St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium Guide


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

This is a guide to Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals. Busch Stadium has seen a lot of success on the field over the past few decades, and is a popular summer attraction for those in and around St. Louis. In the sections below we discuss some of the most important information regarding Busch Stadium.

Need Tickets or Parking Passes? – Buying from Vivid Seats allows you to avoid ticket lines at the stadium and Vivid Seats shows you your view from the seats prior to purchase. Click here to view St. Louis Cardinals tickets and parking passes available at VividSeats.com (affiliate link takes you to vividseats.com).

In this article we discuss:

  • Ticket Information
  • Stadium Information
  • Policies

For more information regarding Busch Stadium, visit our articles linked below:

What to Bring to a St. Louis Cardinals Game?

If you are going to a St. Louis Cardinals game, planning ahead is always important. Below is a list of things you might need to bring, and you will want to make sure you are complying with any security protocols the stadium has:

  • Clear Stadium BagMany stadiums have strict bag policies and recommend a clear stadium bag like this one available at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
  • Parking Pass – Many stadiums recommend fans to pre-purchase parking passes if needed to help avoid the hassle and wait times associated with buying passes at the stadium. Click here to view the current prices of St. Louis Cardinals parking passes and tickets available at Vivid Seats (paid affiliate link takes you to VividSeats.com)
  • Weather and Sun protection – Busch Stadium is an open-air stadium, which means you will want to be prepared to face the elements when you attend a St. Louis Cardinals game. Things like sunscreen, hats, jackets, and rain ponchos may be needed depending on weather forecasts.
  • Bug Repellent – Because Busch Stadium is open air, bugs may be an issue during summer. Just make sure your bug repellent meets stadium safety guidelines for aerosol cans.
  • Camera – Some fans like to bring a camera into the game. Just make sure your camera meets the stadium requirements regarding cameras and video recorders.
  • Cashless Payment – Many stadiums are transitioning to cashless payments, so bringing a form of payment other than cash is never a bad idea.
  • Noise-Canceling Headphones – Stadiums can get very loud, and noise-canceling headphones may be needed for toddlers.
  • Baseball Glove – Some fans like to bring a baseball glove to the stadium in hopes of catching a foul ball.
  • Power Bank for Phone – Baseball games can last over three hours, and bringing a power bank to charge your phone on site may be needed.

How Long Do St. Louis Cardinals Games Last?

You can expect a St. Louis Cardinals game to last slightly over three hours on average, but it is worth noting that some games can last closer to four hours depending on pace of play. In 2021, the average Major League Baseball game lasted 3 hours and 10 minutes (source).    

The length of games has become a point of emphasis for Major League Baseball as many fans site pace of play as one thing they’d like to see improve with the sport. In recent years, Major League Baseball has taken steps to help shorten the length of games, but the effectiveness of these measures is still under evaluation.

Major League Baseball games consist of nine total innings, with the exception of double header games which are only 7 total innings in length. If you are heading to Busch Stadium, planning for a 3-4 hour game is probably the safest bet. To read more, visit our article about the time length of baseball games.

St. Louis Cardinals Ticket Information

Best Site for Cardinals Tickets

Need Tickets or Parking Passes? – Buying from Vivid Seats allows you to avoid ticket lines at the stadium and Vivid Seats shows you your view from the seats prior to purchase. Click here to view St. Louis Cardinals tickets and parking passes available at VividSeats.com (affiliate link takes you to vividseats.com).

Can You Buy Cardinals Tickets at Busch Stadium?

Yes, you can buy Cardinals tickets at Busch Stadium as long as supplies last. The main Cardinals Ticket Windows are located near the 3rd Base entrance on 8th Street (view). The Ticket windows are located next to the Team Store. On game days, these windows are open from 10:00 am until 90 minutes after scheduled game time for day games and open at noon until 90 minutes after gate time for night games (source).

The Cardinals also have ticket windows on the left-field side of the Stadium, just off of Clark Avenue (view). The left-field ticket windows are located across the street from the Budweiser Brew House (view).

You can contact the Cardinals Ticket Office via phone or email for more information on purchasing tickets at the stadium or through the Cardinals website (info).

Busch Stadium Ticket Office Hours

During the season, the 8th Street ticket windows are open from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday on non-game days (source). These windows are also open for all home games from 10:00 am (for day games) or noon (night games) until 90 minutes after scheduled game time.

During the off-season, ticket office hours are 10 am – 4 pm Monday through Friday (closed weekends).

Where is Will Call at Busch Stadium?

Will call at Busch Stadium is located in conjunction with the Ticket Windows. All paid and complimentary tickets can be picked up at the 8th Street ticket windows as well as at all Cardinals Ticket Kiosks located around the perimeter of Busch Stadium (see sections above for locations).

To pickup your tickets, you will need a valid ID that matches the Will Call name. Tickets picked up at Ticket Kiosks require the Credit Card used to originally purchase the tickets (source).

As we discussed earlier, there is also a group of ticket windows on Clark Avenue. Paid ticket orders (that have not been previously printed) can be picked up at the Clark Street ticket windows (you’ll need valid ID that matches the Will Call name).

How Long Does a Cardinals Game Last?

In 2019, the average St, Louis Cardinals game lasted 3 hours and 10 minutes (source). This matches the average for all of baseball, which was also 3 hours and 10 minutes.

Obviously, the length of any one individual Cardinals game may vary greatly from the next due to several different factors. In general, planning on between 3 and 3.5 hours is best.


Busch Stadium Information

What direction does Busch Stadium face?

Busch Stadium faces northeast.  Home plate is in the southwest portion of the stadium, with the third base line running north and first base line running slightly southeast. 

MLB suggests that ballparks be built facing northeast or east so batters are not looking into the sun for afternoon and evening games.  While this is not a rule, most open-air stadiums are built this way.  Stadiums built facing northeast also give shade to many fans.

Where is Cardinals Bullpen at Busch Stadium?

The Cardinals bullpen at Busch stadium is located in right field.  It is in front of sections 107 and 109. Section 127 is just to the right of the Cardinals bullpen, and section 105 is just to the left of the Cardinals bullpen. The Powerade Bridge is also behind the Cardinal’s bullpen in right field.

Where is the Visitor’s Bullpen at Busch Stadium?

The visitor’s bullpen at Busch Stadium is in left field.  It is right in front of sections 189 and 191. Section 172 is just to the left of the visiting team’s bullpen, and section 193 is just to the right of the visiting team’s bullpen. 

What is a Drink Rail seat at Busch Stadium?

A drink rail seat at Busch Stadium refers to all the seats in the stadium that come with a bar rail to set your drinks on.  There are many bar rail seats throughout Busch Stadium.  Sections that have bar rail seats include:

  • Coca Cola Scoreboard patio
  • Coca Cola Rooftop Deck
  • Homer’s Landing
  • Leftfield Landing
  • Scott Credit Union MVP Deck
  • Cardinals Nation Rooftop
  • Red Bird club

Many of these sections are all-inclusive seating arrangements.  Here is an example of the drink rail seats in the Leftfield Landing section. If you like having some extra space and a place to put your food and drink these can be great seats.

What is the Redbird Club at Busch Stadium?

The Redbird Club at Busch Stadium is on the 200 level and refers to the exclusive climate-controlled club area.  Two sections of seating have access to the Redbird club.  Those sections are the Infield Redbird club seating and the Home Redbird club seating. The Infield Redbird club seats are located in sections 241-246 and 254-257, and the Home Redbird seats are in sections 247-253. 

While the Redbird club seats are premium seats, the club does not come with all-inclusive drink and food.  You will have to pay for the food and beverages separately from the tickets. 

Therefore, while the food and beverages are not all-inclusive, you do have access to high-quality food and beverage options.  The area has couches, tables, and TV’s for you to use.  On days that it is very hot or cold, it offers a way for you to get out of the elements and watch the game in the climate controlled area. To learn more, click here.

Where is Uber pickup at Busch stadium?

Taxi and rideshare pickups are located (1) on the east side of the stadium on Broadway just south of Spruce Street and (2) on the west side of the stadium on Spruce Street between 8th Street and 9th Street next to the Westin Hotel.

Does Busch Stadium Have Coffee?

Missing your coffee? If you are at a Cardinals game, you might be wondering if any of the concession stands or restaurants serve coffee. Does Busch Stadium have coffee?

Yes, Busch Stadium has coffee (source). Coffee is available at Busch Stadium in the following sections:

  • Plaza Grill Section 101
  • Gashouse Grill Section 132, 146, 150, 154, 233, 450
  • Red Bird Club Section 245
  • Left Field Pavilion Section 264, 266
  • Lime-a-Rita Cabana Section 265
  • Bowtie Grill Section 271, 272
  • Dug Out 1st Base
  • Dug Out 3rd Bas

Click here to view a seating map if you need help figuring out where you are in the stadium in relation to these coffee spots.

Does Busch Stadium Have a Roof?

No, Busch Stadium does not have a roof that covers the entire stadium. It is an open-air stadium. You will need to prepare to face the sun and elements when attending games at Busch Stadium. **To read about what you might need, visit our article What to Bring to a Baseball Game.

Is Busch Stadium Covered?

As we just discussed above, Busch Stadium does not have a dome roof. It is an open-air stadium. There are, however, certain sections of seats that will be covered.

There are two types of covered seats at Busch Stadium. Although Busch Stadium does not have a dome roof, there is a small canopy roof at the very top of the stadium that creates some covered seating at the upper parts of the top deck (view). There is also covered seating in the lower sections, which are shielded by the overhang of the upper decks.


Busch Stadium Policies

***Please Note: These sections are meant to be helpful resources for fans attending Busch Stadium. As mentioned at the top, this website has no affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals or Major League Baseball. MLB policies are subject to change, and may have changed since the last update to this article. Please visit Cardinals.com for all official information.

Can You Smoke At Busch Stadium?

No, you cannot smoke at Busch Stadium. It is a smoke-free stadium. That said, there is a designated smoking area for fans to use. According to the Cardinals information guide:

“Guests who want to exit Busch Stadium to smoke may pass freely onto Clark Avenue and back into the stadium via the designated exit at Gate 4, as long as they do not leave the controlled, fenced area on Clark Ave. Guests who leave the controlled area on Clark Ave. will need to have their hand stamped as they exit the area, and will need to present the hand stamp and a ticket for the game to re-enter the controlled area and Busch Stadium (source).”

Can You Vape at Busch Stadium?

No, you cannot vape at Busch Stadium. Electronic cigarettes are subject to the same restrictions as tobacco use (see above). If you are at Busch Stadium and want to vape, you will need to use the designated smoking area detailed in the section above.

Can You Bring a Bag Into Busch Stadium?

Yes, you can bring a bag into Busch Stadium, but it must be compliant with the current bag policy. No bag larger than 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches is allowed into Busch Stadium (source). ***Bag policies may be amended by MLB at any time – checking with MLB before attending is advised.

Can You Bring a Backpack Into Busch Stadium?

No, you cannot bring a backpack into Busch Stadium. Backpacks are a prohibited item and will not be allowed in Busch Stadium (source).

Need Tickets or Parking Passes? – Buying from Vivid Seats allows you to avoid ticket lines at the stadium and Vivid Seats shows you your view from the seats prior to purchase. Click here to view St. Louis Cardinals tickets and parking passes available at VividSeats.com (affiliate link takes you to vividseats.com).

Can You Bring a Diaper Bag into Busch Stadium?

Yes, you can bring a diaper bag into Busch Stadium. Busch Stadium bag policies advise that bags need to be smaller than 16x16x8″ – if your diaper bag is bigger than that, I would contact the stadium before you go to see if the diaper bag will be allowed.

Can You Watch Batting Practice at Busch Stadium?

Yes, you can watch batting practice at Busch Stadium. The official time that batting practice is held can fluctuate, but in general, most MLB teams begin batting practice roughly two and a half hours before game time. Typically, batting practice lasts 45 minutes per team.

In general, Busch Stadium gates open 1.5 hours before game time Monday – Thursday and 2 hours before game time Friday – Sunday (times are subject to change). Because of this, you can watch more of batting practice Friday through Sunday than during the week.

Can You Bring a Baseball Glove into Busch Stadium?

Yes, you can bring a baseball glove into Busch Stadium. Many fans like to bring a baseball glove in hopes that they can catch a ball that is hit into the seats.

Can You Bring Peanuts into Busch Stadium?

Yes, you can bring peanuts into Busch Stadium for individual consumption. Many types of foods are allowed into Busch Stadium as long as they can’t be easily thrown as a projectile onto the field.

Can You Bring Binoculars into Busch Stadium?

Yes, you can bring binoculars into Busch Stadium. Many fans like to bring a binoculars to help see the action, especially if they don’t have field level seats.

Can You Bring Sunflower Seeds into Stadium?

Yes, you can bring sunflower seeds into Busch Stadium for individual consumption. Most MLB stadiums also have sunflower seeds available at certain concession stands throughout the stadium.

Can You Bring Sunscreen Into Busch Stadium?

Protecting your skin is critical if you will be spending all day exposed to the summer sun. Can you bring sunscreen into Busch Stadium?

Yes, you can bring sunscreen into Busch Stadium. But it is worth noting that aerosol cans are a prohibited item that you cannot bring into Busch Stadium (source). Because of this, you will need to stick with sunscreen lotion.

Can You Bring Water Into Busch Stadium?

Bringing water with you to a game can help you save a bit of money on concession prices, and also help you stay hydrated in the heat. But is it allowed? Can you bring water into Busch Stadium?

Yes, you can bring water into Busch Stadium as long as it meets stadium requirements (source). These are the three requirements for your water bottle if you want to bring it into Busch Stadium:

  1. It must be factory-sealed (unopened).
  2. It must be clear, plastic bottle.
  3. It must 2 liters or less.

Can you Bring Soda into Busch Stadium?

Yes, you can bring soda into Busch Stadium. It will need to meet the 3 requirements listed above for water bottles.

Can you bring empty water bottles into Busch Stadium?

Yes, you can bring empty water bottles into Busch Stadium. The bottles must be empty and smaller than 2 liters. Busch Stadium has water fountains in these sections (source): 132, 134, 136, 140, 156, 161/163, 231, 261, 268, 333, 340, 345, 451.

Can you Bring a Blanket into Busch Stadium?

If you are headed to the stadium on a cool night, packing and bringing a blanket might help. Can you bring a blanket into Busch Stadium?

Yes, you can bring a blanket into Busch Stadium. Blankets are not listed on Busch Stadium’s prohibited items list (source). That said, most stadiums ask that you keep others around you in mind. Bringing a blanket that affects the space of someone seated near you is not wise.

When do Busch Stadium Gates Open?

As we discussed earlier, Busch Stadium gates open 1.5 hours before game time Monday – Thursday and 2 hours before game time Friday – Sunday (times are subject to change).

Busch Stadium Gate Information

If you are going to a St. Louis Cardinals game and want more information about what gates and parking lots might make the most sense for you, visit our links below:

***For more information regarding the Cardinals, visit the Busch Stadium Information Guide from Cardinals.com by clicking here.

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:

Need Tickets or Parking Passes? – Buying from Vivid Seats allows you to avoid ticket lines at the stadium and Vivid Seats shows you your view from the seats prior to purchase. Click here to view St. Louis Cardinals tickets and parking passes available at VividSeats.com (affiliate link takes you to vividseats.com).

Joshua Lloyd

Joshua is lead content creator for basketball and golf at Sports Fan Focus. Golf is a passion of his and he enjoys both playing and watching golf in his spare time. To read more about Joshua, visit the SFF About Us page.

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