Busch Stadium Pregame Guide
St. Louis Cardinals · St. Louis, MO
Busch Stadium's parking terms are explicit that licensees may not have barbecues or other tailgating activities, so the pregame here is Ballpark Village next door rather than a lot. The lots themselves open unusually early — five hours before first pitch — and close an hour after the game. Stadium gates open 90 minutes before game time Monday to Thursday and two hours Friday to Sunday. The club sells its own game-day parking at three named sites, all delivered digitally through the MLB Ballpark app.
Tips & Fan Reports
No barbecue in the lots — the parking terms rule out tailgating activities, so Ballpark Village is the pregame.
Gates are 90 minutes out Monday to Thursday but two hours Friday to Sunday.
Lots open five hours before first pitch, which is unusually early for a ballpark that does not permit tailgating.
Parking passes are app-only, so have the MLB Ballpark app installed before you travel.
Where to Go Before the Game
Ballpark Village
The entertainment, dining and residential district next to the stadium, with restaurants, bars and its own tickets to watch the game from beyond the left-field wall. This is the pregame, given the lots permit none.
Known for Next to the stadium · Restaurants and bars · Watch from beyond left field
The All-Star Lot, 611 S. 8th Street
One of three sites where the club sells individual game-day parking directly, with the pass delivered digitally through the MLB Ballpark app.
Known for 611 S. 8th Street · Club-sold · Digital pass
One Cardinal Way Garage, 269 S. Broadway
The garage option among the club's own parking, on South Broadway, again sold directly and delivered through the app.
Known for 269 S. Broadway · Covered · Digital pass
The Bus and Oversized Vehicle Lot, 1001 S. 6th Street
Where coaches and oversized vehicles park, on South 6th Street, sold the same way as the other two.
Known for 1001 S. 6th Street · Buses and oversize vehicles
Rules to Know
What Busch Stadium allows, and what it does not.
- Under the parking terms and conditions, licensees may not have barbecues or other tailgating activities.
- On gamedays the parking lots open five hours prior to the scheduled first pitch and close one hour after the event concludes.
- Busch Stadium gates open 90 minutes before game time Monday to Thursday, and two hours before game time Friday to Sunday.
- Individual gameday parking is sold by the club at the All-Star Lot (611 S. 8th Street), the One Cardinal Way Garage (269 S. Broadway) and the Bus/Oversized Vehicle Lot (1001 S. 6th Street).
- All parking passes are delivered digitally via the MLB Ballpark app.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
Bags, purses, and soft-sided coolers no larger than 10 x 8 x 10 inches are permitted and inspected at entry.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Guests may bring most food and factory-sealed clear plastic non-alcoholic beverages no larger than 2 liters.
- A card or a phone wallet
Busch Stadium concession stands, kiosks, and retail transactions are cashless and accept credit or debit cards.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
Cardinals tickets are delivered through the MLB Ballpark app and a mobile barcode must be displayed on a mobile device for entry.
- A warm layer for after dark
April nights average 45°F at Busch Stadium.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
July highs average 89°F at Busch Stadium, with no roof over the seats.
- A rain layer
July averages 5.0 inches of rain here.
St. Louis Cardinals Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official St. Louis Cardinals gear for the ultimate tailgate.
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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.
- Pregame
St. Louis Cardinals official site: Busch Stadium parking, Terms and Conditions for Parking, and the Gameday Guide
- Venue policies
Busch Stadium policy, security, accessibility, dining, parking, family-admission, and mobile-ticket pages reviewed for entry, family, payment, food, and accessibility rules.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals