What is the seating capacity of Busch Stadium?

Busch Stadium seats 45,494 for MLB games. The park's design keeps most seats close to the action, with a relatively compact footprint for its capacity. Standing-room areas along the outfield concourse add additional capacity for marquee games.

Where is Busch Stadium located?

Busch Stadium is at 700 Clark Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri 63102. It sits in downtown St. Louis, three blocks west of the Gateway Arch, adjacent to Ballpark Village, and across I-64 from the Peabody Opera House.

How do I get to Busch Stadium by public transit?

MetroLink light rail stops at Stadium station, directly adjacent to the park. The Red Line from Lambert Airport takes 33 minutes. The Blue Line serves the Illinois side. Fare is $2.50 with a Gateway Card. Multiple Metro bus routes also serve downtown stops within walking distance.

Is there parking at Busch Stadium?

Ballpark Village garages and surrounding downtown lots cost $20–$40 on game days. The Kiener Plaza and Stadium East garages are the closest. Street parking on metered spots in downtown runs $1–$2 per hour but fills early. Many fans take MetroLink from suburban stations.

Can you see the Gateway Arch from Busch Stadium?

Yes. The Gateway Arch is visible from almost every seat in the park. The stadium was deliberately oriented to frame the Arch beyond the outfield — it is one of the most iconic backdrops in American sports and a defining feature of the Busch Stadium experience.

What is Ballpark Village?

Ballpark Village is a mixed-use entertainment district adjacent to Busch Stadium, built on the former site of the old Busch Stadium II. It features restaurants, bars, the Cardinals Nation museum, residential towers, and a large outdoor viewing area. It is open year-round and transforms into a lively pregame destination on game days.

Busch Stadium, St. Louis - Capacity, History & Complete Visitor Guide

Q: Has Busch Stadium hosted a World Series?

Busch Stadium hosted the 2006 and 2011 World Series, both won by the Cardinals. Game 6 of the 2011 series — where the Cardinals came back from the brink of elimination twice in the final innings to beat the Rangers — is considered one of the greatest baseball games ever played.

Q: How far is the airport from Busch Stadium?

St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) is 14 miles northwest of the park, about 20–25 minutes by car. MetroLink's Red Line connects the airport directly to Stadium station in 33 minutes for $2.50 — one of the best airport-to-ballpark transit connections in baseball. Rideshare runs $20–$30.

About Busch Stadium

Busch Stadium sits in the heart of downtown St. Louis — a 45,494-seat ballpark where the St. Louis Cardinals play baseball with the 630-foot Gateway Arch rising beyond the outfield. It is one of the most beautifully framed settings in American sports, and it belongs to one of the most successful franchises in baseball history.

The Cardinals moved here in 2006 after 40 seasons at Busch Memorial Stadium (Busch Stadium II), the concrete bowl across the street. Built for $365 million and designed by Populous (then HOK Sport), the new Busch Stadium was part of a wave of retro-style ballparks — but its distinguishing feature is the view. The architects deliberately oriented the park so that the Arch, the St. Louis skyline, and the Mississippi River are visible from nearly every seat. On a clear evening, with the Arch catching the last of the sunlight and the Cardinals in the field, there is no better sight in baseball.

The Cardinals brought 11 World Series championships to this ballpark — second only to the Yankees — and two of those titles were won here. The 2006 championship was clinched in the park’s inaugural postseason. The 2011 World Series, especially Game 6, gave this stadium its immortal moment: David Freese’s walk-off home run after the Cardinals came back from the brink of elimination twice in the final innings. It is widely considered one of the greatest games in baseball history.

Adjacent to the park, Ballpark Village — built on the old Busch Stadium II footprint — has transformed the area into a year-round entertainment district with restaurants, bars, a Cardinals museum, and residential towers. St. Louis is a baseball town, and everything around this stadium reflects that identity.

Getting to Busch Stadium

Public Transit

Busch Stadium is served by MetroLink light rail, with Stadium station steps from the ballpark. It is one of the best transit-connected stadiums in baseball.

→ Via MetroLink Red Line: Stadium station is adjacent to the park. The Red Line runs from Lambert Airport (33 minutes, $2.50) through downtown. Service increases on game days.

→ Via MetroLink Blue Line: The Blue Line serves Fairview Heights and the Illinois side of the metro, connecting to Stadium station via the Eads Bridge crossing. Fare is $2.50 with a Gateway Card.

MetroLink is the easiest way to reach the park, especially from Lambert Airport. The Red Line drops you at the gates in 33 minutes from the terminal — one of the best airport-to-ballpark connections in baseball.

Driving + Parking

The ballpark address is 700 Clark Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63102. I-64/US-40 is the primary approach from all directions.

→ From Kansas City (~250 mi): I-70 East to I-64 East to the Stadium/Broadway exit. About 3 hours 45 minutes.

→ From Chicago (~300 mi): I-55 South to I-64 West to the Stadium exit. About 4 hours 30 minutes.

→ From Springfield, IL (~100 mi): I-55 South to I-64 West. About 1 hour 40 minutes.

Ballpark Village garages and downtown lots cost $20–$40. The Kiener Plaza and Stadium East garages are closest. Street metered parking fills early on game days. Many fans take MetroLink from suburban park-and-ride stations to avoid downtown traffic.

Rideshare

Uber and Lyft have designated zones on 8th Street near the park’s south entrance. From Clayton, expect $12–$18. From the Central West End, $8–$12. Post-game surge is moderate — walk to Ballpark Village and wait for rates to settle if needed.

From the Airport

→ St. Louis Lambert International (STL): 14 miles northwest of the park, about 20–25 minutes by car. Major hub for Southwest Airlines with extensive domestic service. MetroLink Red Line connects the airport directly to Stadium station in 33 minutes for $2.50. Rideshare runs $20–$30.

History of Busch Stadium

Busch Stadium was built to replace Busch Memorial Stadium, the concrete multipurpose bowl where the Cardinals played from 1966 to 2005. The $365 million project, designed by HOK Sport (now Populous), was built on the adjacent site while the old stadium still stood. The old Busch Stadium was demolished in 2005, and its footprint became Ballpark Village.

First Game (April 10, 2006): The Cardinals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 6–4 before a sellout crowd of 41,936. Albert Pujols hit a home run on the park’s first day — a fitting christening for a franchise built on offensive firepower.

2006 World Series (October 2006): The Cardinals defeated the Detroit Tigers in five games to win their 10th World Series title — and the first championship at the new Busch Stadium. The celebration on Clark Avenue was a catharsis for a city that had waited since 1982.

2011 World Series — Game 6 (October 27, 2011): Widely considered the greatest World Series game ever played. The Cardinals, facing elimination, came back from deficits in both the 9th and 10th innings against the Texas Rangers. David Freese’s walk-off home run in the 11th inning — on a night when the Cardinals were twice one strike away from losing the series — gave Busch Stadium its immortal moment. The Cardinals won Game 7 the next night.

2009 MLB All-Star Game (July 14, 2009): The American League defeated the National League 4–3. President Obama threw the first pitch — the first sitting president to do so at an All-Star Game since 2001.

Naming History: The current Busch Stadium is actually Busch Stadium III. The original Busch Stadium (Sportsman’s Park, renamed) served the Cardinals from 1953 to 1966. Busch Memorial Stadium (Busch Stadium II) hosted the team from 1966 to 2005. The Anheuser-Busch brewing dynasty’s name has been attached to Cardinals baseball for over 70 years — a deeply rooted corporate sponsorship that feels less like a commercial deal and more like a birthright in the city of St. Louis.

From the Arch framing the outfield to the deafening roar of Game 6, Busch Stadium is the home of one of baseball’s great traditions — a place where 11 championships, the best fans in baseball, and one of America’s most iconic monuments converge every summer.