How to Watch Batting Practice at Busch Stadium [St. Louis Cardinals]


Sportsfanfocus.com has no affiliation with Busch Stadium, the St. Louis Cardinals, or MLB (info)

Coming to the stadium early to catch batting practice gives fans an opportunity to see players up close and personal. Some players may use this time to sign autographs and take photos with fans. But what about St. Louis Cardinals games at Busch Stadium? Can you watch batting practice at Busch Stadium?

Yes, you can watch batting practice at Busch Stadium, although it’s worth noting that batting practice begins prior to the stadium gates opening, so fans will only be able to see part of batting practice. The official time that St. Louis Cardinals batting practice is held can change, but in general, you can expect batting practice to begin roughly two and a half hours before game time. Typically, batting practice lasts 45-60 minutes per team.

Fantasy Baseball: Vivid Picks is a simple fantasy sports app that is turning predicting the game into a game of its own. It’s like if fantasy sports, Twitter & eSports had a baby. It’s a new cool way to enjoy the game as it happens. Click here to view the new Vivid Picks app (paid affiliate link takes you to VividPicks.com). Vivid Picks is owned by Vivid Seats.

The St. Louis Cardinals will take batting practice first, since they are the home team. After that, the visiting team will take their batting practice. The length of batting practice can fluctuate day-to-day, but most teams stick to normal routines as much as possible.

Because Busch Stadium gates only open 90 minutes prior to game time for games Monday through Thursday, by the time fans can enter the stadium, it will usually be the road team on the field taking batting practice. Stadium gates open 2 hours prior to game time for games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, which means it will give fans a better chance to catch a glimpse of Cardinals batting practice.

Although batting practice is usually held, it is worth noting that there can be occasional exceptions due to weather or other circumstances. The length and time of practice is at the manager’s discretion, but as I mentioned earlier, most teams stick to normal routines as much as possible.

St. Louis Cardinals Batting Practice Time

Can You Watch Batting Practice at Busch Stadium?

Yes, you can watch batting practice at Busch Stadium. As we discussed above, the official time that St. Louis Cardinals batting practice is held can change, but in general, you can expect batting practice to begin roughly 2.5 hours before game time.

The St. Louis Cardinals will take batting practice first, since they are the home team. After that, the visiting team will take their batting practice. The length of batting practice can fluctuate day-to-day, but batting practice usually lasts 45-60 minutes per team.

Because Busch Stadium gates only open 90 minutes prior to game time for games Monday through Thursday, by the time fans can enter the stadium, it will usually be the road team on the field taking batting practice. Stadium gates open 2 hours prior to game time for games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which means it will give fans a better chance to catch a glimpse of Cardinals batting practice.

What Time do Gates Open for Batting Practice?

As we discussed above, Busch Stadium gates open approximately 90 minutes prior to game time for games Monday through Thursday (source). For Friday, Saturday, and Sunday games, gates open 2 hours prior to game time. It is worth noting that gate times are always subject to change, but most teams stick to normal gate times as much as possible.

For more information on stadium gates, visit our Busch Stadium Gate and Parking Guide.

Do You Need a Ticket for Batting Practice?

You will, of course, need a game ticket to be able to enter Busch Stadium and watch batting practice, but you don’t need an additional ticket to be able to watch batting practice.

If you need tickets for an upcoming St. Louis Cardinals game, you can read more by visiting our article that discusses buying tickets at Busch Stadium. If you are looking for other places to get find tickets, check out our article on Best Places to find St. Louis Cardinals Tickets


Other Things to do Besides Watching Batting Practice at Busch Stadium

You are visiting Busch Stadium to watch batting practice and a Cardinals game, but there are other attractions that you may find interesting to do prior to the game. Here are a couple options:

  • The Ballpark Village – Located just north of the stadium is the Ballpark Village district which is a fun place for fans to eat and drink prior to the game. This area is also host to other forms of entertainment like live music, comedy, and Cardinals pre and post-game shows.
  • Cardinals Team Store – Busch Stadium has several retail stores inside the stadium. The main team store is located between Gates 3 and 4 on the corner of 8th and Clark (source). This is a good place to buy Cardinals jerseys and other types of fan gear. You can, of course, also shop online prior to the game. To read more, visit our St. Louis Cardinals Jersey Guide.

St. Louis Cardinals Contact Info

This website (sportsfanfocus.com) has no affiliation with Busch Stadium, the St. Louis Cardinals, MLB, or any of the events hosted at this facility.

Any information is provided “as is” with no guarantee of completeness, meaning much of this information is subject to change, and although we do our best to keep these guides updated, we can’t guarantee accuracy at all times. For all official information, we urge you to contact the St. Louis Cardinals staff. Contact information is below:

Paul Johnson

Paul has been with us from our beginnings. He focuses on a wide range of sports, including NFL, NBA, MLB and golf.

Recent Posts