ST. LOUIS — There are signs of progress in attracting more people to visit St. Louis.
Recent upgrades at the Dome at America's Center are helping lure big events to town. Next year is expected to be one of the biggest in a decade when it comes to conventions.
This weekend, a Bands of America event will attract 10,000 people to the Dome at America's Center for a regional competition for high school bands. Tom and Kim Dewey traveled from Texas to see their grandson play.
"We like it here,” the couple said. "It's a little colder than back home. It's 86 degrees at home right now."
As they enjoy the sights of the city, tourism officials are trying to get more people like them to visit and return to St. Louis.
Football is another big draw. As the Battlehawks prepare to unveil their 2025 schedule, they're taking to social media to show their approval of some $3 million in recent upgrades.
"New lights, new turf,” Coach Anthony Becht and player Jake Sutherland said in a Twitter video. "Color is all uniform. Yeah, it looks great. I mean it’s just as good as pyrotechnics right?"
"It's going to look great on TV. It's going to look great in person as well,” said Brian Hall of Explore St. Louis.
He says next year will bring the most conventions the city has seen in a decade. "We have some 254,000 room nights that are actually on the books now."
That includes the return of the Church of God in Christ and 2,500 people with Meeting Professionals International.
"These customers have unbelievable power when it comes to making site decisions for their meetings, so we have a chance to showcase St. Louis, to showcase the improvements at America's Center,” Hall said.
City leaders know visitors aren't just good for selling the city, but they give local businesses a big boost.
"I think we’re going to go to this Thai restaurant right down here they suggested,” Tom Dewey said while leaving the dome.
That band competition begins Friday. Participants are staying in 5,000 local hotel rooms.