About Busch Stadium
Also known as Busch Stadium III or New Busch Stadium, the current home of the St. Louis Cardinals is one of the best places to watch baseball. MLB games at this ballpark attract big crowds and do not disappoint them in terms of ambiance.
The stadium is not just for hosting games. Cardinals fans can take the hour-long stadium tour to learn about the history of the franchise and the stadium itself. Besides, the stadium is built in such a way that all seats offer you great views during a game. Also, with close to 44,000 seats, it is one of the top ten biggest stadiums in the league. However, the high seating capacity makes Busch Stadium parking tricky during major games and events, even with onsite stadium lots. Offsite lots and garages near the stadium makes it easier to find cheaper parking.
Busch Stadium History
There are three Busch Stadiums in the history of the St. Louis Cardinals. The franchise originally played their home games at Busch Stadium, the first, from 1881 till demolition in 1953. Following this, the second stadium, now known as the Busch Memorial Stadium, was home to the team between 1966 to 2005. Finally, the current stadium, known as the New Busch Stadium, opened in 2006. A development project centered around the new stadium, known as the Ballpark Village, was also built after the stadium came into existence.
Busch Stadium Capacity
Busch Stadium originally had a seating capacity of 46,000. From 2018, the number of seats has been reduced to 45,494; still, it is among the top ten MLB ballparks in total seats. But the record attendance for baseball is 48,581, which was for the Cardinals against the New York Yankees. The ballpark can hold more than 47,000 people if standing room is also considered.
Busch Stadium Year Opened
The present home of the St. Louis Cardinals was open to the public on April 10, 2006. The very first game saw the home side take a 6-4 win over northern rivals- the Milwaukee Brewers. However, the Cardinals went on to win the World Series Championship in the first season of the New Busch Stadium.
Busch Stadium Seating Chart Details
- Busch Stadium has a variety of seating configurations, with some sections having rows that run from left to right and others having rows that run from right to left.
- The seat numbers run from right to left on the left side of the stadium. The lowest number of seats will be on the far right of each section when you sit facing the field.
- The seat numbers on the right side of the stadium will increase from left to right. The lowest number of seats will be on the far left of each section if you sit facing the field.
- There will be anywhere from 10 seats in a row to 30 seats in certain rows on the 100 and 200 levels. In some sections, each row will have the same number of seats. But as you go higher, the number of seats will increase per row.
- Outfield section rows will have nine seats each. However, rows in other sections will have around 26 to 30 seats. On average, this section will have between 9 and 30 seats per row. Also, the shorter rows will be in the front, and the longer ones will be in the back.
- The upper deck (300 and 400 Level) seat count at Busch Stadium will range from 5 to 30 or more. Typically, the rows in the 300 Level have fewer seats than the 400 Level.
- The 400 level at Busch Stadium has seat counts typically ranging from 10 to 30 per row, making it one of the biggest sections in the stadium.
Busch Stadium Seating Map
Busch Stadium offers three levels of seating- Levels 100, 200, 300 and 400. The seats closer to the field include the bleachers in the lower left and lower right fields. Among all the seats, more than 3,700 club seats and 61 luxury suites offer exclusive amenities. Some of the popular areas in the seating map are:
- Budweiser Terrace
- Redbird Club
- Dugout Box
- Diamond Box
- Loge Seats
- Home Pavilion
- Cardinals Club
- MVP Deck
- Party Suites
- Legends Club
There are food and drink options in premium seating areas among the long list of seating options. Also, the views will vary from each seating. The closest views from the lower section and premium seating will cost you more than the terrace seats. Padded seats are also available in areas. In addition, Redbird Club has air conditioning and bathrooms for guests.
Busch Stadium Guide
- You can see the best views of the St. Louis skyline and the Gateway Arch when you are sitting on the upper deck of Busch Stadium.
- The main scoreboard is above the seating area. In addition, an out-of-town scoreboard is towards the right of the main scoreboard. Also, the bullpens are located on the left and right centerfield.
- The Coca-Cola Rooftop Deck, the Backstop Bar, and a family pavilion can get you some of the best views of the field. In addition, spectators may participate in interactive games and activities among the gathering spots at Busch Stadium.
- The St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum is in Phase 1 of Ballpark Village. The same three-story building spread over 30,000 square feet also contains the Cardinal Nation Restaurant.
- Budweiser Terrace is an exclusive area with multiple levels at the upper right-field section of the ballpark. It has lounge seats, standing areas, and two bars.
Home Team Seats at Busch Stadium
Sections 143 and 144 are behind the St. Louis Cardinals' dugout. The dugout for the visiting team lies in front of sections 156-157. Sections 107 and 109 are behind the bullpen for the St. Louis Cardinals. At Busch Stadium, the visiting team's bullpen is in front of rows 189 and 191.
FAQs
Does Busch Stadium have bleacher seats?
Yes. The bleachers, which are bench seats, are located in sections 101-111 and 189-197 at Busch Stadium. There are three bleacher areas- the right field, lower right field, and lower left field. If you want to catch the home runs, you should choose the bleachers. They are located in the outfield, have no cover, and are one of the most affordable seating options for MLB games at the ballpark in downtown St. Louis.
What are the best seats in Busch Stadium?
The best seats in Busch Stadium are on the club-level infield sections, which are the lower-level infield seats. You can get some of the best unobstructed views of the field, scoreboard, and St. Louis skyline. In addition, the Redbird Club seats, which are on Level Three, are also great. Sections 241-257 are the best choices if you want to watch the game from behind the batter.
Where do you sit in Busch Stadium to avoid the sun?
The higher sections, which are farther from the field, are the best places to avoid the sun. But other seats are closer to the field and can shade you from the sun. A rule of thumb is to pick a section behind the home plate or on the side of the first base. Sections 431-454, 361-372, 170-171, 128-140, and 160-167 are all ideal if you want to stay away from the sun at different times of the day.
How early do gates open at Busch Stadium?
On game days from Monday through Thursday, the gates at Busch Stadium will open an hour and a half before the first pitch. But from Fridays to Sundays, the gates will open two hours prior to the beginning of the game.
How does seating work at Busch Stadium?
You can choose from multiple seat options at Busch Stadium. These seats will vary in terms of fan experience, amenities, view, and price. Considering the placement of seats, you can choose between field level, terrace level, and upper deck areas. In addition, there are premium seating areas like the Club Seats, Luxury Suites, and Budweiser Terrace.
What are the rules for bringing food into Busch Stadium?
You can bring outside food and water in plastic containers that are no more than 2 liters big. In addition, there are areas in the stadium, like the Luxury Suites, Party Suites, and Cardinals Club, where outside food is not permitted.
Which way do seat numbers go at Busch Stadium?
The Busch Stadium has some rows going from right to left, while others go from left to right. So, sections 150-197, 250-272, 350-372, and 450-454, all on the stadium's left side, have seat numbers going from right to left. So, if you are sitting in these sections facing the field, you can find the lowest seat number on the rightmost end of each section. Alternately, the sections on the right side of the stadium have seat numbers from left to right.
Can I bring a water bottle to Busch Stadium?
Yes. You can bring a water bottle made of plastic to Busch Stadium. But the quantity must be 2 liters or less. Bottles made of glass or aluminum are also not allowed in the stadium.
What is not allowed in Busch Stadium?
Chewing and smokeless tobacco, electric cigarettes, face paint or costumes that cover the head or face, and artificial noisemakers are some of the things that you cannot bring to the stadium. In addition, alcohol, animals, except for service animals, chairs, coolers, balloons, large bags, drones, fireworks, and weapons, are among other things that are prohibited in Busch Stadium.
Does Busch Stadium accept cash?
No. Busch Stadium supports cashless purchases only. You can use credit or debit cards as payment options. All the concession stands and various other transactions are all cashless.