Rendering courtesy of Big Sports Properties
When POWERplex opens in January 2021 on the site of the former St. Louis Outlet Mall in Hazelwood, the youth sports complex is going to look like every kid’s dream: volleyball courts, a climbing gym, basketball courts, mini golf, turf fields, go-karts, ice skating rinks, an 18-theater cineplex, laser tag, and more. But before he breaks ground on the complex in June, Dan Buck, the man behind POWERplex, wanted to do something else for area kids.
Buck heard from parents who were sad that their children had missed high school milestones—dances, baseball games—due to COVID-19, and now weren’t going to have a commencement ceremony, either. He knew he had plenty of open space—160 acres of it—and parking spots. A call to the St. Louis County Health Department, a call to audiovisual company Fogarty Services, a call to staging company Klance Unlimited, a call to Schnucks, a call to U.S. Bank—pretty soon Buck had everything he needed to transform the soon-to-be home of POWERplex into a drive-in graduation ceremony for area high schools, the largest of its kind. “This is what POWERplex is all about: bringing communities together, to celebrate youth and to celebrate health,” he says.
The site of the future POWERplex will able to accommodate 2,700 graduates and more than 3,500 guests. Schools participating include Marquette, Lafayette, Rockwood Summit, Eureka, North County Christian, McCluer, and McCluer North. Dr. Carole Baskin, St. Louis County's director of communicable disease control, helped Buck and company figure out a way to celebrate that wouldn’t put public health at risk. Pre-showtime, students will be grouped into pods—no more than 25 kids per group—and each pod will be assigned to meet at one of the stores inside the old mall. Chairs there will be kept 6 feet apart. Students will then walk out to a 100-foot-by-140-foot AstroTurf field with stage, take a socially-distanced seat, and wait for their turn to receive their diploma. Two 30-foot screens and video trucks mean that parents parked in the lot will be able to stay in their cars and see their grads cross the stage. Families will use the FM radio to listen to the ceremonies. The graduations begin May 29.
Graduations scheduled, a second idea struck Buck: What if he held a series of concerts and drive-in movie screenings for the general public in between the commencement ceremonies? He already had the screens and AV equipment, and some graduations were days apart. Now, starting this weekend and through June 6, POWERplex is offering music, movies, and graduations.
"Social distancing doesn't mean being antisocial," he says. "We need to get back to some level of normalcy and people enjoying themselves again and doing it in a safe but really enjoyable atmosphere. I think people are social creatures by nature. And there are ways we can still have great socialization and gathering opportunities while honoring the health requirements."
Each night brings a different performance and movie paired together, with one highlight being blues artist Jeremiah Johnson. (You can view the full lineup below, and tickets are available here.) And, yes, there are family nights.
Just as with the graduations, bands' performances and movies will be shown on the big screens and audio will come through cars' FM radios. Cars will be spread over 9 acres—an estimated 450 cars can fit in the audience. Guests are welcome to bring their own refreshments, but carside barbecue and snacks will also be available for purchase. Unlike some drive-ins, which require you to stay in your car, POWERplex's will allow guests a 10-foot-by-15-foot picnic area right outside the vehicle.
General admission parking passes will run you $40 per car in advance and $50 at the gate. There is a six-person limit for each car. If you really want to make a night of it, VIP turfed party pods for eight measure 15 feet by 20 feet and include valet parking, barbecue, and private bathrooms for $40 per person.
Here's the full schedule:
Thursday, May 21: Exit 180, followed by Raiders of the Lost Ark. (Tickets are half price on opening night.)
Friday, May 22: Petty Cash Junction and Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Saturday, May 23: Klose Encounters opens for Joe Dirt and the Dirty Boys, followed by Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Sunday, May 24: Dance Floor Riot and Purple Rain
Tuesday, May 26: A family night band is TBD, followed by Pixar/Disney’s Onward
Wednesday, May 27: Family night band Scamps and Pitch Perfect
Thursday, May 28: Family night band Mint Queso and Space Jam
Saturday, May 30: SuperJam and Dazed and Confused
Friday, June 5: Trixie Delight and Dirty Dancing
Saturday, June 6: Jeremiah Johnson with Chrome and Steele featuring Steve Scorfina of REO Speedwagon and Pavlov’s Dog. (No movie.)
