PRIDE of St. Louis, Inc.

NEWS RELEASE April 18, 2006

For more information, contact Steve Houston at 314/721-2828.

PRIDE of St. Louis Inc. Joins St. Louis Cardinals in Saluting the Completion
of the New Busch Stadium By the Union Construction Industry

Project Hailed as a Model of Productivity

Left to right, at a worker appreciation event, Stanley Roetto and Joe Heinkel celebrate the completion of the new Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis, which was ready for the St. Louis Cardinals’ home opener on April 10, 2006. Roetto and Heinkel are journeymen electricians for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local #1.

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis union construction industry hit a “grand slam” with its fast-track delivery of new Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis. That’s the word from PRIDE of St. Louis Inc., the area’s construction labor-management organization.

At a worker appreciation event April 6, 2006, PRIDE joined the St. Louis Cardinals in saluting the union construction industry for delivering the $365 million project on time and on budget. “On opening day, the eyes of the nation will be on this beautiful stadium. They’ll see how the St. Louis union construction industry serves the best baseball town in America,” noted Jerry Feldhaus, PRIDE labor co-chair in an address to the estimated 5,000 workers and their families who gathered at the event. “I want to thank you for your dedication in delivering this outstanding new landmark that will delight Cardinal fans for generations to come.” Feldhaus is also executive secretary of the St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO.

When construction began, PRIDE hailed the ballpark as the area’s most significant project since the completion of the Gateway Arch. PRIDE put the weight of its influential membership behind it to ensure timely completion. “With national attention focused on the complex, fast-track Busch Stadium construction, it had to be a showcase of our best abilities to build as a team, said Feldhaus. “Its efficient delivery was essential to help attract additional development to St. Louis.”

Work began in December 2003 and intensified after old Busch Stadium was demolished following the 2005 season to pave the way for remaining construction. It was ready for opening day on April 10, 2006. While Indianapolis, Ind.-based Hunt Construction Group managed the project, more than 50 local construction firms took part in its creation. The project employed more than 3,000 workers.

Since 1972, PRIDE has worked to maintain harmony and build cooperation among the key players in the St. Louis building industry. The organization promotes construction productivity, cost-effective construction, safe and drug-free job sites and work force training and development.

PRIDE Labor Co-Chair Jerry Feldhaus addresses more than 5,000 construction workers and their families at a worker appreciation event on April 6th honoring the St. Louis union construction industry’s completion of the new Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis.

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Editor’s note:

PRIDE is headquartered in Clayton, Mo. (63103).