome is in a high-traffic area in downtown St. Louis, which not only congests the area surrounding the stadium, but it is also a safety threat for the fans walking the streets. The proposal suggests:

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Put retractable bollards on Broadway that would let CVC shut down the street to vehicle traffic and making it safer for fans to enter and leave the Dome. The CVC said this change also would address NFL concerns that the milling crowds outside of the Dome could be a terrorist target. 

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This will allow the dome to block off a generous portion of the surrounding area, which will make for a more spacious and enjoyable pregame experience.