Third Time's the Charm

Official Review by Jim Mancari, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

The St. Louis Cardinals rival the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs as the most popular teams over the last century of baseball.

And for the greater part of their history, the Cardinals called "Busch Stadium" home. However, there have actually been three Busch Stadiums, with the current one opening in 2006.

Incidentally, the Cardinals joined the Yankees as the only team to win the World Series during the first year in a new stadium.

The ballpark is chock full of historic quirks and facets. The centerfield gate (Gate 5) is actually centerfield of the second Busch Stadium. Painted lines mark the locations of the old foul lines and outfield wall. The new stadium was basically fully completed in 2005, but the team had to wait for the end of the season to complete it since the ballparks overlapped.

Gate 3 is a tremendous sight for any true baseball fan. Though Albert Pujols is the talk of the town these days in St. Louis, Stan Musial remains the most revered Cardinal of all time. A brass statue of "Stan the Man" sits outside the stadium under Musial Bridge - modeled after the historic Eads Bridge that was the first bridge to cross the Mississippi River in St. Louis.

Though the Anheuser Busch, Co. no longer owns the Cardinals, the company provided enough money to keep the naming rights to the stadium. It's hard to imagine the Cardinals playing anywhere but some version of a Busch Stadium.

As the public address announcer says before every home game, "Welcome to Baseball Heaven." Busch Stadium is truly a baseball heaven for the scores of fans that visit each year.

Food & Beverage    4

Like many pro stadiums today, the food at Busch Stadium is quite expensive. Even with Anheuser Busch as a main sponsor, beers are still $8. Still, it's a nice tradition to enjoy a cold Budweiser at Busch Stadium.

Definitely try to visit the Bowtie Bar located on the second level of the ballpark. The bar features open seating to the public, and rather than close in the seventh inning like the alcohol sales at the concession stands, the bar remains open until one hour after the game.

A nice feature of the stadium is the Ford Plaza beyond the centerfield wall. Though food is available for purchase, fans can bring their own outside food and drink into the stadium. Busch Stadium is one of only a few stadiums that allow this.

The ballpark also has an upperdeck Hardee's - a Midwest favorite. However, the prices are higher than the typical fast food chain's prices.

The Gashouse Grill and Dizzy's Diner are named for Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean and the members of the famous "Gashouse Gang."

Atmosphere    5

Busch Stadium is teeming with Cardinals history. Smaller statues of the Cardinals' Hall of Famers, including Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith and Dizzy Dean, compliment the larger statue of Musial.

Inside the stadium, these players' retired numbers adorn the leftfield wall and are also displayed near the batter's eye in centerfield.

On top of the scoreboard, the Cardinals proudly hang their 11 World Series banners, the most recent being in 2011. The Cardinals have won the second most World Series of any team in the league (the Yankees have 27 World Championships).

The team and the surrounding area have so much history, and the ballpark does a great job in honoring both.

Neighborhood    5

St. Louis is also teeming with family-friendly activities, the highlight of which is a trip to the top of the 630-ft Gateway Arch, built in 1965. It takes four minutes to get to the top, but the view offers a great photo opportunity of Busch Stadium. On a clear day, visitors can see 30 miles in every direction. The trip costs $10.

The downtown area has plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy before or after a game as well as a plethora of hotels. There's a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in the vicinity and a Westin hotel across the street from the stadium where visiting players stay.

The 360O Hilton bar is the new highlight of the town and offers a view of the game action. Kilroy's bar downtown is also a hot spot after the game.

St. Louis is known for its "Core of Discovery." Tourists can enjoy such attractions as a tour of the Old Courthouse, a riverboat ride down the Mississippi or a helicopter ride through the Arch.

The St. Louis Rams play right down the street at the Edward Jones Dome.

There's also a ton of activities just outside the city. The Galleria Mall, the St. Louis Zoo and Six Flags Over Mid-America are all must see stops in addition to the ballpark.

It definitely takes more than a day to experience all St. Louis has to offer. Visit the Core of Discovery website for more information.

Fans    5

Right when you enter Busch Stadium, all you see is a sea of red. Almost everyone shows up over an hour and a half before the game, which actually makes for a long wait just to get into the ballpark. Most games are sellouts.

But the wait is well worth seeing a group of fans so passionate about their team. Even the fans way out in the outfield are totally involved in the action.

The fans go nuts for Albert Pujols and would hate to see him leave via free agency. The mascot Fredbird is also a fan-favorite.

Cardinals fans are the type of fans that will make the stadium shake, even after a simple bloop single by the pitcher to lead off an inning when the team is down by a few runs.

Access    3

St. Louis is located right on the shores of the Mississippi River, so many methods of travel lead right to the ballpark.

The Metrolink is a public transportation system that stops directly at the stadium and serves the surrounding areas.

The downtown area is full of highways, some of which actually block the view of the stadium. The area can be very confusing though (even with a navigation system) for first time visitors.

Return on Investment    4

It's almost unfair to say that the price for tickets, food and parking is expensive at Busch Stadium, because every stadium is expensive these days.

With that in mind, enjoying a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium is a good investment. The baseball history of the city rivals any city in the country, and fans looking for an all-around baseball experience should definitely stop in St. Louis.

In the scheme of things, you can get a decent view of the game action for a ticket price that won't break the bank.

Despite the price, it's a good investment to visit Busch.

Extras    5

In addition to the historic quirks, the ballpark offers a variety of game-viewing experiences.

For about $125, fans can purchase tickets to the Champion's Club. The Cardinals display their 2006 World Series trophy behind the bar. Not only does this price include a seat in the stadium, but it also gives fans access to an air-conditioned lounge (necessary for summer in St. Louis) with big screen televisions and a buffet dinner.

The Redbird Club is for season ticket holders and offers a buffet dinner. Old St. Louis baseball cards adorn the walls, which adds a nice touch.

The green seats behind home plate are part of the Cardinals Club. Fans commit for 10 years to at least two seats and are given access to an up-scale restaurant and bar located right near the field.

Big Mac Land is a fun area to sit in, especially now that the original Big Mac, Mark McGwire, is back with the team as the hitting coach.

Final Thoughts

For just $10, it's imperative to take the ballpark tour of Busch Stadium. There's so much essential information that fans must know that might not be available by just going to a game there. If you're a Cubs fans, be prepared for some good-natured ribbing.

The Cardinals are a historic team, and the city of St. Louis is a historic city. Both are must visits for any baseball fan.