The Busch Stadium food menu is something of an enigma. It’s got its share of worthwhile selections and even a couple of local favorites. But I did not see toasted ravioli, gooey buttercake, or even St. Louis style pizza.

That said, you can eat well here, especially if you love hot dogs and nachos. There’s no shortage of sweet tooth items too.

So since you’re interested in the Cardinals food scene, I’m here to help with this very thorough analysis of the Busch Stadium food menu. Once you read this, you’ll have no problem deciding what to eat at a Cardinals game.

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To make it simple, I’ve broken down the menu into sections:

Hot Dogs and Sausages
Other Sandwiches
Finger Foods and Munchies
Foods From Foreign Lands
Cardinals Game Desserts
Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free
Some Cardinals Game Food Tips

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Busch Stadium Food Menu, Part 1) Hot Dogs and Sausages.

The Cardinals offer some truly imaginative twists on baseball’s ultimate food. If you like a well-dressed Smithfield hot dog, Busch Stadium doesn’t disappoint.

First mention should be the bacon-wrapped jumbo dog, behind Sections 147 and 168. It’s a wiener wrapped in applewood smoked bacon on a jumbo bun. Pile on baked beans, pico de gallo, spicy aioli and crispy fried onions. Or just have it on its own. I can’t believe Jim Gaffigan hasn’t covered this.

 

If you want a truly customizable dog or you’re nursing a hangover, Top Dog at Section 132 is your destination. Try that STL Slinger Dog: it’s a 1/3 pound all beef jumbo dog with hash browns, nacho cheese, taco meat and two fried eggs.

Two things to know about the Slinger Dog from forum dwellers: it takes some time to make, and it’s very messy. Maybe have extra napkins on hand.

 

Aside from the inimitable Slinger, you have a variety of customization options at Top Dog. Top your jumbo dog or brat with (deep breath) grilled onions, julienne peppers, sauerkraut, nacho cheese, pico de gallo, shredded pepper jack, diced onions, cole slaw, pickle slices and/or giardiniera.

The only limit is how much you want to risk a stain on your Cardinals jersey. Is it me, or does all that sound a bit healthy? I will say it makes Cardinals baseball better.

 

That’s not all with unusual dogs and sausages at Busch. The aptly named Outfield Grill at Section 102 opens up a world of encased meat possibilities. Ballpark E-Guides is here for it.

Choose from the Brisket Dog (a jumbo dog with chipped brisket, BBQ sauce and toasted onions); the Bacon Cheddar Brat with sauerkraut and crispy onions; or a Jumbo All-Beef Bratwurst. And yes, just the plain Jumbo Dog too (and yes, it’s jumbo). On Fazio buns, if such things matter to you.

 

Also at the Outfield Grill, but worthy of its own paragraph is the Red Hot Sausage, also new in 2025. It’s a beef-infused sausage with hot spices, covered with crispy onions and sauerkraut if you want. I mean, if you don’t have toasted ravioli, at least have something Cardinals red.

 

If you look a bit, you can find even more hot dog and sausage options, even at stands where you wouldn’t expect to.

The Session Taco stand (more about them in a minute) serves up a SoCal Street Dog. This number is a bacon-wrapped dog with the extra win of grilled peppers and onions, and Rosa Blanca sauce, which is like a creamy Mexican dip. Again, messy but probably amazing.

 

The Coney Island Deli at Section 147 is generally a place for Jewish-style deli sandwiches, but there’s some encased meat findings here, like Stuie’s pastrami dog and Stuie’s kosher knockwurst. I presume the pastrami dog is kosher, but don’t hold me to that.

Stuie isn’t a brand or a person, it’s just a nickname; more about that here.

 

Finally, if you just want a basic dog, they’re everywhere. You can find jumbo grab and go dogs at the generic stands like Dizzy’s Diner, the Gashouse Grill, and the cryptically named Ballpark Favorites stands. They’re not quite as jumbo as the other jumbo dogs, but they’re cheaper.

Busch Stadium Food Menu, Part 2) Other Sandwiches

Okay, so uh, I wouldn’t get too excited about burgers here. I’ll get to that. But there are definitely other worthwhile sandwich choices at Busch.

We all know Shaquille O’Neal knows good food. I mean shilling for Papa John’s (?) and all. I kid; his popular national Big Chicken chain has a prominent presence at Busch. Big Chicken, according to their website, “fuses Shaq’s home-cooked childhood favorites with today’s trending flavors”. And a good fried chicken sandwich is always a trending flavor.

 

At Busch Stadium Big Chicken offers noteworthy crispy chicken sandwiches (among other delights). Try the Original, the Nashville Hot, or the “314” (the St. Louis area code), which is a Nashville hot chicken sandwich with Shaq’s special sauce and with a Cardinal red maple bacon donut serving as the bun. That’ll sit well.

 

This being Missouri, of course there’s sufficient BBQ sandwiches. At the Broadway BBQ stand behind Section 109, you have a choice of a house-smoked beef or pulled pork brisket sandwich with chips included.

It gets better at Broadway BBQ (and of course there’s Salt-n-Smoke at Ballpark Village), but I’ll get to that.

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Deli lunch meats are a thing at ballparks these days, and Busch is no exception. At the Redbird Carvery behind Section 148, and at the Great Sandwich Showdown in the Redbird Club, there’s numerous deli sandwiches, including a turkey BLT and a fine-looking corned beef Reuben.

Both places offer a sandwich plate that includes chips and a salad. The Carvery, I should note, is considered a hidden gem among some fans.

 

Speaking of deli sandwiches, if you’re going New York Jewish style, the Coney Island Deli behind Section 147 has what they call Stuie’s Killer Pastrami Sandwich. (Remember Stuie?) As seen here, it does look pretty killer.

Okay, I did mention there are burgers, but other than the basic burgers at the generic stands, which, no offense Cards, don’t look very impressive, the only burger choice I found was from Freddy’s Frozen Custard at Section 432 (upper concourse).

 

In fairness, maybe that’s not too bad. You probably know Freddy’s, there’s over 500 of their restaurants and they’re very popular in the Midwest. The Busch Stadium outpost has their bacon and cheese double steakburger, with pressed-thin patties and Freddy’s seasoning.

You can also order their new grilled chicken breast sandwich, with bacon, Swiss cheese and pickles. A slightly healthier option than that 314 fried maple donut thing.

 

Finally, if you’ve long thought that every ballpark menu should have a Cuban sandwich (and I agree), the Cardinals won’t disappoint you. At the new Mayo Ketchup stand behind Section 168, the Cubano Sandwich features “the flavors of Tampa Bay”, with ham, pork, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles on pressed Cuban bread.

I can hear your sigh of relief. Mayo Ketchup (by Plantain Girl) has other great grub too, we’ll talk about that.

Busch Stadium Food Menu, Part 3) Finger Foods and Munchies

There’s nothing wrong with the sizable bags of popcorn here, but if you’re looking to get your Cardinals game finger foods on, there’s a lot to work with at Busch.

The Cardinals fans that I asked about the matter considered the nachos the best food item in the ballpark. But, says I, can you be more specific? There are in fact multiple choices for lovers of chips and cheese with extra stuff.

 

The favorite spot for chips and cheese seems to be El Birdos, named for the World Champion 1967 squad of many Hispanic Cardinals. El Birdos stands are throughout the ballpark; there’s four on the lower concourse and one on the upper deck.

The bonus of El Birdos nachos, other than being able to add smoked pulled pork or seasoned taco beef for a fee, is the toppings options. Pile on diced onions, black olives, sour cream, pepperoncini and/or jalapeno peppers, BBQ sauce and salsa. As much as you want, just don’t sneeze on everything.

You might not be popular with anyone you’re sleeping with that night, but we all have to make sacrifices.

 

If you’d like something fancier for your ballpark nachos investment, Broadway BBQ (109) offers that St. Louis-style alternative: nachos topped with house smoked pulled pork, BBQ sauce, nacho cheese, banana peppers and BBQ spice in case the sauce isn’t enough.

Since it’s also in the finger food department, Broadway BBQ also features the new-in-2025 Triple Play BBQ Box. It’s all three of smoked brisket, turkey and pulled pork with BBQ seasoning and sauce. They even throw in corn bread loafs, potato salad and jalapeno garnish.

Baseball and BBQ. All you need now is to sit on a Clydesdale to eat it for the full St. Louis experience.

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By the way, re nachos, you don’t have to settle for chips. New in 2025 are the Ultimate Stadium Nacho Tater Tots. And it lives up to the lengthy name. It’s a pile of tots with Monterey cheese sauce, queso franco, jalapenos, pico de gallo, green onions, and sour cream. Add beef or pork for a bit extra.

It’s quite the sizeable plate, so you can certainly share to make new friends. Gets high marks from fans too. You can find these at Crowd The Plate behind Section 148. (Crowd The Plate also has customizable jumbo dogs.)

I know you think you don’t need to read any further after nacho tots, but stay with me, it’s worth it.

 

Love potatoes but not in tater tot form? The Session Taco people offer West Coast Nacho Fries. These are chile crusted fries, topped with queso, crema, pico de gallo and jalapenos. One thing I love about French fries is that you can pile almost anything on them, but this is extra thoughtful of the Cards.

Session Taco is behind Section 150 at home plate (and no, it’s not “Mission Taco” which the Cardinals still call it on the Ballpark app.)

 

The chains represented in the ballpark offer up their own finger foods. Big Chicken (135, 458) started offering hand-dipped chicken tenders in 2025, and you get enough of them to almost make it a meal in itself. Big Chicken has crinkle-cut fries as well.

 

Freddy’s Frozen Custard (432) isn’t a bad spot for sides, with their fries and cheese curds. Freddy’s cheese curds are “white cheddar cheese curds lightly covered with butter crumbs and fried to a gooey golden perfection”, according to their website. I can’t oppose that.

Their fries are shoestring-style, with their famous fry seasoning. Something different.

 

Finally, the various generic stands (Dizzy’s Diner, The Gashouse Grill, and Ballpark Favorites) all feature fries, chicken tenders, and nachos, and they’re grab and go for that short wait. I don’t see any reason why you can’t pile on toppings at one of those impressive nacho condiment stands. The chicken tenders are pretty sizable too.

Incidentally, the Gashouse Grill nachos are no slouch. They have a Nacho Supreme and Supreme Nacho Fries, which while unimaginatively named, do offer a sharable meal with your baseball. They’re both topped with cheese, taco meat, salsa, jalapenos and sour cream.

You can order the supreme fries and nachos in a large souvenir helmet (I generally wash the helmet before I wear it, but you do you).

 

Finally, the Bavarian soft pretzels found everywhere are basically the Superpretzels at most ballparks (they’re made by Superpretzel in fact); they just have a different name.

Busch Stadium Food Menu, Part 4) Foods From Foreign Lands

Every big city features people from all over, so it makes sense that ballparks show off their ethnicity too.

Pizza is still Italian, right? Since they call it “Italian Oven Pizza”, I’m gonna go with it. The pizza in this picture is served at the Redbird Club; I believe the same brand is served at various generic stands (Sections 139, 162, 264B and 437). As you can see it looks pretty good, even if it’s not St. Louis style (scratches head).

You can order it with pepperoni and/or sausage in the Redbird Club, but only pepperoni everywhere else. Sausage for your pizza is just one of many perks of the Redbird Club seats.

 

There are two outpost for Asian noodles; there’s the Asian stir-fry in the Redbird Club, where you can choose pork or beef along with veggies and other ingredients with your noodles. They’ll even throw in a fortune cookie for you.

Next to the Outfield Grill is the Intentional Wok stand at Section 103. Intentional Wok offers all of the Asian cuisine you need at a game, including chicken egg rolls, steamed pork pot stickers, and a Wok Bowl. And yes, they have fortune cookies too.

 

The Wok Bowl offers many choices: choose beef, chicken or tempura chicken; choose from multiple sauces including General Tso’s, teriyaki or Korean BBQ; choose your veggies such as broccoli, mixed peppers, or snow peas, and even choose white or fried rice.

Yeesh, it’s almost like you’re preparing the thing yourself. But I’m all about the customization.

 

I mentioned Session Taco (150) before but I neglected to actually mention the tacos. Session Taco is a popular local food joint with a half dozen locations in the area; they’re known for Cali-Mex cuisine and unusual drinks (but unfortunately only a margarita here).

They have four types of tacos: the aptly named Regular Taco (beef, lettuce, queso, taco sauce and pico), the Hot Corner Chicken Taco (shredded chicken with Buffalo sauce and celery seed ranch), the Vegan Soft Tacos with vegan “meat”, and the Mango Shrimp Tacos (fried shrimp, habanero aioli, cabbage and mango salsa).

I personally tried the mango shrimp tacos pictured above; they were delicious. Not too terribly pricey too. Kudos to the Cards for bringing in a local joint.

 

Last but most certainly not least, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Mayo Ketchup by Plantain Girl, behind Section 169 in left field. Plantain Girl is chef Mandy Estrella, a popular St. Louis area chef who believes rightly in sharing Latin cuisine with baseball fans.

At Mayo Ketchup you can find the aforementioned Cubano sandwich, but also beef and chicken empanadas, a grilled cheese arepa (a corn flour patty filled with cheese), and Maduros (fried ripe plantains).

 

If you like the offerings enough to try Plantain Girl’s restaurant, you can find it at 3135 Olive Street downtown. I wouldn’t walk it from Busch unless I’d had two 314 sandwiches though.

You saved room for dessert, right? What? The Triple Play BBQ Box was enough? Clearly you’re a newbie to Busch Stadium food. Live a little, you’ll walk it off.

Busch Stadium Food Menu, Part 5) Cardinals Game Desserts

Yes, sweet ballpark treat fans, the Cardinals know how to rock a ballgame dessert. The Busch Stadium dessert menu has a wide variety of tasty confections:

 

I’m thinking I should start with Dinger’s Donuts behind Section 151, and their homemade bag o’mini donuts. These are donuts made fresh and warm, while you wait even, and you can top them with chocolate or vanilla glaze or cinnamon sugar for a small fee. You can also fill a Cardinals souvenir helmet with them for sharing. Or not sharing.

Dinger’s isn’t a brand itself, just a nickname for a home run, but don’t let that stop you.

 

And Dinger’s Donuts doesn’t stop at fresh donuts. With no concern for potential distraction, they also as of 2025 have what they call “Wachos”. Wachos are waffle chips with two scoops of their custard, chocolate and strawberry sauce, crushed Oreos (for the W!), sprinkles and whipped cream.

Wachos are basically an ice cream cone sundae with the cone broken up, but it’s a cute name.

 

Cookies are making their way into ballpark snackdom, and the Cardinals went for the gold by signing on the fine folks at Crumbl Cookies® (Section 136 and 1st Base Concourse). If you’ve never tried Crumbl, get yourself to a Cardinals game stat and do it. Or try them at over 1,000 bakeries in the world.

At Busch Stadium, the Crumbl stands offer peanut butter, chocolate cake batter, and milk chocolate chip cookies. But the highlight is the exclusive “Game Day Cookie”: their classic cookie rolled in vanilla cookies and cream pieces, and topped with red and white cream cheese frosting, and dusted with vanilla cookies and cream crumbs. Yep, it’s game time.

 

If you’d like a large cookie, the Big Chicken stands have that for you, as you would expect from Shaq. Yes, it’s a chocolate chip cookie the size of a basketball (get it?). This is definitely a share item, but I’m told it’s tasty and nicely chewy.

 

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We’ve talked about Freddy’s Frozen Custard at Section 101 and their sandwiches and sides, but the name indicates a focus on dessert. And in fact this is where Freddy’s shines at Busch Stadium. They have concretes, sundaes and milkshakes in multiple iterations.

Choose from the Cookie Dough Sundae (vanilla ice cream with cookie dough pieces), the Oreo® Double Trouble Sundae (vanilla custard with Oreo cookie pieces and a cherry garnish), or the Signature Turtle Sundae (vanilla ice cream with caramel, fudge, and toasted pecans).

Or keep life simple with classic milkshakes, in vanilla, chocolate or strawberry.

 

We talked about Session Taco (150) offering tacos and unusual fries, but there here for your dessert too, with your package of two fried churros served with Mexican chocolate sauce. Maybe not the easiest thing to eat at a game, but it’s an off the beaten path ballpark dessert.

 

As if your dessert decision at Busch wasn’t tough enough, you can also find Ben & Jerry’s ice cream here, at eight locations throughout the ballpark. I’m sure you know who they are; the purveyors of amazing ice cream in entertaining flavors, in a souvenir helmet cup if you like.

At Busch you can indeed order Cherry Garcia and Chunky Monkey, and multiple other B&J favorites too. Nice for people looking to go beyond a sundae.

 

Like at most ballparks, you can find Dippin’ Dots here, in a cup or a souvenir helmet. No Cardinals-themed flavors, sorry to say, but they do have cookie dough, cookies and cream, and banana split.

You can also skimp with a smaller Prairie Farms Ice Cream treat; I received a free one in my Sunday visit.

 

And finally, frozen non-alcoholic slushies near the kids play area. For when you can’t find a 7-11 and need a brain freeze on a hot St. Louis day.

Busch Stadium Food Menu, Part 6) Vegetarian, Vegan + Gluten-Free

Feel free to @ me if you want for including this after the desserts, but we are at the ballgame after all, where dietary restrictions can seem optional.

That said, some folks like my wife and daughter need to be gluten-free, so I’ll list here what the Cardinals claim is safe for celiacs:

 

At the generic stands (Dizzy’s Diner, Gashouse Grill, Ballpark Favorites), you can order a gluten-free bun for your hot dog, sausage or burger. The nachos are gluten-free here and at El Birdos as well, although they do mention not to add pulled pork. Freddy’s has gluten-free buns for their burgers and chicken sandwiches

Remember those Ultimate Stadium Nacho Tater Tots? They’re supposedly gluten-free as well, again, avoid the pulled pork.

The Cardinals do specify that food is prepared in areas containing gluten, so I would venture that the nachos are the safest bet.

 

For vegetarians, people whom I have great sympathy for in my ballpark travels, Busch has some viable options.

There’s the Asian stir fry at the Redbird Club and Wok Bowl at Intentional Wok, so long as you don’t add meat. Same with nachos and pizza, and the numerous types of fries everywhere. Remember the condiment stands to adorn your dogs or nachos.

Session Taco’s West Coast Nacho Fries would be my favorite for vegetarian food at Busch. But I’m sure the cheese arepa from Mayo Ketchup is fine too. Most all of the desserts are obviously vegetarian (but not vegan except maybe the churros).

 

If you are going full vegan, you don’t have to starve after all. I mentioned Session Taco’s vegan soft taco, and Mayo Ketchup’s Maduros are vegan too. You can order a bucket of fries if you’re still hungry after that.

 

It’s admittedly challenging to find healthier options in a ballpark that features a fried chicken sandwich in a maple donut bun. But it’s not impossible; there are grab and go market outposts in the lower concourse, like the Schnuck’s market at Section 158 and in the Redbird Club. Schnuck’s has a (cold) vending machine with Farmer’s Fridge salads; you might find something vegan in there.

Hopefully I’ve covered what you need to know, but here is the list of dietary restrictive foods from the Cardinals if it helps.

Busch Stadium Food Menu, Part 7) Some Cardinals Game Food Tips

As I think I have well-detailed here, the Cardinals game food menu is fantastic for hot dogs and nachos lovers (which is most baseball fans), but it’s got a decent selection of other items for a change of pace too. Just a few more words about this:

 

You can bring in your own food into Busch Stadium. The Cardinals don’t allow a large bag like they once did, but you can bring in a pizza and they probably won’t mind. Bags can’t be larger than 10” * 10” * 8”, which isn’t huge but enough to hold a couple hot dogs and drinks.

Take advantage of this if you want to save a few bucks. My favorite spot outside is T-Dawg’s across the street from Gate 1. He’s a cool guy. You can buy large cold water bottles too, and this being St. Louis, I probably don’t need to tell you to stock up on fluids in July.

The Cardinals don’t allow outside food in all-inclusive or suite areas.

 

Busch Stadium is the first ballpark I’ve visited since starting this venture that does not feature a sit-down restaurant. I’m not sure why this is, but my guess is that they’re encouraging people to visit the multiple eateries in Ballpark Village like Salt-N-Smoke, Katie’s Pizza, and the numerous drinking establishments.

In any event, that’s probably your best sit down restaurant option at Busch. If you’re concerned about the limitations of gluten-free or vegan options, Ballpark Village before or after the game might work better for you.

 

Like with most ballparks, the best food selection is in the lower concourse; if you’re looking for a Stuie’s knockwurst or mango shrimp tacos, I would get those in advance before heading to the upper level.

 

Cardinals season ticket holders get a 10% discount at any concession stand in the ballpark, which I presume works if you buy your own ticket from a season plan holder. They have instructions here on how to work the system, if you’re with a season ticket holder maybe you can borrow their phone.

 

Finally, the Cardinals offer a pretty impressive selection of seating options with all-inclusive food and drinks, including beer and alcohol. You can learn about each of these in my super comprehensive Busch Stadium seating guide. (See what I did there?)

 

There you have it folks, your thorough analysis of the Busch Stadium food menu that you just won’t get anywhere else on the web. Hope this helps with your food decision at your next Cardinals game or Busch Stadium event.

It the meantime, be sure to be in the know with other Busch Stadium tips! Check out my complete guide to St. Louis Cardinals game seating, this thorough primer for Busch Stadium parking, and even this complete list of Busch Stadium shuttles.

More to come; be sure to subscribe to the newsletter and Follow Ballpark E-Guides on Facebook.

Thanks for visiting, and I’ll see you at the Yard!

If you don’t enjoy navigating ballgame traffic and shelling out extra cash for parking at a Cardinals game, I get it. So do many St. Louis establishments, who offer shuttles to Busch Stadium as part of their fun times.

As your Certified Ballpark Advisor, I have put together this extremely helpful guide for parking at St. Louis Cardinals baseball games. But you can also park for free, enjoy a drink and a meal at a local establishment, and let them take you to the ballpark. It’s a great way to avoid traffic and save a bundle on parking, food, and drinks, which are always pricey at the ballpark.

I have here, in alphabetical order, your list of shuttles to Busch Stadium, for Cards games and other events. I’ve also created a useful map with all of their locations at the end of this guide (or you can click here to see it).

Need tickets for Cardinals games or anything else at Busch Stadium? Check out my friends at Gametime for the best deals, and a lowest price guarantee!

List of Busch Stadium Shuttles For St. Louis Cardinals Games

1860’s Saloon
Big Daddy’s
Draft Kings Casino Queen
Duke’s Sports Bar
The Great Grizzly Bear
Maggie O’Brien’s
Missouri Athletic Club
Molly’s in Soulard
Over/Under Bar & Grill
Ray’s Sports House
Syberg’s Market
A Few Shuttle Tips
Busch Stadium Shuttles Map

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The 1860’s Saloon (1860 S. 9th Street). The 1860’s Saloon proudly advertises that they’re three bars in one…the 1860s Saloon includes live music with no cover charge, the Game Room offers foosball, pool tables, video games, shuffleboard, etc. The Hard Shell Café features actual restaurant seating.

The menu is the same at all three; it features some great local favorites like St. Louis-style pizza, toasted ravioli, a creole crab cake BLT, and Cajun options like chicken pasta, gumbo, and crawfish etouffee. And when you think Cardinals baseball, you think crawfish etouffee.

Park for free in the lot across the street or on a side street. Their shuttle is also free (they encourage tips). They start transporting fans somewhere around 60-90 minutes before gametime. When you order a drink, the server will give you a shuttle ticket.

The 1860’s Saloon has nice Happy Hours on weeknights, with appetizer and drinks specials.

Big Daddy’s Soulard (1000 Sidney Street). Big Daddy’s bills itself as the “Best Patio in STL”;. The patio is heated with fire pits, a definite plus on those cooler April days. It’s partially covered for rain and shade, and it features a corn hole area. You can rent it (and their shuttle) for private parties. They also have a DJ on weekend nights.

The menu offers sandwiches, homemade pizza (including a “cheeseburger” pizza), apps like macho pub nachos, salads, wraps, and specialty burgers cooked to order, like the “Angry Daddy” burger with jalapenos, buffalo sauce and pepper jack cheese.

The Big Daddy’s shuttle starts between 45 minutes to an hour before game time, and they keep going until everyone gets there. Parking on Sidney or S. 10th Street is free and generally easy enough.

Big Daddy’s generally draws a younger crowd; they have affordable Happy Hours and food and drink specials.

Draft Kings Casino Queen (200 S. Front Street, East St Louis, IL). The Casino Queen across the river is a popular spot for people not just for their free parking and sports shuttle, but also obviously for being a food, dining and entertainment destination in its own right.

To use the shuttle, you have to be a hotel guest or a CQ Rewards member (both of which conceivably might cost more than parking at Busch).

But obviously there’s perks to all of that, especially if you’re a gaming type to begin with. There’s five eateries here, each with their own cuisine offerings. Enjoy a ribeye steak at Bridgeway, a specialty burger at Sportsbook, or some burnt ends at Eastside BBQ. The eateries are usually offering specials of some kind. Obviously there’s several bars as well.

 

The Casino Queen shuttle is free, starts about 90 minutes before game time, and runs about every 15 minutes. They’ll pick you up from the ballpark for an hour afterwards. There is a Metrolink station here; if you miss the shuttle you can take a train back to the East Riverfront station.

Small note; the hotel itself does not get good reviews, although I have read that they have upgraded the place recently. It does offer a sweet view of the St. Louis skyline.

Duke’s Sports Bar (2001 Menard Street). Duke’s website proudly asserts itself as being “Voted St. Louis’s Best Bar & Best Sports Bar”. By whom? The customers, of course. One of their selling points is DJ dance parties on weekend nights.

But they indeed have food too. The Duke’s menu is extensive and includes crab cakes, gumbo, smash burgers and St. Louis style pizza, with weekend brunch options like crab cake Benedict and breakfast pizza. There’s a main bar, and upstairs bar, and a patio, all with local and craft beers and lots of TVs.

Duke’s shuttle service is free with a purchase of food or a drink; it starts an hour before every Cardinals game and runs until the end of the third inning. Needless to say they’ll come get you after the game. Duke’s has a lit parking lot, which is nice.

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Great Grizzly Bear (1027 Geyer Avenue). The Great Grizzly Bear is over 40 years old, which is impressive for a Soulard establishment. It’s a tavern and eatery with a shaded outdoor patio; a not particularly large place but always draws a nice crowd. Prices are very reasonable, especially during their Happy Hour specials, and they have live music on occasion.

Their menu is bar-style food like smash burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, and salads. Their Grizzly Burger is a double burger with cheddar, a jalapeño-stuffed thick-cut onion ring, covered in BBQ sauce. Or try the Grizzly Pizza, with pepperoni, sausage, hot honey bacon, cherry peppers, and hot honey drizzle.

They don’t say much about their shuttle on their website, but they should. It runs starting about two hours before Cards games, which is earlier than most. They also offer a to-go menu with their shuttle service. They don’t have their own lot, but there’s ample free street parking nearby.

Maggie O’Brien’s (2000 Market Street). Maggie O’Brien’s, as the name would suggest, is an Irish-style pub with both Irish pub offerings and St. Louis favorites on their menu. It’s also geared for sports fans, with large screen TVs and an outdoor deck for a tailgate party.

The extensive menu includes the Big Mag’s Burger – a two pounder with American cheese, lettuce, pickles, and Mag’s sauce on a muffuletta bun. It’s not cheap, but if you eat the whole thing with the fries in less than 30 minutes, it’s free and you win a T-shirt. You’ll be ready for some Cardinals baseball after that, I’m certain.

If you’re not up to that, they have Irish whiskey burgers, corned beef pizza (!), and multiple salads, along with local favorites like toasted ravioli and St. Louis style slab ribs. The drinks selection includes an impressive list of beers on tap.

Parking is free in the Maggie’s lot. Their shuttle costs $2, still a bargain over parking at Busch. Check their event calendar to see if it’s running on game day. If for whatever reason you miss the shuttle, you can take the Metrolink back to Union and it’s a short walk.

So bring a hefty appetite, and get a big free meal, a T-shirt, and a ride to the game!

Missouri Athletic Club (405 Washington Avenue). The Missouri Athletic Club is a high end members only club, hotel and fitness center. If you’re on the fence about joining or staying there, maybe their shuttle service to Cardinals games can sway you. This is luxury stuff, so it’s not a money-saver…it’s more of a “going to the game in style” deal.

If you have the means to stay here, it’s worthwhile; the hotel includes two on-site restaurants, and their amenities (probably not free, but convenient) include shoe shining, dry cleaning, a hair and nail salon, etc. If you’re here for a reception or something, it’s a fine destination, and then let them take you to the game afterward. Nightly parking is fairly reasonable.

The Athletic Club is just a five minute walk from the Laclede’s Landing Metrolink station, in case you want to see how the other half lives after the game.

Molly’s in Soulard (816 Geyer Avenue). Molly’s is something of a staple in Soulard; they boast the “biggest and best year-round patio in St. Louis”. They also call themselves family-friendly, at least until 9:00, after which there’s no one under 21 allowed in.

Molly’s definitely gears itself for partying Cardinals fans. They offer game day specials like $5 Cardinals cherry bomb shots, $15 game day beer buckets, and cheaper Happy Hour drinks. Molly’s welcomes fans for weekend brunch and Bloody Marys too.

There’s a nice lunch and dinner menu; they feature some unusual food items like alligator rangoons, Cajun fried deviled eggs, and bacon pimento cheeseburgers. Plenty of specialty drinks too. If you like adventurous food and drinks, Molly’s is for you. It’s also a good spot for vegetarian and gluten-free choices.

The Molly’s shuttle is free with any food and drink purchase; it starts an hour before the game. There’s a small free parking lot there, and extra street parking nearby.

Over/Under Bar & Grill (911 Washington Avenue). The Over/Under is not in Soulard like most shuttle taverns; it’s close to the Convention Center in the Lammert Building.

This is the place for lots of TVs; they have 37 of them including a 150” projector on the outdoor patio. That patio features live music if the weather permits, along with a solid amount of wine and cocktail selections. They have lengthy Happy Hours with drink and appetizer specials.

The Over/Under menu features serious bar food, like jumbo chicken wings in multiple flavors, mac and cheese (the best in St. Louis!), Philly cheesesteak egg rolls, and their “OU Super Deluxe” burger. For dessert get a gooey butter cake, which is a thing in St. Louis. There’s more healthy options here than you’d probably find in most bars, like veggie burgers, vegetable medleys, etc.

The OU shuttle to Cards games at Busch is free for customers, but you might have some difficulty finding parking. They have free parking there, but the lot is small. I would arrive early; there is metered street parking nearby if you can’t find anything.

Love that gooey butter cake? Get a package of it and other St. Louis food favorites delivered to your home from my friends at Goldbelly!

Ray’s Sports House (1732 S 9th Street). Ray’s appears to live by the credo that good restaurants don’t need websites. I kid; but in fact they only have a Facebook and Instagram page, and they do just fine. Ray’s features a bar with two garage doors, which presumably allows for partying in any weather.

Ray’s claims to have the best wings and smash burgers in St. Louis, but they also have other fun stuff like chicken Caesar salads, falafel naan wraps and toasted beef ravioli. Lots of entertainment too, like trivia nights, open mic nights and the occasional drink specials.

The shuttle is free with a drink or meal purchase (bring your receipt), and there’s free street parking nearby. They start running the shuttle 90 minutes before game time, and approximately every 20 minutes.

Judging from reviews, the smash burgers are popular, although multiple people complain about the price of extra pickles. Still, not bad for a place with a diminished web presence.

Syberg’s Market (2211 Market Street). Syberg’s downtown location is west of Union Station, part of the Drury’s Pear Tree Inn there. It is a newly remodeled restaurant with a spacious dining room and lounge, and a brand new patio with a sweet view of the St. Louis skyline. If you’re visiting, it’s a great reason to stay at the Pear Tree (I’m a Drury’s fan for sure).

There’s lots going on at Syberg’s, their events calendar features live music, karaoke nights, and game watch parties. They have a few interesting cocktail options like the Blueberry Smash and the Phormsicle, and nightly drink specials.

The Syberg’s menu offers a burger bar with a build your own toppings option, multiple St. Louis style pizzas, wings with nine different sauce flavors, salads, sandwiches and wraps. If you love the wings, you can buy the wing sauce in the shop.

You can park for free at their lot, and the Syberg’s shuttle costs $2 each way. The bus runs an hour before game time. Syberg’s is popular among game goers for this shuttle and draws a crowd, so I would try to arrive early.

A Few Busch Stadium Shuttle Tips. Taking advantage of a tavern with the shuttle service is a great way to save money on parking, avoid traffic, and enjoy great food and libations. I recommend it highly for all of these things. Just be mindful of a few notes.

The Cardinals have a designated shuttle dropoff point at Gate 1. This is in the right field corner, so that you know where to leave the ballpark after the game. Most shuttles will drop you off there or at Ballpark Village.

 

As I’ve shared in my super comprehensive Busch Stadium parking guide, you can get cheap dogs, snacks and drinks at T-Dawg’s cart across the street from Gate 1, and take them into the ballpark. (I’m all about saving that cash at the ballpark!)

Each establishment has a different schedule for their shuttle, and some places don’t run theirs for every game. It’s a good idea to check with the place beforehand before you go, and ask when and where they’ll be back for you after the game.

Most shuttles are free or very cheap, but you should bring a few bucks cash to tip the driver. I’d probably drop him or her a ten, but that’s me.

 

I wouldn’t say it happens very often, but people have complained about some places not picking them up after the game. Mistakes happen. It’s good to have the phone number of the place within easy reach, as well as maybe numbers for cab companies and rideshare apps.

Most of these taverns are located in the Soulard section of St. Louis, which currently lacks a Metrolink presence. Soulard is a pretty long walk from the ballpark and I wouldn’t do it at night. Have a backup plan just in case.

 

The Soulard joints especially are geared towards a younger crowd, with live music, DJs, and dance parties, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t welcome an older guy like me. Still, with a family, I might consider Syberg’s, Maggie O’Brien’s or the Over/Under before a Soulard establishment. Again, be sure you have a backup plan to get back.

Finally, If you’re using a shuttle service, definitely make a day of your Cardinals baseball. Plan well ahead and get there early, so you can enjoy your grub and adult beverages without having to rush to get on the shuttle. A Cardinals game at Busch is a celebration; share it with great baseball fans all day.

Busch Stadium Shuttle Map. As I stated, I’ve included this map below so you have a helpful perspective on where each of these establishments call home.

(You can also click here to bookmark it.)

I hope this primer on Busch Stadium shuttles has been helpful for you; I try to cover all the details to help you make the most of your ballpark experience.

If you need more Busch Stadium help, I’ve got you. Check out my incredibly helpful detailed guide to Busch Stadium seating, this thorough guide to what to eat at the Cardinals game, and my aforementioned Busch Stadium parking guide. More to come; be sure to subscribe to the newsletter and Follow Ballpark E-Guides on Facebook for new stuff.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you at the Yard!

Greetings Baseball Fans and Ballpark Nerds; below is your complete, detailed and helpfully illustrated Busch Stadium parking guide!

Plenty of great tips here for St. Louis Cardinals game parking, whether you’re looking to keep it simple, go cheap, find an easy exit, or even patronize local establishments.

First, legal bit: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using those links, Ballpark E-Guides earns a commission at no extra cost to you. I appreciate your support!

Busch Stadium Parking Guide: Table of Contents

Kind of Official Cardinals Parking
Downtown Lots + Garages
7th Street Lots + Local Establishments
Metered Street Parking (+ Free Parking Options)
St. Louis Parking Apps To Use
Some Extra (+ No Less Important) Busch Stadium Parking Tips

Before anything else, here’s my most important Busch Stadium parking tip: book your spot beforehand. My favorite app for this of course is SpotHero. You can choose the ideal spot based on price or shortest walk (and I’m about to help you with that), with a customer rating and photos for each location.

Never Drive To Busch Stadium Without A Plan…

Book Your Parking Spot NOW With My Friends at SpotHero!

Ready? Grab your coffee and let’s get started:

Busch Stadium Parking Guide, Tip #1) Cardinals Parking.

The Cardinals feature a map on their website listing what they call official lots, which basically means you have to follow their rules; no tailgating, exit the lot before an hour after the game, and don’t leave any pets in the car among other things.

As you can see, Cardinals parking includes Lots A, B, and C, the All-Star lot, and the One Cardinal Way Garage (part of the One Cardinal Way apartment complex). Aside from the Cardinal Way garage, these are all surface lots located southwest of the ballpark, at the home plate entrance. (They are also close to the popular Stan Musial statue entrance at third base.)

 

The Cardinals allow (and encourage) you to buy a parking pass through them with your game ticket (you’ll need the MLB Ballpark app). There’s no cash for payment on game day. They also provide helpful directions and a stadium access map.

Lot B is the closest, and is generally reserved for VIP ticket holders with premium seating. Lot A is also very close, and won’t let you in without a pass. Lot C and the All-Star Lot are basically the same lot, and it’s by far the largest. You’ll likely end up there, so if you arrive later it could be a much longer walk.

 

The Cardinal Way garage is close to the center field entrance. More importantly, it’s right there at Ballpark Village for your pre-game meal or drink. You’re allowed to enter three hours before game time, but honestly, I would want to arrive earlier, more on that in a bit.

Cardinal Way’s garage empties slowly after the game, but you can easily get to Spruce Street and onto I-55 south or I-44 west. Or stay on Broadway for the I-64/U.S. 40 west ramp. Slow, but simple. It’s also a covered garage, if you prefer that.

The entrance is on South Broadway Street, which is one-way, so approach from the north.

 

Two other nearby surface lots aren’t operated by the Cardinals; these are the “Cardinal Lot” across Broadway, and the “Stan The Man” lot on the third base side near Stan’s statue. Both are available on SpotHero, and I strongly suggest you book ahead.

The Cardinal Lot is pricey, but it’s very close with an easy exit onto I-44 and I-55. That said, some Googlers complain about the poor security and condition of the lot. The Stan The Man lot is also in this price range, but might be a better choice if you have concerns.

 

The Cardinals official lots and Cardinal Way garage are best when you want to keep it simple with a short walk; say if you’re bringing the family and aren’t familiar with downtown. But they’re also the most expensive, and often the slowest to exit after the game.

Busch Stadium Parking Guide, Tip #2) Downtown Lots + Garages

Busch Stadium does not lack at all for satellite parking nearby. You have a wide variety of options, especially when you book in advance. If you’re looking for something cheaper with an easier exit, one of these would be a better choice.

You can see the full list of parking options on this helpful page from KSDK. I’m not covering them all, but I will mention a few that I or others in town might recommend for different reasons (click on the links to see their Google Maps location):

 

Stadium East + Stadium West Garages. There are two very large multi-level garages on the north side of Clark Avenue, on either side of the ballpark. These are very convenient for a short walk to the game and Ballpark Village. They’re popular with fans, but they cost about the same as the Cardinals lots.

Multiple forum dwellers complain about the time it takes to exit these garages, but I did read one recommendation to park on a higher level and closer to the exit to make it easier.

 

Ballpark Village. There is a surface lot on the other side of Cardinal Way from the ballpark, putting you right at the entrance of Cardinals Nation and Ballpark Village. It costs about the same as the Cardinal Way lot, and is great for pre-game activity and easily finding your car afterward. There’s charging stations here if needed.

You can park here at any time of the day and pay by the hour, unfortunately you can’t escape the event rate that way; daily parking must exit before 6:00 PM. So it’s best to enter after the event rate kicks in.

 

Incidentally, there’s also valet parking at the Salt + Smoke restaurant in the Village; if money is no object and you’re in for that full VIP game day experience, that might be worth a go. Live! by Loews offers convenient parking, but the price is higher than most.

 

Enterprise Center/City Hall. The home of the NHL’s Blues is a viable option for Cardinals game parking, so long as there’s nothing going on there. They have the sizable Kiel Center garage and several surface lots across the street.

The Blues’ home is about a ten minute walk along Clark Avenue to the ballpark; you can take the Metrolink to the Civic Center station after the game. Parking is cheaper than Cardinals lots, and after the game it should be a fairly easy exit onto I-64.

 

City Hall’s lot is just east of the Enterprise Center and slightly closer to Busch, and parking here is the same price. There are also EV charging stations at the City Hall lot.

The walk to the ballpark from the Enterprise Center and City Hall passes by Tin Roof, a popular live music establishment with some great drink specials.

 

There are two street lots west of the ballpark a couple of blocks away; the City Block 426 and the 10th and Spruce lots. Actually, there’s several lots in this area, but I like these two for their convenience; they’re within sight of the ballpark just a couple blocks away, and a bit cheaper.

These two and others nearby are operated by St. Louis Parking; you can book online through their site or with the ParkMobile app. They’re small lots and don’t take cash; again, I’d book in advance. 

The Midwestern tavern is in the path to Busch from here. A cool sports bar with an excellent Sunday brunch as I can personally speak to. Say hello to Kendra and Zack for me.

 

Kiener East + Kiener West Garages. The Kiener garages, like the Stadium garages, are two east and west buildings. They are north of Kiener Plaza, and less than a ten minute walk to Ballpark Village and Busch. Best of all, they’re about half the price of the Stadium lots.

I used the Kiener East garage in my research mission, and I was very happy with it. It’s not far, significantly cheaper, and you can park there all day and visit the Arch if you want. With the time it takes to walk there, you shouldn’t have much of a delay getting out.

The East garage is also right at Chili Mac’s Diner, if you’d like to try a classic St. Louis eatery.

Busch Stadium Parking Guide, Tip #3) 7th Street Lots + Local Establishments.

I mentioned Chili Mac’s Diner, Tin Roof and The Midwestern as destinations that could influence your parking choice. In this section I’ll gloss over lots south of the ballpark, some of which are located at worthwhile establishments.

As you get further south in the Soulard section of St. Louis, there are multiple taverns that will give you a ride to the game; you can read about those here.

 

South of Busch on 7th Street (Old Route 66) are numerous surface lots, with plenty of spaces, cheaper prices (compared to Cardinals parking), and proximity to local establishments.

The big selling point of 7th Street lots is the easy out onto I-64 west and I-55 north into Illinois. If you’re coming from that direction these are a good option. One caveat; many of these are cash only.

According to Jeremy at 4 Hands Brewery (more about them in a minute), there are folks will drive you to the ballpark in a golf cart for tips. The lot at 810 S 7th Street has a Google review claiming this.

 

If you like your pre- or post-game party, there are a few popular establishments that either offer their own parking or are close to sizable lots.

Paddy O’s is easily the most prominent; they’re just steps away from the ballpark with slightly cheaper parking and game day food and drink specials. They include a coupon with your parking for a free beverage, so you have plenty of incentive to park here. Cash or credit too which is nice.

 

The Paddy O’s people also offer the “Lime Lot” on the opposite corner of 7th and Cerre. You can’t miss it, it’s nicely decorated as you can see.

This is a sizable lot at a similar price, it’s well lit with cameras, and it also includes the complimentary beverage. Important to be hydrated in this town.

Paddy O’s keeps the party going after the game, but you have to be over 21 after the 7th inning.

 

Kilroy’s is also on 7th and is a short walk to the ballpark; they also have their own lot. Kilroy’s is popular for their burgers, beer selection, and college bar vibe. You might find some specials on game days here too. It’s not a long walk.

Fleur STL, formerly the Eat Rite Diner, doesn’t have its own lot, but there is plenty of parking across Chouteau Street. This joint is popular for both breakfast and burgers. It could be a great option for a pre-day game meal, and it’s about a ten minute walk from Busch.

 

The 4 Hands Brewery is about a 15-minute walk; but they do offer very cheap parking, and that includes a token for your first beer. They have Happy Hour specials, and it’s a very easy exit; the walk to Busch is about 15 minutes. 4 Hands is a great spot for craft beer loving Cards fans, with solid burgers and skee-ball too.

As Jeremy, their digital marketing manager, tells me, it’s a 16 oz. walk to the ballpark. There might be the aforementioned golf carts around to help.

The Old Rock House is a live music joint with plenty of events happening. According to their website, you can park for free on Cardinals game nights in the lot behind their building. This is an unpaved space though, and I expect you’d need to be early and at least buy a drink inside.

 

Finally, one more key tip about parking on 7th, Broadway, or nearby:

Coming from the south lots you can easily use Gate 1 of the ballpark. This is advantageous for two reasons: first, you can get cheap dogs, snacks and drinks (which you can bring into the ballpark) from T-Dawg’s cart across the street. Second, Gate 1 is a much lesser used entrance. That could be key on a giveaway night.

Busch Stadium Parking Guide, Tip #4) Metered Street Parking (+ Free Spots).

Like with most downtown ballparks, you can find a great deal of street parking near Busch Stadium, especially west of the ballpark closer to City Hall and Union Station.

On weekdays, they’re mostly used by people who work in the area, so your timing matters. I recommend arriving around 5-5:30.

As I write this, meters are active Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and free on Sundays and holidays. There is supposedly a two-hour limit during enforcement times. (You can check here to see if that’s changed.)

 

If you’re comfortable parking on the street downtown, it can be a great deal; feed the meter until 7:00 PM and park for just a few bucks. Needless to say it’s a free parking opportunity for Sunday games, but I suspect you’d have to be early to nail a good spot.

Keep in mind the holidays too, free parking on July 4th, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Juneteenth.

 

If you’re planning to try meters, there are several street parking apps. I would have ParkLouie and ParkMobile on your phone. They cover most of the spots in downtown, and you’ll see parking zone numbers on signs wherever there’s meters. Makes street parking much easier when you can book the spot on your phone.

 

I’m sure there’s other spots, but the only free street parking I could find was on Lebanon Drive near 7th Street. I’m not quite sure; all I’m saying is I didn’t see meters or no parking signs there. It’s not much more than a ten minute walk to Busch. (And close to 4 Hands!)

One forum dweller suggested Chouteau Street between 1st and 2nd streets for free parking. This is also about a 10-15 minute walk, but it’s pretty desolate looking. I don’t think I’d do it.

Busch Stadium Parking Guide, Tip #5) Apps You Should Have.

I’ve already mentioned most of these, but I’m going to review the essential apps you should have on your phone if you’re planning to park at Busch Stadium.

The most important is SpotHero; in fact, you should have that for parking at any sports event. SpotHero shows you multiple available spots; you can also set your own time of arrival and departure. They include price, walking distance, photos and customer ratings for each location.

SpotHero is very simple to use, and in many cases once you’ve paid there’s no machines or attendants to deal with afterward.

You’ll need the MLB Ballpark app for storing your tickets anyway, but it’s also useful for parking passes. If you’re using Cardinals lots, you should definitely buy the passes in advance.

 

As I’ve stated, there are two apps you should have for street parking:

ParkMobile is geared to metered parking in a number of cities (and resort towns). It offers a number of useful features too, including letting you know how much time you have on the meter, and enabling you to extend your time if need be.

The ParkLouie app is also dedicated to downtown metered parking in STL. It’s powered by ParkMobile; you’d have similar features on it. I don’t know if you need both, but if I lived in St. Louis I would.

 

The Stadium East + West and Kiener Plaza garages are operated by iParkIt, and they also have an app. I booked the Kiener garage through SpotHero, so you likely might not need it. Couldn’t hurt to have it though.

So to sum up, strongly recommend SpotHero, the MLB Ballpark app, and ParkMobile on your phone. ParkLouie is fine, but you can use ParkMobile outside of St. Louis too.

Busch Stadium Parking Guide, Tip #6) A Few Essential Tips.

So hopefully I’ve offered some great Busch Stadium parking options, whether you want to be close to the ballpark, have an easy exit, go cheap or enjoy pre-game libations.

Here’s just a few general tips:

– I probably don’t need to tell you not to leave anything valuable in view in your car. St. Louis is like any big city, and people do tell stories online. You don’t want to give a law-avoiding individual a reason to break into your car.

– I didn’t find anything in my visit, but some garages may offer Early Bird specials, where if you arrive in the morning you can pay a small flat rate for the day. Great for making a day of Union Station/Ballpark Village/Lunch etc. Couldn’t hurt to check.

 

– If you can’t arrive early, as in an hour before first pitch, consider using Metrolink; there’s plenty of free parking at train stations and it drops you off right at the ballpark. Much easier closer to game time. (More about Metrolink in a future post.)

– There are more garages than surface lots north of Busch, and there are more surface lots than garages heading south. The north side tends to have more traffic, and garages take longer to exit, but garages in theory should be safer. (They’re not always, but should be.)

– While I’ve shown here that there are quite a few affordable pre-game party options, there is no “official” tailgating to speak of at Busch Stadium. It probably happens in spots like in the 7th street surface lots, but I wouldn’t bring a grill.

 

There you are my friends, every tip I can think of for finding your ideal parking spot at the beautiful home of the St. Louis Cardinals. Getting there is half the fun!

Be sure to check out my exceptionally useful Busch Stadium seating guide too, as well as my Busch food menu guide, and this excellent guide to Busch Stadium shuttles. Stay tuned for more on my Facebook page and email newsletter.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you at the Yard!

Greetings Baseball Fans, Ballpark Nerds, and anyone else baffled by the seat choices at the home of the St. Louis Cardinals! I’m here to help, with this complete and super-detailed Busch Stadium seating guide.

I’ll explain the pros and cons of all of the seating levels, from the premium seats to the cheap seats, and what you should know before buying a ticket. So first, click here for the Cardinals seating chart, you’ll want to keep it open for reference.

BTW, this post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase using the link, this site earns a commission at no extra cost to you. I really appreciate your support.

There’s a LOT here; you don’t have to read it all (but it’s all useful!) Pick a bit you’d like to know about below:

Busch Stadium Seating Guide – Table of Contents

Best Seats at Busch Stadium – Cardinals Club + Commissioner’s Box
Other Premium Seating – The Redbird Club
Premium All-Inclusive Seats (Champions Club, National Car Rental Club, 703 Club, Perficient Red Jacket Club)
Less Premium All-Inclusive Seats (Coca-Cola Scoreboard Patio + Rooftop Deck, Freese’s Landing, MVP Club, Left Field Landing, Bet365 Bridge)
Field Level (100) Seating
Mezzanine/Loge Level (200) Seating
Upper Level (300-400) Seating
Cheap Seats at Busch Stadium – The Bleachers
Cardinals Nation Rooftop + Balcony (+ Brew House)
Standing Room Spots (Budweiser Terrace, Perficient Porch)
Accessible Seating
Finding Shade at Busch Stadium
A Few More Tips

Okay, ready? Grab some coffee; here we go, after this quick word from our sponsor:

Gametime has your cheap Cardinals tickets…with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals…even after the game starts!

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1) The Best Seats at Busch Stadium – Cardinals Club + Commissioner’s Box (Sections 1-8)

So those large, green, cushioned seats behind home plate are the CommunityAmerica Cardinals Club seats; appropriately sponsored by a credit union since you’re likely to need a loan to afford them. I kid, but not by much; these can be four digits for high demand games.

But they’re worth it if you love your Cardinals baseball. In addition to very close and comfortable seats, you get access to the Cardinals Club, a climate-controlled space with plenty of tables.

 

Your ticket includes a really nice buffet; there are carving stations, multiple entrees and side dishes, and a wide selection of desserts. The menu even includes an item from the visiting team’s city, e.g. cheesesteaks for Philadelphia.

Wait, it gets better! Your drinks are included too, with a full service bar of beer, wine and liquor.

Still going here with the perks: VIP parking (another well-worth-it perk), and you can order food from a high end menu and have it delivered to your seat.

 

People who partake of the Cardinals Club seats love it; they suggest getting there when the gates open (two hours before game time) to fully take advantage of the food and drinks. Bring a few bucks to tip the wait staff. And definitely save room for the desserts, people rave about them.

These seats are mostly for season ticket holders (i.e. corporations). I’ll talk more about saving money on tickets in a future post, but if you’d like to try the Cardinals Club for less, look for a mid-week game against a low-value opponent, and check out Gametime for secondary market deals. If you can find something under $250, score.

 

Along with these superb seats, the Cardinals added another small section of equally comfortable high end seats next to the Cardinals dugout. These are the Commissioner’s Box seats (front rows of Section 140. You can pretend you’re Rob Manfred and try to think of ways to ruin baseball.

These seats don’t include Cardinals Club access, but they do offer access to the UMB Champions Club in left field and its buffet and drinks at no extra charge. It’s nice to grub tough on a good buffet, but the club is a bit of a walk from the seats, which is puzzling. The seats do include in-seat food and drink service, if you want to save a couple of steps.

 

Your Commissioner’s Box seat ticket comes with a stellar view of the field, and if you’re in the first couple of rows, you can see inside the Cards’ dugout and shout encouragement to your guys. You also get a pre-game photo-op in the dugout and on the field.

There’s only a small number of seats here, and the Cardinals sell them two at a time, so it presumably is tough to find them on the secondary market. If you want to pretend to be Manfred (“let’s make it ten seconds between pitches, yeah!”) your best bet is to call the Cardinals when tickets go on sale. (Subscribe to their ticket alert newsletter to see when that is.)

 

3) Other Premium Seating – Redbird Club

The Redbird Club seats (Sections 241-257) take up most of the mezzanine level, extending just past the bases from behind home plate. These seats are a good option for those who want to be part of a club, but don’t want to fork over an extra couple hundred for drinks.

Seriously, these are good value seats in my opinion; the bird’s eye view is nice, but the seats are also cushioned, and mostly covered in shade, especially in the upper rows – a very nice feature in St. Louis as we’ll discuss. The highest few rows might lose the scoreboard and skyline view, especially on the first base side.

 

There’s also access to the climate-controlled Redbird Club itself, an indoor concourse decorated with baseball card pics from every era of baseball. There’s multiple concession stands and a full service bar, with tables and TVs to watch the game.

The Club also has windows with a view of the game inside, with seating and counters, but that view isn’t very good. You’ll lose a portion of the infield, even if you’re sitting, and most seats will be taken.

 

The food choices here, I can personally attest, are very good. There’s an excellent sandwich carvery, an Asian noodles station, and high quality pizza, and of course El Birdo nachos and bacon wrapped dogs. (More about that in my upcoming Busch Stadium food post, be sure to subscribe!)

The food and drinks are not included with your ticket though, you pay normal ballpark prices that include that oppressive “atmosphere fee”. We’ll get to all-inclusive tickets shortly.

 

Redbird Club seats, depending on demand, can usually be had for under a hundred bucks; I paid considerably less than that on the secondary market for a Sunday game. So definitely check with my friends at Gametime, especially in the hours before the event.

In the sweltering St. Louis summers (definitely experienced it in my research mission), anything with access to air conditioning is worth the price in my opinion. You’ll probably agree.

Never Drive To Busch Stadium Without A Plan…

Book Your Parking Spot NOW With My Friends at SpotHero!

4) Premium All-Inclusive Seats (Champions Club, National Car Rental Club, 703 Club, Perficient Red Jacket Club)

I’m not going to get into the suites; those are generally bought out by corporations so you’d likely need to work for one or know someone who does. It’s a great baseball experience, but I’m skipping that because I have many other more club spaces to discuss. You can find out more on the Cardinals website, if you have any questions let me know. Onward.

When I say “premium all-inclusive seats” at Busch Stadium, that basically means two things: the buffet and drinks are higher quality, and/or there is an indoor space where you can escape the heat, as compared to other all-inclusive spaces.

The Cardinals have a LOT of all-inclusive sections; they’re popular and can be good deals, but obviously some are better than others. I’ll start with the ones that include air conditioning.

 

The UMB Champions Club is located on the mezzanine (200) level in the left field corner, in foul territory. Sections are 1-13, not to be confused with the Cardinals Club behind home plate.

I wouldn’t call the view from the seats spectacular. They’re somewhat far from the action. The outside seats are covered and protected from sun and rain, but in upper rows you can lose the view of the scoreboard. There are plenty of TVs, though, and you can order food from your seat.

That said, the indoor space is pretty sweet. It’s large, climate-controlled, and offers a high end buffet including a carving station, salads and other food stations, three full service bars and cookies and brownies for dessert. You can also view Cardinals World Series trophies, hence the name.

 

Champions Club tickets usually go for around triple digits from the Cards. It’s popular and limited, so tickets are tough to find on the secondary market. Search for a low demand game (like midweek against Colorado) to save a few bucks.

As with any all-inclusive spaces, if you do land a ticket, arrive early if you can; not just to make the most of your food and drinks but also to find a good table. They fill up fast.

 

The National Car Rental Club (named for Cardinals legend National Car Rental) is located just beyond the Redbird Club seats at third base, in Sections 258-260. Of the all-inclusive spaces (aside from the Cardinals Club and suites), these offer probably the best views of the action, and it features both outdoor and indoor seating sections.

Like the Champions Club, there’s an indoor space with a full service bar and a buffet that includes typical ballpark foodstuffs and a food station. It’s much smaller than the Champions Club though, and people do complain about crowding and limited table seating.

Again, it’s a small number of tickets, so you’re likely buying them from the Cardinals. Low demand games are cheaper; check your newsletter for dynamic deals.

 

The Perficient Red Jacket Club is in the lower level behind the right field corner seats, behind Sections 128-129. Sections are numbered 1-4. You have to squint to see it on the seating map.

The Red Jacket Club is dedicated to Cardinals Hall of Famers, who, of course, wore the red jacket like the champion golfers they are. The four sections of seats are cushioned and covered from the rain, and the sun during day games for the most part.

 

That said, the view isn’t great; it’s next to outfield bleacher seats and even behind two field level tiers, so you’re far away, staring into the sun early on in night games, and there’s no view of the scoreboard or skyline.

Climate-controlled indoor space is great here, so there’s that. The club itself features a high end buffet with a chef at a carving station and all that, along with a bar serving beer, wine and mixed drinks.

These seats might be good if you’re looking for a fancy experience like an included high end buffet, and if you’re not looking to spend at the Cardinals Club level. Or maybe if you’re hosting a Cardinals game gathering with your co-workers. Because of the lesser view, tickets are slightly cheaper than other clubs. Again, you’re likely buying these from the Cardinals.

 

Then there’s the 703 Club, named for Albert Pujols’s career home run total (that guy was pretty good). The 703 is beyond the outfield seats in left field, in the mezzanine section, with sections lettered A through F.

Like the Perficient Club, the view isn’t great from the seats, but you’ll have a view of the scoreboards in right field, and these seats are in the shade most of the time. The outside seats are mesh, great on hot days, with tables for your unlimited food and beverages.

 

The 703 Club itself features high end food options, like stone-fired pizzas, a pasta station, and “freshly grilled” (Kurt nods approvingly) dogs, brats, and burgers. There’s even a full nacho bar. You can order mixed drinks, wine and liquor from a full service bar. There’s a view of the game from inside, and also a view of Ballpark Village across the street.

And of course, it’s air-conditioned. Again, you’ll probably go through the Cardinals for these, and expect to pay about the same as with other clubs. This one is best if you’re looking for better food choices and scoreboard views, and really dislike St. Louis heat.

 

5) Less Premium All-Inclusive Seats (Coca-Cola Scoreboard Patio + Rooftop Deck, Freese’s Landing, MVP Club, Left Field Landing, Bet365 Bridge)

Pretty impressive how many spots include food and drinks, eh? Busch is truly like a cruise ship. Anyway, the areas below don’t include air-conditioned space to hang out in, just all you can eat and drink.

The food and drink is pared down here, but it’s not a bad selection. There’s usually dogs, brats, pulled pork, salads, nachos and cookies. For drinks it’s just Bud, Bud Light, and Coca-Cola products, so try and get your money’s worth.

You can sometimes find sweet deals on all-inclusive tickets, even below $50. If the Cards aren’t drawing well or playing a weak opponent on a weekday, you might score a great price. Check your newsletter or with Gametime. If you’re really set on trying these, get tickets well in advance from the Cards.

In alphabetical order, here they are:

 

Bet365 Bridge. The Bet365 Bridge is located behind the right field bleachers, under the scoreboard. It’s basically a couple of rows of counters with barstools and a distant view, and you should be in the shade in the back row if need be. Remember you’ll be staring into the sun for evening games.

These would probably be my last choice, at least in the summer heat; it’s the last to see shade in the evening. Take the covered back row for shade and easier access to food and bathrooms. There’s also no view of the big scoreboards, which also afflicts the Coca-Cola areas and Freese’s Landing.

 

Coca-Cola Rooftop Deck. The Rooftop Deck is over center field, next to the main scoreboard. Don’t confuse it with the Coca-Cola Scoreboard Patio, which is under the Big Board and much larger. Of the all-inclusive sections, these are probably furthest from home plate, except for the Cardinals Nation rooftop, which I’ll discuss later.

The Rooftop Deck has three rows of counters with barstools (they’re reserved seats), and there’s a covered section behind you with the food and drinks and TVs to watch the game. The last row is in the shade, but in the first two rows you could be in that glaring sun.

 

Coca-Cola Scoreboard Patio. The scoreboard patio seats are below the Big Board; this is five rows of seats with sizable counters, nicely elevated so no one blocks your view in front of you. They are kind of like the Chop House seats in Atlanta.

The Scoreboard Patio is the most popular of the non-premium all-inclusive areas; the view isn’t terrible from right center field, although you have to turn around to see the Big Board. You can duck out of the sun and sit at tables in the shaded area where food and drink is served, and it’s a bigger buffet that is well-managed by most accounts.

There’s also more seats here, so you have a better chance of finding a deal on Gametime. Again, though, you’re staring into the sun for the first few innings for night games.

 

Freese’s Landing. Freese’s Landing is beneath the Scoreboard Patio seating; if you even slightly follow baseball you know it’s where David Freese’s game winning and Series-extending home run landed.

Like the other spaces, there are barstools and counters, and it’s easy to find cover and shade. Being in right center field, though, again you’ll be looking into the sun. The space is also somewhat removed from the action, with no view of any of the big scoreboards, and has a walkway in front of it.

History aside, it’s probably the least favorite all-inclusive space among fans. But unlimited beer can make it tolerable.

 

Left Field Landing. The Left Field Landing doesn’t feature a gathering space; it’s just two rows of barstools and counters in the left field corner, behind Sections 168 and 169. There’s food and drinks behind it, but not much space for standing.

As all-inclusive spaces go, though, the Left Field Landing does have the advantage of being the first in the shade for night games. It’s also pretty easy to get under cover if rain comes. The view isn’t terrible either; it’s some distance from home plate but not elevated.

 

Scott Credit Union MVP Deck. The MVP Deck is above the left field bleachers, next to the Coca-Cola Rooftop Deck. There’s two levels of space here, both of them covered, with a bar on the lower level. There aren’t many spaces, so it’s a nice spot for small gatherings.

It’s also slightly less elevated than the rooftop deck, but not by much, so it’s still pretty far away, but this is probably the best spot for continuous shade.

6) Busch Stadium Seating – Field Level (100) Seating

The field level at Busch Stadium (not counting bleachers, we’ll get to that) starts at Section 127 in right field and circles to Section 172 in left field. Most sections feature a lot of rows, at least 23-24, with some having a dozen more.

With the number of rows and the height of upper levels, the Field level is my personal preference for general seating; even the mezzanine here seems far from the action. That said, you will bake in summer day games in most sections.

As you can see from the seating chart, there’s a wide variety of sections and pricing levels, from Diamond Box seats on either side of the Cardinals Club to the Left Field and Right Field Box seats in the corners. I’ll briefly gloss over these.

 

The Diamond Box seats are the front few rows behind both dugouts, with cheaper Dugout Box sections going down the foul lines. It’s in the heat for sure, but the views are great and seats are cushioned. Similarly with the Dugout Box seats, you’re very close to the action.

Both of these sections go mostly to season ticket holders, so you’ll likely be looking on the secondary market for them.

 

Other than those, the Home Field Box sections are probably the best non-premium seats. They’re behind the Cardinals Club seats, and feature nice padding. They don’t include club access, but you can buy plenty of food and drinks with the $200 you’re saving.

I have read some complaints that the front rows have view problems from walkways and railings, so maybe avoid the first couple of rows.

 

The rest of the Field Box sections are divided into Infield Field Box, 1st and 3rd Base Field Box, Lower Left and Lower Right Field Box, and Left and Right Field Boxes. These last sections extend past the foul poles. Keep in mind that the Diamond and Dugout Box rows are in front of these.

Needless to say, ticket prices drop closer to the outfield; you can often find sweet deals on Gametime for low demand nights. Except for the Left and Right Field Box sections, seats are cushioned. Nice!

 

As you get past the Infield Box seats where the suites are, there are additional rows of seating that are elevated behind a walkway. The elevation keeps people walking by from being a problem, and these areas are mostly covered from the rain and sun, with huge fans overhead helping to keep you cool. In upper rows you may lose the Big Boards and skyline though.

If you’re choosing between field boxes and Redbird Club seats, ask yourself if having access to air conditioned space means more than being close to the action. It’s quite the conundrum. But these raised rear sections at least offer something in between.

 

The Left Field and Right Field Box seats (including the Lower sections) in foul territory aren’t angled towards the field like in many ballparks (sections are somewhat, but not seats themselves). This can be mildly annoying; you may prefer past the foul poles for a straight view.

The Left Field Corner is definitely better for shade, even in day games; you also have a much better view of both scoreboards. Just saying. The last seven or so rows in the left field corner are also covered by an overhang.

7) Mezzanine/Loge Level (200) Seating

Most of the second deck in Busch Stadium consists of Redbird Club seating, and the National Car Rental Club on the third base side. As I’ve stated, with the open concourses and suite levels, the mezzanine here is fairly elevated. The 200 level has a large amount of seats, similar to Yankee Stadium.

Past the Club sections, seating areas are named 1st/3rd Base Loge and Left/Right Field Loge, with Big Mac Land on the fair territory side of the foul pole. The third base and left field sections have decent shade in the upper rows from the overhang, even in day games.

 

The 1st and 3rd Base Loge areas are close to the Club seats and offer similar views, but as you get further out into the Left and Right Field Loge sections, it’s much farther away than you would expect from 200 level seating. At least I was kind of surprised by it.

Another disadvantage of the outer 200 level is that with the Redbird Club taking up the level, you don’t have much concourse to roam around in or food options, and bathrooms are a bit sparse. I’d pick up food and take care of nature’s call beforehand.

 

As far as Big Mac Land, if you’re a more mature baseball fan like me, you remember Mark McGwire’s titanic shots to the second deck in left field at Busch II. The Cardinals at one time ran a promotion where if a Cardinal hit one into Big Mac Land, everyone in the ballpark would get a free Big Mac at McDonald’s the next day.

Sorry if it disappoints you but to my knowledge they’re no longer doing the promotion; it’s just a section with McDonald’s branding and seats that aren’t great.

I wouldn’t overpay for 200 Level seating; if I’m going to be far from the action, I would rather be in the upper levels behind home plate. If you can find a nice deal, sure, but there are better options.

8) Upper Level (300-400) Seating

The upper deck at Busch Stadium consists of the Pavilion (300) and Terrace (400) sections. The Pavilion sections go from about the right field foul pole around left field; the 400 sections stop around third base. In right field the upper sections past the foul pole is the Budweiser Terrace; I’ll get to that.

The upper sections, because of the premium seats and open concourses, are noticeably high, and beyond the bases especially they’re pretty far away. If you’re behind home plate or a bit on the third base side, they do afford a pretty sweet panoramic view of the scoreboards and skyline, which people online like a lot.

The 300 level seating is probably worth the extra few bucks of the two. There’s fewer rows, seats are closer, and there’s fewer steps to get to the concourse if you’re hungry or answering nature’s call. There are minor complaints about the railing obstructions, I’ll discuss that later.

 

The 400 sections, aside from not being for the acrophobic, require another flight of steps to get to your seats. Best avoided for anyone with mobility issues. Sections 431-435 are arguably the worst seats in the ballpark, with far away views and blinding sun, but they’re nice and cheap. (And close to cheap beer at the Budweiser Terrace.)

There are a couple of consolation prizes for the 400 level on hot days; for one, it’s almost completely covered by the roof, offering that essential shade. In addition, it’s breezy in the top rows, which helps except on cold days. The left field corner 300 seats have a roof as well.

 

The upper concourse is open air, with sweet views of downtown St. Louis; it’s actually good for trainspotters, if you care about such things. You can also easily access the Budweiser Terrace for cheap brews. If you are up here and don’t feel like using ramps or steps, there’s an escalator near the team store entrance.

The Pavilion and Terrace sections are considerably cheaper than lower levels, and you can probably find good deals on Gametime. Given similar prices, I would take a 300 seat behind home plate over a 200 level seat in a corner. Just saying.

9) Cheap Seats at Busch Stadium – The Bleachers

So you’re going cheap but don’t want a nosebleed, right? And not even proximity to $5 Budweisers or breezy shade will change your mind? Then the Busch Stadium bleachers are for you. The bleachers here are classic style; numbered metal benches but with backs.

The Cardinals even supplied a fair number of bleacher seats for you. There’s Left Field Bleachers, five sections behind the visitors bullpen, and two tiers of Right Field Bleachers; Sections 107-108 are behind the Cardinals bullpen, and Sections 107-111 are behind these and pretty far back from the action.

 

The first thing I will tell you about bleacher seats here is a warning: you could probably fry an egg on one on a St. Louis August afternoon. (Come to think of it…) If you’re planning to sit here on a hot day or even an evening, bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, whatever. I was actually amazed how many people were sitting there in my July visit.

The Cardinals allow you to bring in sealed bottles of water that you can buy from vendors outside; you should take advantage of that. For an evening game, left field bleachers will see shade before the right field seats, and in right field you’ll be staring into the sun early on.

 

That said, you can flip it around and make the bleachers a viable option for a cheap ticket on an April or September (or October) day game. You’ll definitely be warmer than people on the third base side; in fact they might be bundled up while you’re in short sleeves.

The bleachers also might not be the best place for kids, although they are close to the very cool Hi-Chew Family Pavilion, and its indoor game spaces. Sunburn potential aside, there can be a raucous atmosphere with, well, bleacher type fans. Wrigley it’s not, but just something to be mindful of.

 

Given the choice, I would prefer left field bleachers; they offer a better view of the scoreboards, and I always like shouting friendly encouragement to opposing pitchers. Better shade and it’s closer to better concessions too. Speaking of bullpen areas, if you’re behind the bullpen, the first row is usually Row 11.

The bleachers seats, for obvious reasons, are among the cheapest in the ballpark. It might be a nice option just to get in, but keep in mind everything I’ve said here.

10) Not Actually in Busch Stadium – Cardinals Nation Rooftop + Balcony (+ Brew House)

If you’ve ever wanted to sit in the Waveland or Sheffield Avenue rooftops across from Wrigley Field but just can’t stomach the Cubs, the Cards have an option for you: the Cardinals Nation rooftop across the street. This was actually inspired by the Wrigley rooftops, but the Cards were nice enough not to put a big scoreboard in front of it.

Also like the Wrigley rooftops, you get nice bang for your buck here, despite the far and high view and the direct sun in upper levels. Tickets include a high end buffet (the premium kind I described in other clubs), with a carving station, entrees, a nacho bar and desserts. You can even order hot dogs and brats and have them sent to your seat.

 

Cardinals Nation offers multiple seating areas. There’s two levels of rooftop seats; the upper level is fully in the sun while the lower level is mostly covered. Then there’s the Balcony on the floor below, with outdoor table seating. You can also get tickets to the climate-controlled Branch Rickey Room, with food and drinks and TVs to watch the game you’re at.

These seats are, as you’d expect, pretty far removed from the action. It’s not terrible to watch from across the street, but this is something you do more for the experience of complimentary drinks at a ballgame. You can access the ballpark with your ticket if you like, but you don’t get a seat with it.

 

One very nice perk of all three areas of Cardinals Nation seats is that you get complimentary admission to the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum, which is…take it from a guy who’s been to a few…one of the best team Hall of Fames in baseball. It’s definitely well worth a visit for baseball fans, Cardinal partisans or not.

All in all, these can be a pretty good deal, especially if you like all-inclusive seats at a ballpark and don’t mind being far away. At ballpark prices, you could probably get your money’s worth on drinks alone. Check on Gametime to find a deal. You may also find a sweet price in the Cardinals ticket alert newsletter.

The bar on the first floor of Cardinals Nation is open to everyone, and it’s very impressive as sports bars go. If you can’t get a ticket, this is as good a spot as any to watch on TV.

 

Next door to Cardinals Nation is the Budweiser Brew House, which also sports an across the street view. The rooftop here is actually free, but obviously it doesn’t include food and drinks, and the view isn’t quite as good. You lose a fair amount of right field to the MVP deck and such. And yes, the patio is in the sun.

So these aren’t Busch Stadium seats per se, but it’s not a bad spot, especially for the price. There are full service bars and affordable drink specials, a perfectly acceptable menu of food, and seats with counters and a view. There’s also lounge chairs to relax in. If it’s a big game and you really want to try this, you can reserve a spot in advance.

11) Busch Stadium Standing Room Spots (Budweiser Terrace, Perficient Porch)

If standing room is your only option for sold out games, it can be tricky to find a spot with a good view. Busch Stadium offers a couple of spaces just for standing room, but they don’t feature great views.

But before we get to that, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Cardinals offer a nice standing room deal for local fans: the Ballpark Pass. With this pass, you can attend every home game except Opening Day, for a small monthly fee. It’s well worth the cost even if you just attend a few high demand games each month (e.g. Cubs, Yankees games).

 

The Cardinals mention that there are specially marked standing room spaces, including behind sections throughout the lower level behind home plate. These aren’t great spots, even if the view isn’t bad, just because of where the marked standing spaces are.

There are two areas more or less geared to standing room patrons; the Perficient Perch and the Budweiser Terrace. The Perficient Perch is mostly just an open space on the upper concourse, behind Sections 356-357 at third base. It offers a nice panoramic view of everything, including the Arch. There’s a Big Chicken there if you’re into that.

 

The multi-level Budweiser Terrace is much more popular, and an imaginative way to get people to spend a ballgame with the worst view in a ballpark. They completely remade the section specifically for standing room sorts, with barstools behind counters and even padded benches. You should be able to sit somewhere here for most games.

But the big draw, of course, is the $5.25 Budweisers all night long, of course a great price for beer at a ballpark. That and the pavilion on the concourse that includes a BBQ grill and pre-game entertainment. It’s actually pretty happening, for a standing room price.

All that said, the view of the game isn’t great from here, and it’s the last spot in the ballpark to see shade. On a hot evening you’ll earn that $5 beer.

 

If you’d prefer a better view, there’s plenty of options. The concourses aren’t open behind home plate on any level, but there are marked standing room spots behind most sections. Ushers might or might not enforce the yellow line rule. Kind of like NASCAR. It’s also easy to stake a spot somewhere in the outfield.

And of course, there’s always that empty seat potential; one trick I’ve read is to go online and see what seats are still available after the game starts and stake one out. This will be much easier in lesser value seats where ushers aren’t as strict. Whether or not you think that’s unethical fan behavior is a choice I leave to you.

12) Busch Stadium Accessible Seating

Ballpark E-Guides covers all the bases, and I’m here to help if you need accessible seating at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals offer plenty of information here about this, but I’m going to add some of my own observations.

Multiple sections throughout the ballpark feature accessible and wheelchair spaces behind them. The Cardinals were nice enough to put many of these spaces out in the open, without an overhang to block that coveted skyline/scoreboard view.

 

In the seating bowl, most sections should have shade early in the evening. There is a section behind the left field bleachers that could be pretty warm early on; something to be aware of.

With an accessible ticket, you can include three additional tickets. These areas have folding chairs for friends and electrical outlets, with ushers to help with anything you need. Elevators are available near most of the entrances.

13) Finding Shade at Busch Stadium

Shade is a pretty important factor choosing a seat at Busch (and if you’ve been, you know I ain’t joking). Temps can get in triple digits and it can be stupid humid. I saved the shade bit for last since I’ve talked about it in most sections, but here are general tips to keep in mind.

Home plate is in the southwest corner, so the sun sets on the third base side. Here’s where the high seating at Busch makes some sense; third base and left field is usually in shade early for night games, so on that side you shouldn’t be in the heat for too long.

 

For day games, the 400 sections are mostly shaded by the roof (often with a breeze too), and this applies to the 300 sections in left field, although 370-372 might see some sun. The roof can also protect 300 sections here early in the evening, but remember there is no roof covering sections 355-360 (the Perficient Perch).

Even during the day, the third base side is better for shade, especially in the back rows of any level. You’ll likely see sun early on, but as the game goes on, shade will increase there and the sun will glare into right field. The left field corner is a good spot anytime. Much of the field level will be in the sun during the day though, and bleachers are entirely uncovered.

 

Remember what I said about the field level seating past the bases; the rear portion of these sections is separated by a walkway, and the back portion is mostly covered with giant fans helping with a breeze. If you want to be low and cooler for a day game, try these; although later in the day the right field corner will get sun.

If nothing else, Redbird Club seats are worth the few extra bucks just for the shade; most of the rows save for the first few are covered (and of course, you can use the air-conditioned club).

Remember these are general tips; I can’t promise your seat won’t be in the sun, but if you keep these things in mind you should be okay. By the way, for a chilly April evening, you can always flip it around and easily find seats in the sun.

14) Busch Stadium Seating – A Few More Tips

Yes, I haven’t quite covered everything; here’s just a couple things.

There are a very small number of obstructed view seats at Busch Stadium. These are close to railings or panels, and a few are beyond just annoying. The majority of these are in the 400 level in about Row 7, and in the rear portions of the field level sections (usually Row 20).

I can’t confirm whether your ticket will warn you about this, but the Cardinals do offer a very helpful 3-D seating map, where you check the view from any seat. If you end up with such a seat and didn’t know, ask an usher if you can move; they’ll probably help.

 

If you’re one of those fans that loves a skyline and scoreboard view with your baseball…and St. Louis certainly offers one of the better backdrops with the Arch and all that…the third base side is better, although it’s sweet behind home plate too.

In addition to the lower level being definitely better for the acrophobic, keep in mind it’s got much better amenities too. The Family Pavilion is in the outfield area, and there’s plenty better choices for concessions and souvenirs.

Finally, facing the field, seat 1 is always on the left side, to help you do as little squeezing past people as possible. Nachos are popular here but no one likes them in their lap.

 

(Kurt exhales heavily.) There you have it folks; your complete and ridiculously detailed guide to finding a seat at the beautiful home of the St. Louis Cardinals.

I hope you sign up for my email newsletter, and follow the Ballpark E-Guides Facebook page. I will add much more info about Busch Stadium coming soon. Learn how to save money on tickets, food choices, and much more. (Check out my complete parking guide for Cardinals games, my thorough overview of the Busch food menu, and this complete list of Busch Stadium shuttles!)

Thanks for visiting, and I’ll see you at the Yard!