Known for its Gateway Arch and popular sports teams, among other features, St. Louis also offers an impressive lineup of off-site event venues for group gatherings.
The options include a historic train station, storied garden, championship-caliber ballpark, an exciting zoo, upscale bowling alley and a museum where attendees can sip cocktails under a replica of Charles Lindbergh’s iconic Spirit of Saint Louis plane.
St. Louis Union Station
St. Louis Union Station opened in 1894 as the world’s largest and busiest train station. Its history includes welcoming visitors for the 1904 “Meet Me in St. Louis” World’s Fair, and seeing soldiers off to both World War I and World War II.
Today, St. Louis Union Station houses the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, a member of the Curio Collection by Hilton, and the elegant Grand Hall, a standout space for events that features a barrel-vaulted ceiling ornamented with light, stained glass and statuary.
“A 65-foot-long bar and lounge seating welcome guests to linger over small plates and cocktails while 3D light and music shows dance over the surface of the Grand Hall ceiling,” said Todd Hotaling, vice president of marketing for Lodging Hospitality Management, which owns St. Louis Union Station.
St. Louis Union Station hosts meetings, tradeshows, banquets and receptions in its various spaces, including the Grand Hall, four ballrooms and The Midway, a 43,000-square-foot event space that’s located under the indoor portion of the train shed.
Group tours can be arranged all year, Hotaling added. During the holiday season the station hosts the Polar Express Train Ride on private train cars. Planners may also be interested in the scheduled 2019 opening of the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station, which is being built in the indoor portion of the station’s train shed.
Missouri Botanical Garden
Founded in 1859, the 79-acre Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the oldest continuously operating public gardens in the U.S. Groups that visit can explore the grounds, three conservatories and the historic home of founder Henry Shaw.
According to Katie O’Sullivan, senior public information officer, group rates are available for 15 or more people for general admission and private guided walking tours. Tours can be customized by topic, including a focus on sustainability, and box lunches can be ordered for groups through Catering St. Louis.
Primary indoor locations for group events include Monsanto Hall in the Ridgway Visitors Center and Spink Pavilion, while popular outdoor spaces include Blanke Boxwood Garden and Lehmann Rose Garden.
Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium has been the home to magical moments in St. Louis history, including two World Series championships and major concerts, as well as countless meetings and corporate celebrations.
PageBreakBusch Stadium’s iconic field and 16 distinct venues offer groups a variety of elegant settings, gourmet dining and panoramic views unlike anywhere else in the city, and the experienced staff specializes in creating a memorable experience for every group.
“Busch Stadium provides so many wonderful opportunities for our clients to have the event of their dreams at an iconic venue,” said Julia Row, director of sales and marketing for Cardinals Special Events.
Events at Busch Stadium can also include ballpark tours, Cardinals Museum tours and unique add-on activities such as batting in the clubhouse cages and pitching in the Cardinals bullpen.
“If clients are looking for a unique activity outside of the baseball realm, we’re now able to offer golf experiences,” Row added. “We’re working alongside our partner, Callaway, to create experiences such as chipping golf balls from the Batter’s Eye onto the field during a cocktail reception.”
Busch Stadium exclusively partners with Delaware North Sportservice for all culinary needs. The culinary creativity at Busch Stadium spans from pulled pork nachos and lobster corn dogs all the way to plated surf-and-turf entrees. Alongside the Cardinals Special Events staff, the catering team continues to consistently exceed client and guest expectations.
Nearby is Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, which offers 40,000 square feet of meeting, banquet and prefunction space. The hotel also features the 360 Rooftop Bar, named for its panoramic city views.
Flamingo Bowl
Flamingo Bowl, located nearby America’s Center Convention Complex, is a great venue for fun teambuilding events after a day of sessions.
According to owner Joe Edwards, the 1920s-era building was transformed with custom-designed palm trees and flamingo figures to form a combo that conjures jazz-age New York meets South Beach.
“Most groups will combine bowling on the eight lanes of the main room with heavy hors d’oeuvres or specialty themed meals like Mexican or Italian, served buffet-style,” Edwards said. “A full bar is located in the room and mixologists are known for their creative cocktails.”
A smaller room with four lanes, called the Palm Room, accommodates up to 100 people. Both rooms feature large screens for showing music videos or a group’s PowerPoint presentation.
“Bowling is for everyone,” Edwards said. “Even if you’ve never bowled before, you’ll have fun. Bumpers can be raised in the lanes’ gutters to keep a new bowler’s ball on the path to glory.
Missouri History Museum
Grand Hall, the main meeting space at the Missouri History Museum, features a replica of Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of Saint Louis plane soaring overhead.
“Talk about a great photo op!” said Bridget Bitza, vice president of sales and catering for Butler’s Pantry, the Missouri History Museum’s exclusive caterer.
Among the other event spaces are the on-site Bixby’s Restaurant, which has floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Forest Park, a 332-seat auditorium and two meeting rooms, including one showcasing historic snapshots from the museum’s archives.
The museum accommodates a variety of group events, including receptions and meetings, and catering options are available for groups of all sizes.
Private tours of the galleries and interactive scavenger hunts may also be arranged for groups, Bitza added.
Saint Louis Zoo
Planners can count on memorable events at the Saint Louis Zoo, where animals greet groups as they arrive.
“Kick off your event at Big Cat Country, enjoy a sea lion show prior to cocktails or have beverages on the Zooline Railroad,” said Jason Moder, the attraction’s senior private event manager.
Groups can also book an interactive team-bonding experience, including a customized night hike through scenic jungle-like trails or feeding and petting stingrays.
The zoo boasts a full-service catering team and five banquet venues, including a 350-seat theater and outdoor patios for dining. Events ranging from small meetings for 15 people to large gatherings for 10,000 can be accommodated.
