Busch Stadium Game Day Guide
St. Louis Cardinals · St. Louis, MO
Know Before You Go
Essential details checked against official venue information.
- Bag policy
Bags, purses, and soft-sided coolers no larger than 10 x 8 x 10 inches are permitted and inspected at entry.
Applies to: St. Louis Cardinals games
- Medical bags and diaper bags accompanying a child may receive exceptions to the size limit.
- Gate opening
Gates open 90 minutes before games Monday through Thursday and two hours before games Friday through Sunday.
Applies to: St. Louis Cardinals games
- Gate times are subject to change.
- Mobile tickets
Cardinals tickets are delivered through the MLB Ballpark app and a mobile barcode must be displayed on a mobile device for entry.
Applies to: St. Louis Cardinals games
- Print-at-home tickets are not accepted; load tickets before arrival or add them to Apple Wallet in case connectivity is limited.
- Re-entry
Guests who want to leave and return must obtain a hand stamp at Gate 1 or Gate 4 before exiting.
Applies to: St. Louis Cardinals games
- A guest with the hand stamp and valid ticket may re-enter at any gate until 90 minutes after scheduled first pitch and must repeat bag inspection and metal-detector screening.
- Prohibited items
Busch Stadium prohibits alcohol, non-alcoholic beer, glass and aluminum containers, oversized bags, hard-sided coolers, weapons, fireworks, drones, noisemakers, laser pointers, and other listed items.
Applies to: St. Louis Cardinals games
- Luggage, wrapped packages, aerosol cans, tripods, monopods, stun guns, and most face-covering costumes are also prohibited; review the full official list before arrival.
- First aid
First Aid stations are on Level 1 behind Section 147 and on Level 4 at Section 351.
Applies to: St. Louis Cardinals games
- A parent or legal guardian must accompany a guest younger than 18 who receives treatment.
- Nursing and lactation
Private nursing accommodations are in the Family Pavilion Nursing Suite, Family Rooms near Sections 160 and 348, and First Aid.
Applies to: St. Louis Cardinals games
- The accessible Family Pavilion Nursing Suite includes a baby-changing table, and nursing is also allowed in any public area where the parent is otherwise authorized to be.
- Family restrooms
Family and all-gender restrooms are near Sections 107, 134, 139, 154, 171, 211, 237, 248, 269, 358, and 439, and in the Family Pavilion.
Applies to: St. Louis Cardinals games
- Tickets for children
Children age 3 and younger do not need a ticket for admission to Busch Stadium.
Applies to: St. Louis Cardinals games
- Children age 4 and older need a valid ticket for admission to a Luxury Suite.
- Guest services
Guest Relations Centers are on Level 1 behind Section 148, Level 4 behind Section 340, and in Ford Plaza near the Sensory Room.
Applies to: St. Louis Cardinals games
- For discreet in-game assistance, text the issue and location to 314-300-1000.
- Service animals
Service dogs and other service animals expressly authorized by law are welcome when trained to perform work or tasks for a person with a disability.
Applies to: St. Louis Cardinals games
- Smoking and vaping
Tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and vaporizers are prohibited inside Busch Stadium.
Applies to: St. Louis Cardinals games
- A designated smoking area at Gate 1 allows access in and out from gate opening through the end of the eighth inning.
Game Day Timeline
What the day looks like at Busch Stadium, hour by hour.
Arrive downtown
Take the MetroLink to Stadium Station or drive into the downtown garages. Ballpark Village opens early and starts filling with red-clad fans.
Pregame at Ballpark Village
Budweiser Brew House, Cardinals Nation restaurant, and the rooftop deck are buzzing. Grab a Budweiser (brewed locally) and enjoy the pregame atmosphere.
Enter Busch Stadium
Walk through the gates and see the Arch framed beyond center field. Explore the Cardinals Hall of Fame museum on the main concourse.
Watch batting practice
Head to the outfield sections for BP. The left field bleachers offer the best chance at catching home run balls.
Find your seat
Settle in and watch the pregame ceremonies. The Cardinals video board shows lineup introductions against the Arch backdrop.
Play ball
Nine innings of Cardinal baseball. The crowd is knowledgeable and engaged. Don't be surprised if your neighbor explains the infield shift strategy.
Stand up and stretch
The crowd sings along to 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game.' Grab a final round of toasted ravioli and a Schlafly craft beer.
Ballpark Village after hours
Walk next door to Ballpark Village for post-game drinks. The Budweiser Brew House stays packed after wins. The MetroLink runs late on game nights.
Tips & Fan Reports
Take a walk around the whole stadium once you are inside. The view from directly behind home plate is incredible. The Budweiser Terrace in right field has a party vibe and $5 beers before game time.
St. Louis is one of the best baseball towns in America. The fans are knowledgeable, respectful, and genuinely care about the game.
Ballpark Village is the pregame and post-game destination. The Budweiser Brew House is the anchor bar, but the rooftop has the best views.
The Gateway Arch framed beyond center field is the signature Busch Stadium view. Try for outfield or right-field seats for the best Arch backdrop.
Ballpark Village (adjacent) is the best game-day entertainment complex in MLB. It stays packed whether the Cards are winning or not.
MetroLink Stadium station is right at Busch Stadium. $2.50 and connects from the airport.
The MetroLink Stadium Station is directly adjacent. Use it. Parking downtown is easy but more expensive.
Weather
Busch Stadium is open air, so these are the conditions you sit in.
Across the MLB season the warmest month is July, with an average high of 89°F, and the coldest is April, when the average low is 45°F. July is the wettest month at 5.0 inches and October the driest at 3.0 inches.
That April low ranks 15th coldest of the 30 MLB venues, and July here ranks 6th wettest.
April
4.6 inchesMay
4.8 inchesJune
4.3 inchesJuly
5.0 inchesAugust
3.1 inchesSeptember
3.4 inchesOctober
3.0 inchesSt. Louis Cardinals Clear Bag Policy
Most venues require a clear bag. Get an approved one before you travel.
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How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Game day timeline
Gate opening time checked against the venue's own gate-opening policy: Gates open 90 minutes before games Monday through Thursday and two hours before games Friday through Sunday.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
- Venue policies
Busch Stadium policy, security, accessibility, dining, parking, family-admission, and mobile-ticket pages reviewed for entry, family, payment, food, and accessibility rules.