Step Inside: Busch Stadium – Home of the St. Louis Cardinals

Stadium History | Parking & Admission | Seating & Capacity | Food & Concessions

Busch Stadium is located in St. Louis, Missouri, in the downtown area of St. Louis. The area around the stadium is known as Ballpark Village. Busch Stadium is home of the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball and is also known as “New Busch Stadium” or “Busch Stadium III.” It’s the third stadium in St. Louis to have the name Busch Stadium, most recently replacing Busch Memorial Stadium. The new stadium offers iconic views of the St. Louis skyline and the St. Louis Arch.

The stadium opened on April 4, 2006, with an exhibition game between the Memphis Redbirds and Springfield Cardinals, two minor league affiliates of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals played the first Major League baseball game in the venue on April 10, 2006, a 6–4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

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Busch Stadium History

Cardinals ownership began lobbying for a new ballpark in downtown St. Louis in 1995. The previous Busch Stadium, Busch Memorial Stadium, served as the home of the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League baseball from 1996 to 2005. It also served as the home of the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League from 1996 to 1987 when the franchise moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and the St. Louis Rams for part of the 1995 season after the team’s relocation from Los Angeles, California.

The Rams left Busch Stadium for the Edward Jones Dome, which served as their home for 20 years. After the move, Busch Stadium was retrofitted to be a baseball-only stadium.

After securing financing through private bonds, bank loans and a loan from St. Louis County, the Cardinals decided to move forward with constructing the New Busch Stadium. In addition to the new stadium, an area known as Ballpark Village was constructed adjacent to the stadium — Clark Street, between the 200 and 300 blocks. Ballpark Village features restaurants, a marketplace and event venue, and retail outlets, including an authentic apparel team store for the Cardinals.

The new stadium was an immediate success with fans, with every game selling out in its debut season. The first season in 2006 saw the Cardinals reach the playoffs, and ultimately reaching and winning the 2006 World Series against the Detroit Tigers. The 2006 World Series title was the first for the franchise since 1982. The Cardinals later hosted and won the World Series again in 2011, this time beating the Texas Rangers 4–3 in a seven-game series.

The 2009 MLB All-Star game was held at Busch Stadium with the American League beating the National League 4–3. Prince Fielder won the Home Run Derby with a total of 23 home runs, defeating Nelson Cruz 6–5 in the final round.

Besides baseball, Busch Stadium has hosted other sporting, and non-sporting events. In 2013, the stadium hosted Manchester City and Chelsea United in an exhibition soccer game, during which Manchester won 4–3 in front of 48,263 spectators. The United States Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Teams have both also played friendly matches at Busch Stadium.

In 2017, the NHL® Winter Classic was held at Busch Stadium with the St. Louis Blues® beating the Chicago Blackhawks 4–1. In 2019, Busch Stadium hosted a watch party during Game 7 of the Stanley Cup® Finals when the Blues beat the Boston Bruins® 4–1 to win the Stanley Cup®, the first ever in the history of the franchise.

Busch Stadium has hosted several concerts in its history, with the first show featuring Dave Matthews Band in their Summer 2008 Tour. Other artists include The Eagles, U2, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, and Luke Bryan.

The first college football game played at Busch Stadium was the College Classic between Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri State of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) on September 21, 2013. Southern Illinois won the game 36–19.

Parking and Admission at Busch Stadium

When planning to attend a game at Busch Stadium, you’ll want to account for travel. If you plan to travel by car, there are plenty of parking options.  Parking rates depend on the event and lot that you choose. Parking passes for the Starr Lot and One Cardinal Way garage can be purchased as part of your overall ticket purchase and are delivered digitally via the Ballpark app. Busch Stadium recommends purchasing your parking passes prior to arriving at the stadium.

Public transit options for Busch Stadium include MetroLink. There are 21 free Park-Ride lots along the MetroLine so fans can take the train to Stadium Station, which is located right across the street from the ballpark. Bus options include the Redbird Express and MetroBus with stops located conveniently downtown.

Busch Stadium rules are in place to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests at the stadium. Prohibited items are in accordance with MLB policy. Gates open 90 minutes before first pitch on Monday through Thursday, and two hours before first pitch on Friday through Sunday. Gate open times are subject to change.

Busch Stadium policy requires that all fans enter the stadium by walking through metal detectors. If the device detects something, you will be required to check your pockets before additional screening with a handheld metal detector.

In accordance with MLB policy, Busch Stadium recommends fans do not bring any bags. According to those rules, the only bags permitted inside Busch Stadium are bags that do not exceed 16″x16″x8″. Possible exceptions include:

• Diaper bags
• Single-compartment drawstring bags
• Other bags used for medical reasons

All items are subject to search and all other bags will be denied.

Busch Stadium Capacity & Seating Options

When you visit Busch Stadium, you have plenty of seating options to enjoy the game. Busch Stadium capacity is 45,494. When the stadium originally opened in 2006, capacity with standing room was 47,514. The attendance record for baseball is 48,581. The largest capacity for a non-sporting event was U2’s 360° tour with 52,273 attendees.

Other Busch Stadium seating options include club seats, suites and VIP seating. Busch Stadium offers premium seating with 3,706 club seats and 61 luxury suites. Club options include the UMB Champions Club, National Car Rental Club, Premium Legends Club, and Perficient Red Jacket Club. Additional options include all-inclusive tickets with a full buffet and bar service, and the Cardinals Club located directly behind home plate for the most premium experience Busch Stadium has to offer.

For more information about hospitality options, contact the Cardinals at 314-345-9000.

What are the best seats at Busch Stadium?

The best seats at Busch Stadium vary depending on the event and personal preferences. Check out Busch Stadium seating charts and find your favorite seat today.

Food & Beverage Options at Busch Stadium

When you come to a game at Busch Stadium, come hungry! There are plenty of food options located throughout the stadium, so if it’s a hot dog and burger, or a full-service buffet, you have plenty of options to choose from.

Some of the most popular concession stands include Broadway BBQ for St. Louis ribs and brisket, El Birdos for nachos, Dizzy’s Diner for Juicy Lucy burgers, Nona’s Italian Beef Sandwich, or Mega Slice for a gigantic piece of pizza. One of the most iconic beverage options at Busch Stadium is a Budweiser in a metallic can. If you’re looking for a beverage to enjoy the game, you can’t go wrong there.

For guests heading to the game with dietary restrictions, there are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free food options throughout the venue.