Visiting Saint Louis
By Rams Nation's Don Ackerman
Well, here's my advice if you're planning a trip to Saint Louis to see Seattle
(Dec 14), Cincinnati (Dec 21), or, dare I say, the NFL playoffs (starting 3
January but hopefully 10 or 11 January for the Rams if they earn a bye week).
Have a great time!
Find Rampagers
If you haven't heard of the Rampagers, check them out. These fanatical Rams
fans are great people and know Saint Louis inside and out. They can help you
get around and Rampagers love sharing their passion for the Saint Louis Rams.
The Rampagers are members of a Saint Louis Rams mailing list and information
about them can be found at http://www.rampagers.com.
Come Early or Stay Late
If you possibly can, come early or stay late. There are many beautiful sites
in Saint Louis to see. The Arch is a must and I highly recommend a visit to
Union Station to see the train station converted into an entertainment complex
(complete with a mall). If you watch a Saint Louis sporting event on television,
you have seen Union Station. Either you've seen it from the outside, you've
seen the fountains outside it, or you've seen the view of the Old Courthouse
and the Arch from Union Station. It's a great place to visit.
If you are visiting Saint Louis and looking for Rams gear, there's many places
to shop. This time of year, the best bet for kids gear is the old standby: Sears
or JCPenney. Christmas is coming so enjoy your shopping. When I was there, Rams
gear was 40%-50% off! I don't want to list what I purchased (in case my daughter
reads this article) but rest assured, she's taken care of!
If you're looking for adult gear, there are many shops. You can't go wrong
at any mall. Also there are many small shops. Oddly enough, I have to say that
Dilliards, the official stores of the Rams, is actually pretty limited. Try
other places first. For hats, try the Lids stores. I found plenty of headgear
there and some places had $10 Rams hats. That's perfect!
But plan to spend time or money. Saint Louis has a great selection and it won't
be long before your credit card is thanking you.
See the Players
If you stay in Saint Louis, leave Tuesday and check out the Monday night shows.
The Grant Wistrom and Kyle Turley show is worth checking out. These two characters
are great people and fun to hear. If you want an autograph, bring some cash.
Grant and Kyle are very active in their charity work and they request a donation
for their autograph. You can't go wrong there. You get to help kids and meet
two unforgetable great Ram players. They don't take MasterCard but meeting them
was "priceless" for me. The Wistrom/Turley show is from 6:30-8:00
at Ozzie's in Westport Plaza (645 West Port Plaza, St. Louis MO, 314-434-1000
- http://www.ozziesmith.com/restaurant). Have a great time!
Nearby, in Earth City, you can check out Monday Mania from 6-8 PM at Dave and
Busters. Mike Martz and Tyoka Jackson have shows there (Jimmy Kennedy had the
show the night I attended) . There are often guests so have fun there, too.
Dave and Busters is located south of I-70 in Earth City (home of Rams Park!!).
(For more info, see http://www.daveandbusters.com/locations.asp#Anchor-top -
St. Louis: I-70 at Earth City Expressway in Riverport (314) 209-8015.)
Getting to the Game
Your best bet as a visitor to Saint Louis is the Metrolink. It's easy to get
to a park and ride. If you're not staying dowtown, I recommend the Metrolink.
Game Day - Tailgate & Autographs
The Edward Jones Dome is in a great location. To the east between the "Ed"
and the Mississippi (which separates Missouri from Illinois), is tailgating
land. This wide area will likely be filled with football fans having a good
time. If you're going to the game, get downtown early. In addition to the great
tailgating atmosphere, just southeast of the Dome is the Arch. This beautiful
site should not be missed and I highly recommend going downtown early to see
the Arch close up and spend some time soaking in the Arch. It's a site to see.
From 9 AM until 10:30, the Rams players "go to work." You can often
catch players going from the Drury Inn (south side of Dome) to the Ed. Some
players will stop and sign autographs IF you know their name. Last Sunday, I
got autographs from WR Mike Furrey, LB Robert Thomas, T Brian Young, and LB
Pisa Tinoisamoa. It was sweet!
At the Game
The "Ed" is a nice stadium and has great facilities. There are wide
concourses, plenty of food vendors, and hitting the restroom won't make you
miss a quarter of NFL action (like in other stadiums). You can easily take a
bathroom break and get some food quickly. Honestly, I was very impressed with
my first visit to the Edward Jones (TWA Dome back then) Dome. I've been to the
Metrodome in Minnesota (a comparable stadium) and I can honestly see what Vikings
owner Red McCombs wants in Minnesota. As a fan who has visited the Ed in Saint
Louis and the Metrodome in Minnesota, I really can see the benefits the fans
get. It's easy to get in and out of the Ed. The facilities are much improved
and it makes a better fan experience. Enjoy this great stadium!
Post-Game Fun
The tailgate lot will refill after the game but if you want to enjoy the riverfront
atmosphere, head east after the game. With many fine eating establishments,
you can truly enjoy Saint Louis post-game.
If you're a gambler, head to the casinos, there are plenty nearby.
If you're unable to make it to Saint Louis this weekend, I highly recommend
you check it out in the future. Saint Louis is a great visit. While you're there,
see if you can check out a Cardinals (baseball) or Blues (hockey) game too.
Ram on,
Don
Don, the Rams Nation columnist can be contacted at Don@RamsNation.org.