Kiel Auditorium
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Kiel Auditorium was an indoor arena that stood in St. Louis, Missouri from 1934-1991. It was the home of the Saint Louis University basketball team and hosted the St. Louis Hawks from 1955-1968. It was the host of the NBA All-Star Game in 1958, 1962, and 1965. The arena, completed in 1934 at a cost of $6 million, seated 9,300. It was originally named the Municipal Auditorium, but was later renamed in honor of former St. Louis Mayor Henry Kiel. A unique feature of the auditorium was that it was split into two; the back of the building was the Kiel Opera House. It was possible to use both sides at once as the stages were back to back. President Harry Truman gave a speech there in which both sides were opened to see his speech. During the 1970s, Kiel Auditorium played host to a variety of rock concerts and wrestling cards. In 1983, it was the host of the Miss Universe Pageant. Perhaps the most famous wrestling show there was the 1990 Starrcade. The building was demolished in 1992, but not before hosting the Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament the preceding year.
After its demolition, its games and concerts temporarily went to the eventually ill-fated St. Louis Arena.
The Scottrade Center (originally named "Kiel Center", then "Saavis Center" before the current naming rights were purchased) now stands on the site of the former Kiel Auditorium. The Opera House portion of the building on the northern part of the property facing Market Street, was not torn down but has remained closed for fifteen years, as members of Civic Progress, Inc. who promised to pay for the renovation of the Opera House have reneged on that promise, while opposing all outside efforts to achieve that renovation independently of themselves.
Preceded by Milwaukee Arena 1951–1965 |
Home of the St. Louis Hawks 1955–1968 |
Succeeded by Alexander Memorial Coliseum 1968–1972 |
Categories: Missouri stubs | Midwestern United States sports venue stubs | Missouri building and structure stubs | Buildings and structures in St. Louis | Sports venues in St. Louis | Sports venues in Missouri | Basketball venues in the United States | Indoor arenas in the United States | Defunct indoor arenas | Defunct basketball venues | Saint Louis Billikens basketball | College basketball venues | Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament venues | 1934 establishments | 1991 disestablishments | Defunct college basketball venues