It’s a sunny afternoon in St. Louis, and you’re sitting in the upper deck at Busch Stadium, watching one of the best teams in baseball while enjoying breathtaking views of the St. Louis skyline and the iconic Gateway Arch. Cardinals baseball has been a downtown St. Louis tradition since 1966, with the team playing in three different ballparks known as Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals originally played at Sportsmans Park in North St. Louis, which was renamed Busch Stadium in 1953. In 1966, the team moved downtown to a circular, multipurpose stadium, also called Busch Stadium. This second Busch Stadium hosted not only Cardinals baseball but also numerous other events, including games for the St. Louis Cardinals NFL team before their move to Arizona. Despite undergoing significant renovations in the 1990s to modernize it, the enclosed stadium eventually fell short of modern standards. By the late 1990s, the Cardinals began advocating for a new ballpark, one that could generate additional revenue through amenities like luxury suites and club seats, which the old stadium lacked.

While fans and ownership agreed that the Cardinals home should remain in downtown St. Louis, the team initially faced resistance from the city in securing support for the project. By 2000, the Cardinals even explored the possibility of relocating east of the Mississippi River to Illinois, near the Gateway International Raceway. However, this plan made little sense to most, and by June 2001, fans celebrated when the Cardinals and the State of Missouri finalized an agreement to construct a new ballpark in downtown St. Louis, adjacent to the existing stadium. Construction began in December 2003, and in August 2004, the Cardinals and Anheuser-Busch signed a 20-year naming rights deal to keep the Busch Stadium name alive. The new ballpark was privately financed through a combination of private bonds, bank loans, cash investments by the team’s owners, and a long-term loan from St. Louis County.

On April 10, 2006, the Cardinals played their inaugural game at the new Busch Stadium against the Milwaukee Brewers. Approaching the ballpark, fans are greeted by a striking façade of brick and steel, with arched openings at the main entrances reminiscent of the historic warehouses nearby. Busch Stadium has a seating capacity of 46,700, divided among three main levels: the main concourse, loge concourse, and terrace concourse. Bleacher seating in left and right field offers fans a unique perspective on the game. For the first three months of its operation, the grandstand in left field remained under construction, as the footprint of the new stadium overlapped with the old Busch Stadium, delaying work until demolition was complete.

Inside, fans are treated to one of the best views in baseball. Beyond the outfield, the St. Louis skyline and the majestic Gateway Arch serve as a stunning backdrop. The stadium features open concourses, including on the upper level, ensuring clear views of the field from nearly every vantage point. The main scoreboard is located above the seating area in right-center field, accompanied by an out-of-town scoreboard to its right. The bullpens are situated in left and right-center field. Busch Stadium also offers numerous gathering and party spaces, such as the Family Pavilion with interactive games and activities, the Coca-Cola Rooftop Deck, and the Backstop Bar.

In 2014, the stadium expanded with the completion of Ballpark Village, located beyond center field on the site of the old Busch Stadium. Phase I of the project introduced a three-story, 30,000-square-foot building housing the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum and Cardinal Nation Restaurant. Fans can even watch the game from 300 seats atop the building, located 500 feet from home plate. Other highlights include the Budweiser Brew House, featuring a beer garden and a selection of 100 different beers, as well as entertainment venues like Live! at Ballpark Village and PBR St. Louis.

In 2018, the Budweiser Terrace was added to the upper right field section of the stadium. This multi-level area features two bars, lounge seating, and standing-room areas, providing a social space for fans to enjoy the game. Approximately 1,000 seats were removed to create this new feature, reducing the stadium’s capacity to 43,975.

St. Louis Cardinals fans are among the most passionate in baseball, with the team consistently drawing over three million fans to Busch Stadium each season. Known for their loyalty and enthusiasm, Cardinals fans contribute to an electric atmosphere, making Busch Stadium one of the best fan experiences in the league. Combined with the team’s on-field success, including multiple pennants since moving into the new stadium, Busch Stadium continues to be a shining jewel of Major League Baseball.

Busch Stadium Pictures