Busch Stadium III

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Lore & Background

The stadium opened on April 4, 2006, with an exhibition between the minor league Memphis Redbirds and Springfield Cardinals (both affiliates of the St. Louis Cardinals), which Springfield won 5–3 with right-hander Mike Parisi recording the first win. The first major league game occurred on April 10, 2006, as the Cardinals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 6–4 behind an Albert Pujols home run and winning pitcher Mark Mulder. In 2004, then-Anheuser-Busch president August Busch IV announced that the brewing giant had purchased 20-year naming rights for the stadium. Team owner William DeWitt Jr. said: "From the day we began planning for the new ballpark, we wanted to keep the name 'Busch Stadium.' August Busch IV and Anheuser-Busch share our vision for continuing that tradition for our great fans and the entire St. Louis community." It is the third stadium in St. Louis to carry the name Busch Stadium. Sportsman's Park was renamed Busch Stadium in 1953; then-team owner August Busch Jr. had planned to name it Budweiser Stadium, but at the time league rules prohibited naming a venue after an alcoholic beverage. Busch named the stadium after himself, and the Anheuser-Busch corporation later introduced Busch Beer. The first Busch Stadium closed in 1966 and both the baseball Cardinals, and the National Football League (NFL)'s team of the same name (later the Arizona Cardinals) moved to a new multi-purpose stadium, named Busch Memorial Stadium (Busch Stadium II).

In Their Own Story

The new stadium hosted its first exhibition on April 4, 2006, where the Springfield Cardinals defeated the Memphis Redbirds 5–3, with right-hander Mike Parisi recording the first win. The first major league game followed six days later on April 10, as the Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6–4, powered by an Albert Pujols home run and a pitching performance from Mark Mulder. That debut season saw every single Cardinal game sell out, drawing a total attendance of 3,407,104 fans. Years later, on August 6, 2022, the stadium witnessed its largest crowd with 48,581 spectators watching a tight 1–0 victory over the New York Yankees.

Reader's Guide

The stadium was designed by Populous (then known as HOK Sport) and built by Hunt Construction with an estimated cost of $344.8 million, which proved too low by $20.2 million to its final cost of $365 million. The field level (16,880 seats), terrace level (9,150), and bleachers (3,661) were completed in time for opening day, with total capacity on that day of 37,962, not including up to 2,751 standing room tickets. An integrated LED video and scoring system from Daktronics was installed in the stadium prior to its opening, featuring a video display measuring 32 feet (9.8 m) high by 52 feet (16 m) wide and three message displays, as well as more than 100 feet (30 m) of digital ribbon board technology. Construction on the seating area was completed in late May increasing the capacity for the May 29, 2006 game vs the Houston Astros with finishing touches performed throughout the year. Including all 2,886 standing-room-only tickets for the general public, as well as suites and party rooms, the stadium's total capacity is 46,861. Natural grass turf was installed in March 2006.

Did You Know?

• In the stadium's debut season every Cardinal game was sold out, giving a total attendance of 3,407,104 for the season, the second-largest in team history, but since surpassed in 2007, 2008, and from 2014 to 2017.
• The largest attendance for a baseball game occurred August 6, 2022, when 48,581 fans watched a game between the Cardinals and the New York Yankees, a 1-0 Cardinals victory.
• The Cardinals won the 2006 World Series at home, clinching their 10th World Series championship in Game 5 on October 27, by the score of 4–2.
• In the 2011 World Series, Game 6 was won in walk-off fashion by a David Freese home run, and the Cardinals won Game 7 to take the title.

Origins and Naming Legacy

It is the third stadium in St. Louis to carry the name Busch Stadium. Sportsman's Park was renamed Busch Stadium in 1953; then-team owner August Busch Jr. had planned to name it Budweiser Stadium, but league rules prohibited naming a venue after an alcoholic beverage. In 2004, Anheuser-Busch president August Busch IV announced the purchase of 20-year naming rights for the new stadium. Team owner William DeWitt Jr. stated that from the day planning began, they wanted to keep the name 'Busch Stadium.'

Development and Architectural Design

In 1995, ownership began lobbying for a new ballpark in downtown St. Louis. After a funding bill was struck down in May 2002, the city of St. Louis drafted a financing plan. The stadium was financed through private bonds, bank loans, a long-term loan from St. Louis County, and money from team owners. Designed by Populous (then HOK Sport) with Jim Chibnall as senior project designer and built by Hunt Construction, the final cost was $365 million. It has a seating capacity of 44,383, including 3,706 club seats and 61 luxury suites. An integrated LED video system from Daktronics features a display measuring 32 feet high by 52 feet wide.

Inaugural Games and Early Success

The stadium opened on April 4, 2006, with an exhibition where the Springfield Cardinals defeated the Memphis Redbirds 5–3. The first major league game occurred on April 10, 2006, as the Cardinals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 6–4 behind an Albert Pujols home run and winning pitcher Mark Mulder. In the debut season, every Cardinal game was sold out, totaling 3,407,104 in attendance.

Championship Moments and Record Crowds

In 2006, the Cardinals hosted Games 3, 4, and 5 of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers, winning all three at home to clinch their 10th championship with a 4–2 victory on October 27. The largest attendance for a baseball game occurred August 6, 2022, when 48,581 fans watched a 1–0 Cardinals victory over the New York Yankees.