Enterprise Center: Guide for Visiting Fans

St. Louis's MetroLink train system has you covered — the Civic Center stop is right across the street from the arena, and both the Red and Blue lines stop there, making it a solid park-and-ride option for fans coming from the suburbs in Missouri and Illinois. Simply exit MetroLink at the Civic Center Station (just off 14th & Spruce Streets) and Enterprise Center is right in front of you.

Flying in? St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) is the primary airport, located about 14 miles northwest of downtown. There is a direct MetroLink train from Lambert Airport Terminal #1 station to Civic Center station; services depart roughly every 20–30 minutes and the journey takes approximately 31 minutes. It's genuinely one of the most convenient airport-to-arena transit connections in the NHL — dirt cheap at around $3, no surge pricing, and you step off the train essentially at the arena door.

Driving? Exit at 20th Street from eastbound I-64 or 9th Street from westbound I-64, make your way to Enterprise Center via Clark Avenue, and parking options will present themselves almost immediately. Rideshare drops are workable on Clark Avenue or 14th Street, but expect surge pricing of 1.5–2x after the final horn — more on that later.

Approximately 6,500 parking spaces are available within 1,800 feet of Enterprise Center, including a 1,270-car garage situated immediately adjacent to the building. That attached garage is called the Kiel Center Garage, named after the arena's original name. Spaces in the garage are pre-sold on a season ticket basis for Blues games , so don't count on it as a walk-up option on game day unless you've planned ahead.

Parking in adjacent garages or nearby lots can be pricey, ranging from $20 to $30, and exiting after events can be congested. If you want to skip the post-game gridlock, consider parking in a garage a few blocks west toward Union Station — slightly longer walk in, much faster exit. Pre-booking through SpotHero or ParkWhiz a few days before the game can shave $5–10 off the going rate.

Downtown proper is your best bet — walk to the game, walk back, done. The corridor along Clark Avenue and Market Street puts you within five to ten minutes on foot. Hotels in the downtown core run from mid-range ($120–180/night on game nights) to splurge options; the 21c Museum Hotel on Washington Avenue is a favorite for visiting fans who want something with personality — art installations throughout, solid bar, central location. The arena is in Downtown West, with many attractions close by including the Stifel Theatre, CityPark (home of St. Louis City SC), and Union Station. If you want a slightly cheaper rate without sacrificing walkability, the area around Midtown (north of the arena, around Grand Boulevard) offers more affordable chain options and a quick rideshare or two-stop MetroLink hop to the game. Avoid booking in the far suburbs — there's no reason to add a 30-minute drive to your gameday when the transit is this good.

Maggie O'Brien's — A few blocks from the arena, this Irish pub is the default pre-game spot for visiting fans and locals alike. Maggie O'Brien's is an energetic spot for a pre-game meal or post-match drink, with multiple high-definition TVs, a fun welcoming atmosphere, and a beer list that includes local brews from 4 Hands, Urban Chestnut, and O'Fallon Brewery.

Lombardo's Trattoria — If you want to sit down properly before the game, this is the call. With the distinction of being the longest-running restaurant in downtown St. Louis (launched in 1934), Lombardo's has built a reputation for its famous housemade toasted ravioli — three times the size of traditional ravioli — with steak and veal butchered in-house.

Broadway Oyster Bar — A little further on foot (about 10–15 minutes south), but worth it if you arrive in town early. Widely regarded as the premier New Orleans-style restaurant, bar, and music venue in the Midwest, it's housed in a building from the mid-1840s. Cajun seafood, live music, cold beer — this is the kind of place road-trippers remember.

Blood & Sand — For the visiting fan who'd rather sip a craft cocktail than throw back domestics, this downtown cocktail bar is one of the better ones in the city. Blood & Sand is a swanky New American cocktail spot with one of the best menus in St. Louis.

Enterprise Center strongly encourages guests not to bring bags of any kind. Backpacks, coolers, hard-sided bags, and any bag over 16"×16" are strictly prohibited. All bags — including purses and medical/childcare bags — must go through X-ray screening, which can add 30 minutes or more to your entry process. Clutches no larger than 4"×6"×1.5" are permitted after a quick visual inspection without X-ray.

The practical takeaway: travel light. Leave the backpack at the hotel.

For Blues games, doors open 90 minutes before puck drop for season ticket holders and 75 minutes before for the general public. There are three public entrances: the T-Mobile Entrance (Gate 1) on the west end, Hall of Fame Plaza (Gate 2) on the south end, and the Ford Entrance (Gate 3) on the east end — the latter being the closest from the Civic Center MetroLink station. Enter at the corner of Clark and 14th Streets for the primary entrance, where you'll be greeted by the glass façade and statues of Blues legends Brett Hull, Al MacInnis, and Bernie Federko.

No outside food or beverages are permitted. The arena operates cashless throughout — bring a card or make sure your phone's mobile wallet is loaded up before you get in line.

Accessible parking is available throughout surrounding garages and lots. The Kiel Center Garage immediately west of Enterprise Center features 24 parking spaces for guests with disabilities located throughout all levels next to the elevators, with spaces for oversized vans on the first level. A drop-off location for guests with disabilities is on Clark Avenue at the south end of the building, and shuttles and buses should drop off passengers on 14th Street at the east end. All three street-level entrances are accessible.

Enterprise Center has partnered with KultureCity to assist and accommodate guests with sensory needs, with a goal of providing an inclusive and seamless experience for all events. Sensory bags — containing fidget tools, noise-canceling headphones, KCVIP badges, and other resources — are available for checkout at no cost (leaving an ID) at the Guest Experience Center across from Portal 19. A dedicated Lauren Daigle Sensory Room provides a calm, safe environment for guests who feel overwhelmed. Accessibility tickets can be purchased through the Enterprise Center Accessibility Hotline at 314-622-5420.

There is no dedicated away section at Enterprise Center — visiting fans tend to cluster wherever they can find tickets together, and the arena doesn't formally segregate by allegiance. The seating bowl offers good sightlines all around for hockey, as is expected of a modern arena. For away fans who want to sit together without friction, the upper bowl corners (sections 301–320) are your best bet — affordable, solid views, and a mix of casual fans who won't make your night difficult. The 300-level end zones behind the goals are lively and give you a straight-on view of both offensive zones.

If the budget allows, the lower bowl corners (think sections 103–107 and 123–126) offer excellent mid-ice sightlines without the premium price of the center-ice Plaza Level. Avoid the very top rows of the 300 level — the sight angles get steep quickly in an older building. Renovations added a new center-ice videoboard, new gathering spaces, updated seats, and premium Plaza Level options with club access and in-seat service. The lower bowl has genuinely improved since those upgrades.

Beer runs around $13.99 for a 25-ounce can, with a 16-ounce bottle at $9.99; a St. Louis-style hot dog (with provolone, bacon, onions, mustard, and banana peppers) will set you back $13.99, while a regular hot dog or pretzel with cheese is $9.99. It's not surprising that a venue in St. Louis leans heavily on Anheuser-Busch products, but craft beer can be found at the "Brews of the Lou" stand, which carries selections from local breweries including 4 Hands, Urban Chestnut, and O'Fallon Brewery. Don't miss Steve's Hot Dogs — named the city's favorite by the mayor — topped with Provel cheese, bacon, and banana peppers.

St. Louis hockey fans are serious, knowledgeable, and territorial about their Blues — but they're not the type to make your visit a misery. Expect some chirping if your team is a rival (Chicago fans, take note), but generally the crowd is more interested in the game than in harassing you. The fans are warm, inviting, and enthusiastic about a team that has been a St. Louis tradition for over 55 years. The thing that catches first-time visitors off guard: when this building gets loud, it really gets loud. The bowl design traps sound well, and a full house in a tight game is legitimately deafening. Come prepared for that — in a good way. The other thing worth knowing: the Blues have a live band performing before the game and during intermissions as part of their Rhythm and Blues campaign , which gives the whole experience a distinctly St. Louis feel that you won't get in most NHL buildings.

MetroLink is the cleanest exit. MetroLink provides fast, safe, easy-to-use transportation; simply exit at the Civic Center Station just off 14th & Spruce Streets. After the final buzzer, trains run on regular post-event frequency — expect a wait of 10–15 minutes on the platform. If you linger for even five minutes after the horn (grab one last beer, let the crowd flow out), you'll often find a much shorter line at the station. This is the single best way to leave: no surge, no gridlock, out of downtown in under 35 minutes.

Driving is manageable if you parked west of the arena, toward Union Station or the 18th Street corridors. Those lots empty onto surface streets that feed I-64 westbound without funneling through the Clark Avenue bottleneck. Budget 20–30 minutes to reach moving highway traffic on a typical night; playoff games, add another 15.

Rideshare will surge immediately after the final whistle — 1.5x to 2x is common. Some reviewers recommend walking a few blocks away from the arena to get better rideshare pricing. Walk three or four blocks west to the Union Station area or east toward 8th Street before requesting your Uber or Lyft — you'll get picked up faster and pay a more sensible fare. Give it 15–20 minutes post-game if you can, and the surge drops noticeably.

Best tip: If you're on MetroLink, walk to the Civic Center platform immediately when the third period ends with two minutes left. You will catch the first post-game train, beat the crowd entirely, and be back at your hotel before the recap segment starts on the radio.

What's the best way to get to Enterprise Center from Lambert Airport (STL)?

Take the MetroLink Red Line directly from Lambert Airport Terminal #1 station to Civic Center station. Trains run every 20–30 minutes and the trip takes about 31 minutes for roughly $3 each way.

What is the bag policy at Enterprise Center?

Backpacks and bags over 16"×16" are strictly prohibited. All bags must go through X-ray screening. Only clutches no larger than 4"×6"×1.5" are allowed in without X-ray. Leave the bag at the hotel if at all possible.

How much does parking cost near Enterprise Center?

Parking in adjacent garages and nearby lots typically runs $20–30 on event days. Pre-book to lock in better rates.

When do gates open for Blues games?

Doors open 90 minutes before puck drop for Blues season ticket holders and 75 minutes before for the general public.

Is Enterprise Center cashless? Yes — the venue operates cashless throughout for all concessions and merchandise. Reverse ATMs are available on-site to convert cash to a prepaid card if needed.

What are the best seats for away fans? There is no designated away section. Upper bowl corners (300-level) are affordable and welcoming to mixed crowds; lower bowl corners offer better sightlines for those willing to spend more.

Can I take MetroLink from my hotel?

Both the Red and Blue MetroLink lines stop at Civic Center station right across from the arena , so if your hotel is along either line, you're set.

Is outside food allowed inside Enterprise Center?

No — cans, bottles, coolers, plastic beverage containers, and food or beverages of any kind are among the prohibited items. Plan to eat before you go or budget for in-arena prices.