Sports Stadiums Becoming Bland?

Two St. Louis architects defend Busch Stadium in the face of plans for its demolition and replacement with a 'cheap imitation' of Baltimore's Camden Yards.

1 minute read

December 8, 2003, 6:00 AM PST

By David Gest


"It appears inevitable that the city of St. Louis is about to lose yet another of its truly great treasures and architectural masterpieces: Busch Stadium, considered by many to be one of the finest and most beautifully designed ballparks anywhere in the world...What astonishes us is the lack of reaction from our community's civic, cultural, artistic, architectural and political leadership regarding this loss...As one of the great and important monuments of 20th century architecture, this edifice has imprinted itself upon the collective memory of all St. Louisans for nearly four decades. Our shared history, identity and sense of place are intimately linked to it. Its designed role and place gives a subtle repose, balance and composition to our city's skyline...[we must] stand up to these multimillionaire malcontents who care nothing about our city's richness and prevent them from initiating what will surely go down as one of the great cultural catastrophes in St. Louis history."

Thanks to David Gest

Monday, December 1, 2003 in St. Louis Post-Dispatch

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Blue and white Seattle Link light rail train exiting concrete Downtown Bellevue Tunnel in Bellevue, WA.

Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?

Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.

April 7, 2025 - Todd Litman

Purple Phoenix light rail train connected to overhead wires at sunset.

Phoenix Announces Opening Date for Light Rail Extension

The South Central extension will connect South Phoenix to downtown and other major hubs starting on June 7.

8 seconds ago - Arizona Republic

Real estate listings in window of Forbes Properties office.

How Housing as a Financial Product Harms Communities

Institutional buyers who treat housing as an investment product become disconnected from the impacts of higher rents, displacement, and housing instability.

1 hour ago - Strong Towns

Bright car headlights with glare at night.

Blinded by the Light: When Brighter Headlights Decrease Safety

Bright LED headlights can create glare and reduce visibility for other drivers and pedestrians.

2 hours ago - Vox