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Busch Stadium, St. Louis
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Busch Stadium

What a visiting fan needs to know: where to stay, getting in from STL, parking and tailgating, what to eat and where to sit.

  • St. Louis, MO
  • Home of the Cardinals
  • Fly into STL
  • Stadium tours
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Games at Busch Stadium

Where to stay near Busch Stadium

Where visiting fans stay

Checked at the source
  • Ballpark Village and the ballpark blocks
    Ballpark Village, Google Maps

    Ballpark Village and the ballpark blocksVisiting fans pick this

    3 min by walk. Live! by Loews sits in Ballpark Village across the street from the gates, and the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark has rooms that look into the stadium. You can walk to the game and back with no planning.

  • Gateway Arch and Washington AvenueVisiting fans pick this

    15 min by walk. Big downtown hotels such as the Marriott St. Louis Grand are a walk from both the Arch and the ballpark, and Washington Avenue has bars and restaurants for after the game.

  • Union Station
    St. Louis Union Station, Google Maps

    Union Station

    5 min by transit. The hotel inside the old train station has its own attractions, and the Union Station MetroLink stop is two stops from Stadium station.

  • Central West End
    Valencia James, Google Maps

    Central West End

    15 min by transit. A walkable neighborhood of restaurants and hotels next to Forest Park. Both MetroLink lines stop here and run straight to Stadium station.

  • Airport area

    35 min by transit. A fallback when downtown is full. The Red Line runs from the terminals to Stadium station without a transfer.

Around the stadium

Checked at the source
Ballpark Village sits directly across Clark Avenue from the ballpark, with the Live! by Loews hotel inside it and the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark a block east on Broadway. Paddy O's and the Broadway Oyster Bar are a few blocks south.

Map of the area

Tap a pin to see the place.

Getting to Busch Stadium

From St. Louis Lambert

From a specialist guide
STL (St. Louis Lambert). The airport is about 14 miles northwest of downtown, roughly 25 minutes by car. The MetroLink Red Line runs from both terminals to Stadium station, next to the ballpark, in about 35 minutes.

On game day

Checked at the source
MetroLink Red Line from the airport, about 35 min. Stadium station, next to the Westin on the 8th Street side of the ballpark. MetroLink Red or Blue Line from downtown, Central West End or Illinois, about 15 min. Stadium station on the 8th Street side, a short walk to Gate 3. Free Molly's shuttle from Soulard, about 10 min. Near the ballpark. The shuttle starts running one hour before first pitch. Drive and park in a team lot, about 10 min. All-Star Lot at 611 S 8th St, across from Gate 2, or One Cardinal Way Garage at 269 S Broadway.

Parking and tailgating at Busch Stadium

Tailgating

Checked at the source
The parking terms for the team lots and the One Cardinal Way Garage ban barbecues and other tailgating, and you cannot play music from a sound system. Plan to eat and drink at Ballpark Village or nearby bars instead. The Together Credit Union Plaza in Ballpark Village has more than 40,000 square feet of outdoor space with a big LED screen tied to the stadium feed. This is how St. Louis does a pregame instead of a lot party.

Game day at Busch Stadium

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: Bags, purses and soft-sided coolers up to 10 by 8 by 10 inches are allowed. They do not need to be clear. Medical bags and diaper bags with a child are exceptions. All bags are inspected, and everyone walks through a metal detector.
  • Cashless: All stands, kiosks and shops take only credit and debit cards. You can turn cash into a debit card with no fee at the 8th Street Market (level 1 near the west ramp), the Broadway Market (level 1 across from Gate 6) or the Terrace Market (section 450).
  • Exit and re-entry: Get a hand stamp at Gate 1 or Gate 4 before you leave. With the stamp and your ticket you can come back in at any gate until 90 minutes after the scheduled first pitch. You will go through screening again.

Touring the stadium

Checked at the source
A one-hour guided tour that usually stops at the UMB Champions Club, the broadcast booth and the warning track or dugout when available. It includes entry to the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum. Adults pay $22, seniors and military $20, kids 15 and under $18. Tours start at Gate 3 on 8th Street, often sell out, and run rain or shine. Buy at cardinals.com/tours or call (314) 345-9000. A 30 to 45 minute walk focused on the best views, from the press dining room to the scoreboard patio. Adults pay $12, seniors and military $10, kids $8. It starts at Gate 3 on 8th Street. Seven galleries of club history at Cardinals Nation in Ballpark Village. Adults pay $12, seniors and military $10, kids $8, and kids 3 and under get in free.

After the final whistle

Checked at the source
After the game, 8th Street from Gratiot to Clark closes to cars so the crowd can walk out. MetroLink runs until about midnight, and if a game goes past midnight trains keep running until the downtown platform is clear. Car lots close one hour after the game ends. To skip the platform crush, wait 30 minutes at Ballpark Village before you head to the train.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Driving in without a prepaid pass. Team lots are cashless on game day, passes live in the MLB Ballpark app, and buying in advance saves $5. MetroLink drops you at the gates for less.

Food and drink at Busch Stadium

Bars near the stadium

Checked at the source
  • Ballpark Village
    Ballpark Village, Google Maps

    Ballpark VillageDistrict

    601 Clark Ave, St. Louis, MO 63102

    A block of bars and restaurants across Clark Avenue from the ballpark, with an outdoor plaza and a big screen tied to the stadium feed. Inside you will find Cardinals Nation, the Budweiser Brew House, a country bar, a taco spot and more.

    Away fans: it is the home crowd's living room, so expect a sea of red and some ribbing. Visiting fans come here all the time and it stays friendly.

  • Cardinals Nation Restaurant and Bar
    Cardinals Nation, Google Maps

    Cardinals Nation Restaurant and Bar

    601 Clark Ave, St. Louis, MO 63102

    A two-story restaurant run by the club inside Ballpark Village, with four full bars, three patio decks and more than 50 TVs. The team Hall of Fame plaque gallery sits on the second level.

    Away fans: this is the team's own bar, packed with club history. Wear your colors, but expect the room to be loud for the home side.

  • Budweiser Brew House
    Budweiser Brew House, Google Maps

    Budweiser Brew House

    601 Clark Ave, St. Louis, MO 63102

    A three-level bar in Ballpark Village with live music and a southern menu on the ground floor. The third-floor Bud Deck looks straight into the ballpark and is the spot to grab a drink with a view.

    Away fans: a home crowd bar with live music. Visiting fans fit in fine if they keep it light.

  • Paddy O's
    Paddy O's, Google Maps

    Paddy O's

    618 S 7th St, St. Louis, MO 63102

    A big game-day bar a block from the ballpark, with several bars, lots of TVs, a patio and Cardinals memorabilia on the walls. It fills up before and after home games.

    Away fans: a rowdy Cardinals bar a short walk from the gates. Visiting fans get teased but are welcome.

Things to do around Busch Stadium

Listed in the order they happen on game day. Each one earns points.

  1. Landmark50 points

    Walk the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum

    Seven galleries of club history sit across the street from the gates at Cardinals Nation, and the plaque gallery outside is free. It stays open through the 7th inning on game nights, so you can go before the game and still make first pitch.

    $. 3 hours before first pitch

  2. Ritual50 points

    Ride the free Molly's shuttle from Soulard

    Have a drink on one of the city's biggest patios in the old Soulard bar district, then ride the free shuttle to the game. It starts one hour before first pitch and comes free with any drink.

    $. 2 hours 30 minutes before first pitch

  3. Drink40 points

    Pregame drink on the Bud Deck

    The third floor of the Budweiser Brew House looks straight into the ballpark from across Clark Avenue. Grab a beer here while the teams warm up and then walk across to the gates.

    $$. 2 hours before first pitch

  4. Ritual40 points

    Watch warmups on the Ballpark Village plaza

    The Together Credit Union Plaza has more than 40,000 square feet of outdoor space and a big screen fed by the stadium. Since the team lots ban tailgating, this plaza is where the pregame crowd gathers.

    Free. 1 hour 30 minutes before first pitch

  5. Tour65 points

    Take the Classic ballpark tour

    A guide walks you through the Champions Club, the broadcast booth and, when available, the warning track and dugout. The ticket also gets you into the team museum.

    $$

  6. Landmark75 points

    Ride the tram to the top of the Gateway Arch

    The tram climbs inside the Arch to the windows at the top, where you look back over downtown and the ballpark. Book ahead and allow 45 to 60 minutes. The museum under the Arch is free if you skip the ride.

    $

  7. Eat50 points

    Order a concrete at Ted Drewes

    Ted Drewes on old Route 66 serves frozen custard so thick they hand it to you upside down. Locals line up here on summer nights after the game.

    $

  8. Eat50 points

    Eat toasted ravioli on the Hill

    Toasted ravioli is the St. Louis bar snack, and the Hill is the Italian neighborhood that made it famous. Charlie Gitto's on Shaw Avenue serves its signature version at dinner.

    $$

  9. Eat50 points

    Get ribs at Pappy's Smokehouse

    Pappy's in Midtown smokes Memphis-style ribs and often sells out, so go at lunch. It is a short ride west of downtown.

    $$

  10. Outing65 points

    Climb through City Museum

    An old shoe factory turned into an artist-built playground of caves, tunnels and slides, including a 10-story slide. Adults climb through it as much as kids do.

    $$

  11. Outing50 points

    Spend a morning at the Saint Louis Zoo

    One of the few big zoos in the country with free admission, set inside Forest Park. Ride MetroLink to Forest Park station and walk over.

    Free

  12. Eat40 points

    Try the fried gooey butter cake at Gashouse Grill

    Gooey butter cake is a St. Louis dessert, and the ballpark dips it in funnel cake batter and fries it. It is sold only at Gashouse Grill in section 150.

    $. 30 minutes after first pitch

Seats and shade at Busch Stadium

Where the sun lands on a day game, and which seats stay dry when it rains.

Shade and cover

From a specialist guide
  • Field level outfield on the left field side, sections 160 to 172, rows 20 and up. These rows sit under the deck above and stay shaded and dry. The Left Field Porch seats above sections 170 to 172 have some of the best shade in the ballpark in summer.
  • Field level on the first base side, sections 127 to 140, rows 21 and up. The front rows face west and take a lot of afternoon sun. Only the back rows under the overhang stay shaded all game.
  • Field level behind home plate, sections 145 to 155, rows 24 and up. The back rows are under cover, which also keeps you dry in a passing shower. Rows in front of that are open.
  • Pavilion level behind home plate, sections 347 to 353. Most rows get shade late in the afternoon, but in an early afternoon game this is one of the sunniest areas in the ballpark.
  • Outfield bleachers, sections 101 to 111 and 189 to 197. These seats get almost no shade all day. Bring a hat and sunscreen in a non-aerosol bottle, since aerosol cans are banned.