Busch Stadium facts for kids
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Busch Stadium III
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Busch Stadium in 2022
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 Busch Stadium
Location in Missouri
Busch Stadium
Location in the United States
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| Address | 700 Clark Ave |
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| Location | St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
| Coordinates | 38°37′21″N 90°11′35″W / 38.62250°N 90.19306°W |
| Public transit |  Red BlueAt Stadium |
| Owner | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Operator | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Capacity | 44,383 (2020–present) 44,494 (2018–2019) |
| Record attendance | Soccer: 48,263 Chelsea vs Manchester City (3–4) Baseball: 48,581 (August 6, 2022) Cardinals vs New York Yankees Hockey: 46,556 (January 2, 2017) St. Louis Blues vs Chicago Blackhawks: 2017 NHL Winter Classic Concert: U2's U2 360° Tour 52,273 (largest non-sporting event) |
| Field size | Left field — 336 feet (102 m) Left center field — 375 feet (114 m) Center field — 400 feet (122 m) Right center field — 375 feet (114 m) Right field — 335 feet (102 m)  |
| Surface | Bermuda Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | January 17, 2004 |
| Opened | April 4, 2006 (MiLB exhibition) April 10, 2006 (MLB) |
| Construction cost | $365 million ($530 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | HOK Sport Kennedy Associates/Architects Inc. |
| Project manager | Clayco Corp. |
| Structural engineer | Bliss & Nyitray, Inc |
| Services engineer | M-E Engineers, Inc. |
| General contractor | Hunt/Kwame |
| Tenants | |
| St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) (2006–present) | |
Busch Stadium is a famous baseball park in St. Louis, Missouri. It's the home field for the St. Louis Cardinals, a team in Major League Baseball. People sometimes call it "New Busch Stadium" or "Busch Stadium III." It can hold about 44,383 fans.
This stadium opened on April 4, 2006. The very first game was an exhibition match between two minor league teams, the Memphis Redbirds and the Springfield Cardinals. The first official Major League Baseball game happened on April 10, 2006. The Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6–4 that day.
The stadium is named Busch Stadium because of a deal with Anheuser-Busch, a big brewing company. The team owner wanted to keep the name "Busch Stadium" to continue a long tradition in St. Louis. This is actually the third stadium in St. Louis to have the Busch Stadium name! The first one was Sportsman's Park, renamed in 1953. The second was Busch Memorial Stadium, which closed in 2005.
Contents
History of Busch Stadium
Planning the New Stadium
Back in 1995, the St. Louis Cardinals wanted a new baseball park. They looked for a place in downtown St. Louis. It took several years to get the money and plans approved. In 2001, the state government agreed to help. However, a funding plan was rejected in 2002.
Eventually, the city of St. Louis created a plan to build the stadium downtown. The stadium was paid for with private money, bank loans, and money from the team owners. The stadium itself cost about $365 million to build.
Building and Opening the Park
The new Busch Stadium was designed by a company called Populous. They also designed other famous stadiums around the world. The construction cost was a bit more than first expected, reaching $365 million.
The stadium was built in stages. The main seating areas and bleachers were ready for opening day. This allowed for over 37,000 fans. A large LED video screen and scoring system were also installed. This screen is 32 feet high and 52 feet wide.
More seating was finished in May 2006, increasing the capacity. The stadium's total capacity, including standing room, is 46,861. Natural grass was put on the field in March 2006, just before opening.
Exciting Baseball Moments
In its first year, every Cardinals game at Busch Stadium sold out! Over 3.4 million fans came to watch. The largest crowd for a baseball game was 48,581 fans. This happened on August 6, 2022, when the Cardinals played the New York Yankees.
Playoff Games and World Series Wins
Busch Stadium has seen many exciting playoff games. In its very first season, 2006, the Cardinals hosted playoff games. They won the National League Division Series and then the National League Championship Series.
The Cardinals then played the Detroit Tigers in the 2006 World Series. St. Louis won all their home games. They clinched their 10th World Series championship in Game 5 on October 27, 2006. This was a huge win for the new stadium!
In 2011, the Cardinals had another amazing playoff run. They won the National League Championship Series. Then, they faced the Texas Rangers in the 2011 World Series. The Cardinals won Game 6 with a dramatic home run by David Freese. They then won Game 7, taking home their 11th World Series title!
The stadium also hosted playoff games in 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2019. The Cardinals have had many memorable moments there.
MLB All-Star Game
Busch Stadium hosted the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 14, 2009. This is a special game where the best players from the American League play against the best from the National League. The American League won that game 4–3. Even the President of the United States, Barack Obama, threw out the first pitch!
College and High School Baseball
College teams, like the Missouri Tigers, have played games at Busch Stadium. Local high school teams also get a special chance to play on the field after some weekend Cardinals games. It's a dream come true for many young players!
Other Sports and Events
Professional Soccer Matches
Busch Stadium has hosted several professional soccer games. On May 23, 2013, two famous English clubs, Manchester City and Chelsea, played there. Tickets sold out in just 20 minutes! Manchester City won 4–3 in front of 48,263 fans.
The stadium has also hosted international friendly matches. These include games with the United States Women's and Men's National Soccer Teams. Teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Argentina, Italy, and New Zealand have played there too.
Professional Hockey Games
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On January 2, 2017, Busch Stadium hosted the 2017 NHL Winter Classic. This was an outdoor hockey game between the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blues won 4–1 in front of 46,556 fans, even with thick fog and rain!
In 2019, the stadium held a watch party for Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals. Over 25,000 fans watched the St. Louis Blues win their first-ever Stanley Cup on the big screens.
College Football
The first-ever football game at Busch Stadium was on September 21, 2013. Southern Illinois University played against Southeast Missouri State.
Concerts at Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium is not just for sports; it's also a popular place for big concerts! Many famous artists have performed there.
- U2 played to a massive crowd of 52,273 fans in 2011.
- Paul McCartney performed in 2016.
- Metallica rocked the stadium in 2017.
- Billy Joel and Ed Sheeran also had concerts in 2017 and 2018.
- Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Journey, and Def Leppard have also played at the stadium.
Stadium Features
Cool Design and Views
Unlike older stadiums that were completely enclosed, Busch Stadium has an open design. This allows for amazing views of the downtown St. Louis skyline. You can even see the famous Gateway Arch from inside!
The main entrance at Gate 3 is very special. It has a large "bridge" design that looks like the Eads Bridge in St. Louis. The outside of the stadium has plaques showing old Cardinals logos and history.
The stadium has two large HD video boards. The main board is 40 feet high and 120 feet wide. In 2019, new LED floodlights were added. These lights can create cool light shows. There's also the Budweiser Terrace, a fun area with bars, food, and social spaces.
Statues of Legends
Outside Gate 3, you'll find a bronze statue of Cardinals legend Stan Musial. Other statues of famous Cardinals players are displayed nearby. These include Enos Slaughter, Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson, and Ozzie Smith. There are also statues of players from other St. Louis teams and a famous radio broadcaster.
Food and Drinks
Fans at Busch Stadium have many food choices. You can find classic ballpark snacks like hot dogs and nachos. There are also St. Louis favorites like pork steak sandwiches and toasted ravioli. The stadium sells beer from Budweiser, but also from local craft breweries.
A cool thing about Busch Stadium is that you can bring your own food and drinks! Many fans bring soft-sided coolers with snacks and water.
"Fredbird" Store
The stadium has a special store where you can make your own Fredbird mascot. Fredbird is the St. Louis Cardinals' fun team mascot! The store moved in 2015 so it could be open even on days when there isn't a game.
Ballpark Village
Right next to Busch Stadium is Ballpark Village. This is a complex with homes and entertainment. It was built on the spot where the old Busch Memorial Stadium used to be. It opened in 2014 and is a popular place for fans before and after games.
Images for kids
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Stadium dimensions.
See also
In Spanish: Busch Stadium para niños
