Today, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, St. Louis County executive Dr. Sam Page, along with elected officials from the greater St. Louis metro area and other economic development organizations, joined executives from Gateway Studios & Production Services, (GSPS) to officially break ground on a $150 million development in Chesterfield, Mo.
“This is a great day and huge opportunity to do something we’ve never done before at this level,” Governor Mike Parson said. “So I want to thank Gateway Studios for taking a look at us and investing in Missouri.”
When complete, the 32-acre campus, located at 900 Spirit of St. Louis Blvd in the Chesterfield Valley, will be the largest production services and rehearsal facility of its kind in the United States. Adjacent to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport and Interstate 64, clients utilizing the facilities will have easy and private access to the campus.
“We are excited that the country’s largest music and video manufacturing center is being built in St. Louis County,” said St. Louis County executive, Dr. Sam Page. “The County is the economic engine of the region. Gateway Studios and this new industry for our region bring with it more jobs and more investment opportunities.”
The $150 million dollar investment will include a 330,000-SF complex and employ more than 100 highly skilled music and entertainment professionals. Gateway Studios will offer a creative environment that will include offices, conference and dressing rooms, on-site catering, sound stages, green screen studios, live streaming, and a full range of audio, lighting, and video manufacturing and production services.
“Gateway is a one-of-a-kind facility that will set a new bar for live entertainment’s rehearsal and production needs,” said Jesse Sandler, Gateway’s president of studio operations. “It was designed by touring professionals, for touring professionals, and that is evident in every detail.”
The crown jewel, Studio 80, is ideally suited for stadium-size tours, with over 52,500 SF of clear open space, will measure 300’ x 175’, and has an additional 50,000 SF of adjacent support space. Its grid height of 80 feet has a load capacity of more than 2 million pounds. The campus will boast three additional state-of-the-art studio facilities, Studios 75, 65, and 50 can simultaneously accommodate the development of arena-size tours, entertainment productions and one-of-a-kind corporate events.
The GSPS leadership includes live music industry touring veterans Trey Kerr, Andy Gerber, Jesse Sandler, and David Haskell. This team has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry over their careers including Bon Jovi, Phish, Kenny Chesney, Maroon 5, Drake, Jimmy Buffett, the Eagles, Aerosmith, John Mellencamp, Nickelback, Alabama, Prince, Florida Georgia Line, Sugarland, Michael Jackson, among others.
“When the pandemic shut down the industry, thousands of top industry professionals were displaced and out of work overnight,” said Kerr, Gateway’s chief executive officer and St. Louis County native. “Rather than taking the ‘wait-and-see’ approach, our team of executives went to work to get the best individuals on board at GSPS.”
Gateway will offer turnkey, multi-studio manufacturing and production services for the live music, entertainment, and corporate event industries. As the need for large rehearsal spaces was identified, GSPS combined high-level production service components with the flexibility and design to accommodate multiple target markets.
The facilities will be an ideal location for corporate events. The space available for this target market exists only in mid-level convention centers. The intimacy and security of the campus environment and the production services offered will allow GSPS to provide one of the finest corporate events facilities in the country. In addition to the studios, GSPS will also include a large private courtyard suitable for outdoor entertaining, and a 6-lane bowling alley, B. Goode Lanes.
“This is a great win for the St. Louis metro, bringing not only new jobs and economic investment but also buzz and recognition for our efforts to attract new, next-generation industries here,” said Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc.
GSPS expects to initially generate over 100 full-time, family-sustaining jobs. The campus will also feature a new hotel, adding more jobs and economic benefits to the region.
Gateway Studios, LLC is a privately funded production service and rehearsal facility based in Chesterfield, Missouri. For more information visit: www.GSPS.com
Photo byline: RJ Hartbeck Photo