Plans to build an arena next to...

Plans to build an arena next to Busch Stadium in St. Louis and purchase the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League were abandoned because preservationists fought the razing of a turn-of-the-century warehouse complex at the proposed site.

Civic Center Corp., a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc., reluctantly ceased efforts to construct the arena, a spokesman said.

Civic Center wanted to purchase the Cupples Station property and demolish the buildings to make room for a privately financed 18,000-seat arena. Its plan also included acquiring the Blues.