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Coordinates: 38°37′26″N 90°11′33″W / 38.62389°N 90.19250°W / 38.62389; -90.19250
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{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{short description|Former stadium in St. Louis, Missouri (1966–2005)}}
{{short description|Former stadium in St. Louis, Missouri (1966–2005)}}
{{for|the current [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ballpark|Busch Stadium}}
{{for|the current [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ballpark|Busch Stadium}}
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| nickname = Busch Stadium II ''<br>''Baseball Heaven''
| nickname = Busch Stadium II ''<br>''Baseball Heaven''
| image = [[File:BuschMemorialStadium.jpg|240px]]<br>[[File:Chicago Bears at St Louis Cardinals 9 25 77.jpg|240px]]
| image = [[File:BuschMemorialStadium.jpg|240px]]<br>[[File:Chicago Bears at St Louis Cardinals 9 25 77.jpg|240px]]
| caption = April 2005 (above) and September 1977
| caption = April 2005 (above; in baseball configuration) and September 1977 (below; in football configuration)
| location = 250 Stadium Plaza<br>[[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]]<!-- 63102 -->
| location = 250 Stadium Plaza<br>[[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]]<!-- 63102 -->
| coordinates = {{coord|38|37|26|N|90|11|33|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=it}}
| coordinates = {{coord|38|37|26|N|90|11|33|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=it}}
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| general_contractor = Fruin–Colnon/Millstone<ref>{{cite news |title=In 1966, New Busch Stadium Was a Tub-Thumping Civic Cause|first=Tim|last=O'Neil|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/look-back/a-look-back-in-new-busch-stadium-was-a-tub/article_7d21a83c-b411-5e1f-ac4c-7f9b2f3c3228.html|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|date=May 11, 2013|access-date=February 28, 2015}}</ref>
| general_contractor = Fruin–Colnon/Millstone<ref>{{cite news |title=In 1966, New Busch Stadium Was a Tub-Thumping Civic Cause|first=Tim|last=O'Neil|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/look-back/a-look-back-in-new-busch-stadium-was-a-tub/article_7d21a83c-b411-5e1f-ac4c-7f9b2f3c3228.html|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|date=May 11, 2013|access-date=February 28, 2015}}</ref>
| former_names = Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium (1966–1981)<br>Busch Stadium (1982–2005)
| former_names = Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium (1966–1981)<br>Busch Stadium (1982–2005)
| tenants = [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ([[Major League Baseball|MLB]]) (1966–2005)<br>[[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL, 1960–1987)|St. Louis Cardinals]] ([[National Football League|NFL]]) (1966–1987)<br>[[St. Louis Stars (soccer)|St. Louis Stars]] ([[National Professional Soccer League (1967)|NPSL]] / [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]]) (1967–1974)<br>[[History of the St. Louis Rams|St. Louis Rams]] (NFL) (1995)
| tenants = [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ([[Major League Baseball|MLB]]) (1966–2005)<br>[[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL, 1960–1987)|St. Louis Cardinals]] ([[National Football League|NFL]]) (1966–1987)<br>[[St. Louis Stars (soccer)|St. Louis Stars]] ([[National Professional Soccer League (1967)|NPSL]] / [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]]) (1967–1974, 1977)<br>[[History of the St. Louis Rams|St. Louis Rams]] (NFL) (1995)
| seating_capacity = [[Baseball]]: 49,676 (1997–2005)<br>57,676 (1966–1996)<br>[[American Football|Football]]: 60,000
| seating_capacity = [[Baseball]]: 49,676 (1997–2005)<br>57,676 (1966–1996)<br>[[American Football|Football]]: 60,000
| dimensions = '''Left Field''' – {{convert|330|ft|0|abbr=on}}<br>'''Left-Center''' – {{convert|372|ft|abbr=on}}<br>'''Center Field''' – {{convert|402|ft|abbr=on}}<br>'''Right-Center''' – {{convert|372|ft|abbr=on}}<br>'''Right Field''' – {{convert|330|ft|0|abbr=on}}<br>'''Backstop''' – {{convert|64|ft|abbr=on}}<br><br>''Original Dimensions (1966)''<br>'''Left Field''' – {{convert|330|ft|0|abbr=on}}<br>'''Left-Center''' – {{convert|386|ft|abbr=on}}<br>'''Center Field''' – {{convert|414|ft|abbr=on}}<br>'''Right-Center''' – {{convert|386|ft|abbr=on}}<br>'''Right Field''' – {{convert|330|ft|0|abbr=on}}<br>'''Backstop''' – {{convert|64|ft|abbr=on}} [[File:BuschStadiumIIBaseballFieldDimensions.svg|200px]]
| dimensions = '''Left Field''' – {{convert|330|ft|0|abbr=on}}<br>'''Left-Center''' – {{convert|372|ft|abbr=on}}<br>'''Center Field''' – {{convert|402|ft|abbr=on}}<br>'''Right-Center''' – {{convert|372|ft|abbr=on}}<br>'''Right Field''' – {{convert|330|ft|0|abbr=on}}<br>'''Backstop''' – {{convert|64|ft|abbr=on}}<br><br>''Original Dimensions (1966)''<br>'''Left Field''' – {{convert|330|ft|0|abbr=on}}<br>'''Left-Center''' – {{convert|386|ft|abbr=on}}<br>'''Center Field''' – {{convert|414|ft|abbr=on}}<br>'''Right-Center''' – {{convert|386|ft|abbr=on}}<br>'''Right Field''' – {{convert|330|ft|0|abbr=on}}<br>'''Backstop''' – {{convert|64|ft|abbr=on}} [[File:BuschStadiumIIBaseballFieldDimensions.svg|200px]]
}}
}}


'''Busch Memorial Stadium''', also known as '''Busch Stadium II''', was a multi-purpose sports facility in [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], that operated for 40 years, from [[1966 St. Louis Cardinals season|1966]] through [[2005 St. Louis Cardinals season|2005]].<ref name=semcwtco>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=O58fAAAAIBAJ&pg=1785%2C5779330 |newspaper=Southeast Missourian |location=Cape Girardeau |agency=Associated Press |last=Newberry |first=Paul |title=Cardinals want to close out old home with title |date=October 13, 2005 |page=4B }}</ref>
'''Busch Memorial Stadium''' ('''Busch Stadium II''') was a multi-purpose sports facility in [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], that operated for 40 years, from [[1966 St. Louis Cardinals season|1966]] through [[2005 St. Louis Cardinals season|2005]].<ref name=semcwtco>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=O58fAAAAIBAJ&pg=1785%2C5779330 |newspaper=Southeast Missourian |location=Cape Girardeau |agency=Associated Press |last=Newberry |first=Paul |title=Cardinals want to close out old home with title |date=October 13, 2005 |page=4B }}</ref> Built as Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium, its official name was shortened to '''Busch Stadium''' in January 1982.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thisdayinbaseball.com/civic-center-busch-memorial-stadium-will-now-be-known-simply-as-busch-stadium/ | title=Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium, will now be known simply as Busch Stadium - This Day in Baseball | date=January 1982 }}</ref>


The stadium served as the home of the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] [[National League]] [[baseball]] team for its entire operating existence, while also serving as home to the [[National Football League]]'s [[History of the St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|Cardinals]] team for 22 seasons, from [[1966 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|1966]] through [[1987 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|1987]], as well as the [[St. Louis Rams]] during part of the [[1995 St. Louis Rams season|1995]] season. It opened four days after the last baseball game was played at [[Sportsman's Park]] (which had also been known since 1953 as '''Busch Stadium''').
The stadium served as the home of the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[baseball]] team for its entire operating existence, while also serving as home to the [[National Football League]]'s [[History of the St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|Cardinals]] team for 22 seasons, from [[1966 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|1966]] through [[1987 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|1987]], as well as the [[St. Louis Rams]] during part of the [[1995 St. Louis Rams season|1995 season]]. It opened four days after the last baseball game was played at [[Sportsman's Park]] (which had been renamed '''Busch Stadium''' in 1953, when [[Anheuser-Busch]] bought the team). The [[St. Louis Stars (soccer)|St. Louis Stars]] of the [[National Professional Soccer League (1967)|NPSL]] and later [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]] played at the stadium from 1967 to 1974; the team later used the stadium for select matches up through the 1977 season.


The stadium was designed by [[Sverdrup & Parcel]] and built by [[Bilfinger Berger|Grün & Bilfinger]].<ref>[http://www.bilfingerberger.com/C1257130005050D5/vwContentByKey/W26U3AX8814LUNADE/$FILE/bb_historie_en.html Bilfinger Berger Corporate history animation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324054618/http://www.bilfingerberger.com/C1257130005050D5/vwContentByKey/W26U3AX8814LUNADE/%24FILE/bb_historie_en.html |date=2010-03-24 }}</ref> [[Edward Durell Stone]] designed the roof, a 96-arch "Crown of Arches".<ref>[http://jbauer.com/arches.pdf Save the Arches – jbauer.com – Retrieved January 22, 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227095102/http://jbauer.com/arches.pdf |date=February 27, 2008 }}</ref> The Crown echoed the [[Gateway Arch]], which had been completed only a year before Busch Stadium opened. It was one of the first multipurpose "[[Cookie-cutter stadium|cookie-cutter]]" facilities built in the United States, popular from the early 1960s through the early 1980s.
The stadium was designed by [[Sverdrup & Parcel]] and built by [[Bilfinger Berger|Grün & Bilfinger]].<ref>[http://www.bilfingerberger.com/C1257130005050D5/vwContentByKey/W26U3AX8814LUNADE/$FILE/bb_historie_en.html Bilfinger Berger Corporate history animation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324054618/http://www.bilfingerberger.com/C1257130005050D5/vwContentByKey/W26U3AX8814LUNADE/%24FILE/bb_historie_en.html |date=March 24, 2010 }}</ref> [[Edward Durell Stone]] designed the roof, a 96-arch "Crown of Arches".<ref>[http://jbauer.com/arches.pdf Save the Arches – jbauer.com – Retrieved January 22, 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227095102/http://jbauer.com/arches.pdf |date=February 27, 2008 }}</ref> The Crown echoed the [[Gateway Arch]], which had been completed only a year before Busch Stadium opened. Otherwise, it was very similar in appearance to other circular multipurpose "[[Cookie-cutter stadium|cookie-cutter]]" stadiums built in the 1960s and early 1970s in Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh, all of which were essentially open-air copies of the Houston [[Astrodome]].


Its final event was the sixth game of the [[2005 National League Championship Series|2005 NLCS]] on October 19.<ref name=bscidfn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Pp8fAAAAIBAJ&pg=4304%2C7330247 |newspaper=Southeast Missourian |location=Cape Girardeau |agency=Associated Press |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Mike |title=Busch stadium closes in disappointing fashion |date=October 20, 2005 |page=1B }}</ref> The stadium was demolished by [[wrecking ball]] in late 2005 and part of its former footprint is occupied by its replacement stadium—the new [[Busch Stadium]] (a.k.a. '''Busch Stadium III'''), located just south.
Its final event was the sixth game of the [[2005 National League Championship Series|2005 NLCS]] on October 19.<ref name=bscidfn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Pp8fAAAAIBAJ&pg=4304%2C7330247 |newspaper=Southeast Missourian |location=Cape Girardeau |agency=Associated Press |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Mike |title=Busch stadium closes in disappointing fashion |date=October 20, 2005 |page=1B }}</ref> The stadium was demolished by [[wrecking ball]] in late 2005 and part of its former footprint is occupied by its replacement stadium—the new [[Busch Stadium]] (a.k.a. '''Busch Stadium III'''), located just south.


==History==
==History==
===Background===

With new stadiums such as the [[Astrodome]] and [[Shea Stadium]], [[St. Louis]] felt the need to modernize. Many of these stadiums demonstrated modern feats of [[engineering]] and [[architecture]], but also demonstrated a transition occurring for the American public at the time—traditional to the cutting edge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2015/04/13/the-birth-of-modern-baseball-design-1965/|title=The birth of modern baseball design: 1965|last=Reichard|first=Kevin|date=April 13, 2015|website=Ballpark Digest|language=en-US|access-date=December 3, 2019}}</ref> At the time of design, the Busch Stadium II was planned to be used for several purposes. The stadium was named Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=O'Neill|first=Dan|date=October 2005|title=Old Busch Stadium served its purpose well: Ready for wrecking ball: [Toronto Edition]|journal=National Post|id={{ProQuest|330390044}}}}</ref> Just weeks after opening, the new stadium hosted the All-Star Game, followed by a performance by the Beatles.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=O'Neill|first=Dan|date=October 2005|title=A toast to Busch Old stadium isn't quite ready to turn job over to newcomer: [Fourth Edition]|journal=St. Louis Dispatch|id={{ProQuest|402662094}}}}</ref> The landmark that distinguishes St. Louis' skyline today, the Gateway Arch, was built across the street. To complement this historic landmark, the new stadium had 96 open arches on its roof.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://ballparks.com/baseball/national/buschs.htm|title=Busch Stadium|website=ballparks.com|access-date=December 3, 2019}}</ref> As a testament to the design, Busch was one of the last built in the 1960s to be torn down. After serving the St. Louis Cardinals for 40 seasons, it was torn down in 2005.<ref name=":0" />
=== Pre-Construction ===
With new stadiums such as the [[Astrodome]] and [[Shea Stadium]], [[St. Louis]] felt the need to modernize. Many of these stadiums demonstrated modern feats of [[engineering]] and [[architecture]], but also demonstrated a transition occurring for the American public at the time: traditional to the cutting edge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2015/04/13/the-birth-of-modern-baseball-design-1965/|title=The birth of modern baseball design: 1965|last=Reichard|first=Kevin|date=2015-04-13|website=Ballpark Digest|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-03}}</ref> At the time of design, the Busch Stadium II was planned to be used for several purposes. The stadium was named Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=O'Neill|first=Dan|date=October 2005|title=Old Busch Stadium served its purpose well: Ready for wrecking ball: [Toronto Edition]|journal=National Post|id={{ProQuest|330390044}}}}</ref> Just weeks after opening the new stadium hosted the All-Star Game followed by a performance by the Beatles.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=O'Neill|first=Dan|date=October 2005|title=A toast to Busch Old stadium isn't quite ready to turn job over to newcomer: [Fourth Edition]|journal=St. Louis Dispatch|id={{ProQuest|402662094}}}}</ref> The landmark that distinguishes St. Louis’s skyline today, the Gateway Arch, was built across the street. To complement this historic landmark, the new stadium had 96 open arches on its roof.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://ballparks.com/baseball/national/buschs.htm|title=Busch Stadium|website=ballparks.com|access-date=2019-12-03}}</ref> As a testament to the design, St. Louis’s Stadium was one of the last built in the 60’s to be torn down. After serving the St. Louis Cardinals for 40 seasons, the Memorial Stadium was torn down in 2005.<ref name=":0" />


===Construction===
===Construction===
The baseball Cardinals had played at [[Sportsman's Park]] since {{baseball year|1920}}, originally as tenants of the [[St. Louis Browns]] of the [[American League]].
The baseball Cardinals had played at [[Sportsman's Park]] since {{baseball year|1920}}, originally as tenants of the [[St. Louis Browns]] of the [[American League]].


The Cardinals had long since passed the Browns as St. Louis' premier team, and chafed at having the Browns as landlords. At least as early as the 1940s, the Cardinals had sought to build their own park. Longtime owner [[Sam Breadon]] had set aside $3 million to build a new park. However, he was unable to find any land to do so, and World War II put those plans on hold in any case. By 1947, Breadon faced the prospect of having to pay a heavy tax bill on his stadium fund. Tax lawyer [[Fred Saigh]] convinced Breadon to sell him the team, arguing this would save the Cardinals from this stuff tax burden.
The Cardinals had long since passed the Browns as St. Louis' premier team, and chafed at having the Browns as landlords. At least as early as the 1940s, the Cardinals had sought to build their own park. Longtime owner [[Sam Breadon]] had set aside $3 million to build a new park. However, he was unable to find any land to do so, and World War II put those plans on hold. By 1947, Breadon faced the prospect of having to pay a heavy tax bill on his stadium fund. Tax lawyer [[Fred Saigh]] convinced Breadon to sell him the team, arguing this would save the Cardinals from this stiff tax burden.


When this tax dodge came to light in 1953 following an IRS audit, Saigh was subsequently charged with tax evasion, and pleaded no contest. Facing certain banishment from baseball, he put the team up for sale. Ultimately, [[Anheuser-Busch]] bought the Cardinals with the specific goal of keeping them in St. Louis.<ref name="TBT">{{cite book |title=The Team-by-Team Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball |last=Purdy |first=Dennis |year=2006 |publisher=[[Workman Publishing Company|Workman]] |location=New York City |isbn=0-7611-3943-5 }}</ref>
When this tax dodge came to light in 1953 following an IRS audit, Saigh was subsequently charged with tax evasion, and pleaded no contest. Facing certain banishment from baseball, he put the team up for sale. Ultimately, [[Anheuser-Busch]] bought the Cardinals with the specific goal of keeping them in St. Louis.<ref name="TBT">{{cite book |title=The Team-by-Team Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball |last=Purdy |first=Dennis |year=2006 |publisher=[[Workman Publishing Company|Workman]] |location=New York City |isbn=0-7611-3943-5 }}</ref>
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By the late 1950s, however, the need for a new park could no longer be staved off. Sportsman's Park/Busch Stadium had almost no parking, and the neighborhood around it had gone to seed.
By the late 1950s, however, the need for a new park could no longer be staved off. Sportsman's Park/Busch Stadium had almost no parking, and the neighborhood around it had gone to seed.


In 1958, Charles Farris, the city's head of development, proposed a new stadium downtown as the core of a plan to revive a 31-block area of the business district. The original design of the stadium called for a baseball-only format, but after the NFL's Chicago Cardinals moved to St. Louis at the end of the [[1959 Chicago Cardinals season|1959]] season, becoming known as the football Cardinals in St. Louis, the design was altered to accommodate football as well: the football Cardinals would share Sportsman's Park/Busch Stadium with the baseball Cardinals.
In 1958, Charles Farris, the city's head of development, proposed a new stadium downtown as the core of a plan to revive a 31-block area of the business district. The original design of the stadium called for a baseball-only format, but after the NFL's Chicago Cardinals moved to St. Louis at the end of the [[1959 Chicago Cardinals season|1959 season]], becoming known as the football Cardinals in St. Louis, the design was altered to accommodate football as well: the football Cardinals would share Sportsman's Park/Busch Stadium with the baseball Cardinals.


With support from the [[St. Louis Regional Chamber|local Chamber of Commerce]], the Civic Center Redevelopment Corporation was established in September 1959, and it was given power of [[eminent domain]], which was used to condemn several areas that were rundown or had gone to seed years before, including [[Chinatown, St. Louis|the small Chinatown district]], the Grand Theater strip club, and various flophouses and abandoned warehouses.<ref name="alookback"/>
With support from the [[St. Louis Regional Chamber|local Chamber of Commerce]], the Civic Center Redevelopment Corporation was established in September 1959, and it was given power of [[eminent domain]], which was used to condemn several areas that were rundown or had gone to seed years before, including [[Chinatown, St. Louis|the small Chinatown district]], the [[Grand Opera House (St. Louis)|Grand Theater]] (a historic opera house that had evolved into a [[burlesque]] strip club),<ref>{{cite book|title=Lost St. Louis|author=Valerie Battle Kienzle|year=2017|publisher=Arcadia Publishing Incorporated|isbn=9781439663738|chapter=Grand Opera House|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j0kvDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Grand+Opera+House%22+%221963%22+St.+Louis&pg=PT69}}</ref> and various flophouses and abandoned warehouses.<ref name="alookback"/>


Groundbreaking occurred on May 25, 1964,<ref name=fcruoa/> and construction took just under two years. The plan also included parking garages, a hotel (a [[Stouffer Hotels|Stouffer's hotel]]), and office buildings.<ref name="alookback"/> A few years later, it also became the new home of the Spanish Pavilion from the [[1964 New York World's Fair]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=202891|title=May 24, 1969: Spanish International Pavilion Moves to St. Louis|work=[[KSDK]]|location=St. Louis|date=May 25, 2010|first=Kevin|last=Held|access-date=May 18, 2013}}</ref>
Groundbreaking occurred on May 25, 1964,<ref name=fcruoa/> and construction took just under two years. The plan also included parking garages, a hotel (a [[Stouffer Hotels|Stouffer's hotel]]), and office buildings.<ref name="alookback"/> A few years later, it also became the new home of the Spanish Pavilion from the [[1964 New York World's Fair]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=202891|title=May 24, 1969: Spanish International Pavilion Moves to St. Louis|work=[[KSDK]]|location=St. Louis|date=May 25, 2010|first=Kevin|last=Held|access-date=May 18, 2013}}</ref>


The stadium opened on May 12, [[1966 St. Louis Cardinals season|1966]], one month into the baseball season, as ''Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium.'' However, the "Civic Center" part was rarely used, and most people called it simply ''Busch Memorial Stadium.''
The stadium opened on May 12, [[1966 St. Louis Cardinals season|1966]], one month into the baseball season, as ''Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium.'' However, the "Civic Center" part was rarely used, and most people called it simply ''Busch Memorial Stadium.''
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Anheuser-Busch (who owned the baseball Cardinals at the time) bought the stadium in 1981 for $53 million and removed the "Memorial" from the stadium's name, becoming simply '''Busch Stadium'''; the price included the parking garages.<ref name="alookback"/>
Anheuser-Busch (who owned the baseball Cardinals at the time) bought the stadium in 1981 for $53 million and removed the "Memorial" from the stadium's name, becoming simply '''Busch Stadium'''; the price included the parking garages.<ref name="alookback"/>
[[Image:Busch Stadium new construction.jpg|thumb|245px|New & old Busch Stadiums in August 2005]]
[[Image:Busch Stadium new construction.jpg|thumb|245px|New & old Busch Stadiums in August 2005]]
Over the years the grounds became home to bronze statues of [[Stan Musial]], [[Enos Slaughter]], [[Dizzy Dean]], [[Rogers Hornsby]], [[Red Schoendienst]], [[Lou Brock]], [[Bob Gibson]], [[Cool Papa Bell|James "Cool Papa" Bell]], [[George Sisler]], [[Jack Buck]], and [[Ozzie Smith]].{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}
Over the years, the grounds became home to bronze statues of [[Stan Musial]], [[Enos Slaughter]], [[Dizzy Dean]], [[Rogers Hornsby]], [[Red Schoendienst]], [[Lou Brock]], [[Bob Gibson]], [[Cool Papa Bell|James "Cool Papa" Bell]], [[George Sisler]], [[Jack Buck]], and [[Ozzie Smith]].{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}


Following Busch's last 1995 event—the Rams' October 22 game before the opening of the now-[[Dome at America's Center]]—the Cardinals retrofitted it into a baseball-only stadium. A large section of the upper deck outfield seats was closed, replaced with a hand-operated scoreboard and flags commemorating the Cardinals' retired numbers and World Series championships. The stadium's original natural grass field was restored, and the outfield walls were re-painted green from their original blue.<ref name=bsfogr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sMQfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4456%2C5874912 |newspaper=Southeast Missourian |location=Cape Girardeau |agency=Associated Press |title=Busch Stadium rolls out the grass |date=February 14, 1996 |page=1B}}</ref>
Following Busch's last 1995 event—the Rams' October 22 game before the opening of the now-[[Dome at America's Center]]—the Cardinals retrofitted it into a baseball-only stadium. A large section of the upper deck outfield seats was closed, replaced with a hand-operated scoreboard and flags commemorating the Cardinals' retired numbers and World Series championships. The stadium's original natural grass field was restored, and the outfield walls were re-painted green from their original blue.<ref name=bsfogr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sMQfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4456%2C5874912 |newspaper=Southeast Missourian |location=Cape Girardeau |agency=Associated Press |title=Busch Stadium rolls out the grass |date=February 14, 1996 |page=1B}}</ref>
[[File: Busch stadium.jpg|thumb|The 96 arches in the stadium's upper-level match that of the Gateway Arches.]]
[[File: Busch stadium.jpg|thumb|The 96 arches in the stadium's upper-level visually echo the Gateway Arch.]]


===Demolition===
===Demolition===
[[Image:Old Busch Destroyed.jpg|thumb|245px|alt=Old Busch Destroyed.|Busch Stadium II demolition in late 2005]]
[[Image:Old Busch Destroyed.jpg|thumb|245px|alt=Old Busch Destroyed.|Busch Stadium II demolition in December 2005]]
Busch Memorial Stadium was originally slated to be [[Building implosion|imploded]] like most modern-day stadium [[demolition]]s to be able to finish construction on the new stadium in time for the [[2006 St. Louis Cardinals season|2006]] season. Due to fear of damaging the nearby [[Stadium station (MetroLink)|Stadium MetroLink station]], it was decided to tear down the stadium with a [[wrecking ball]], piece-by-piece, over a few weeks.
Busch Memorial Stadium was originally slated to be [[Building implosion|imploded]], like most modern-day stadium [[demolition]]s, to be able to finish construction on the new stadium in time for the [[2006 St. Louis Cardinals season|2006 season]]. Due to fear of damaging the nearby [[Stadium station (MetroLink)|Stadium MetroLink station]], it was decided to tear down the stadium with a [[wrecking ball]], piece-by-piece, over the course of a few weeks.


Demolition of the stadium began at 3:07&nbsp;p.m. [[Central Time Zone|CST]] on November 7 and was completed shortly after midnight on December 8, 2005.
Demolition of the stadium began at 3:07&nbsp;p.m. [[Central Time Zone|CST]] on November 7 and was completed shortly after midnight on December 8, 2005.
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===Baseball===
===Baseball===
[[Image:LouBrockstealing.jpg|245px|thumb|[[Lou Brock]] [[Stolen base|stealing]] second base against the [[1975 Atlanta Braves season|Braves]] in August [[1975 St. Louis Cardinals season|1975]]<ref name=nlbxs>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qO0pAAAAIBAJ&pg=7301%2C5672929 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=NL box scores |date=August 25, 1975 |page=2, part 2 }}</ref>]]
[[Image:LouBrockstealing.jpg|245px|thumb|[[Lou Brock]] [[Stolen base|stealing]] second base against the [[1975 Atlanta Braves season|Braves]] in August [[1975 St. Louis Cardinals season|1975]]<ref name=nlbxs>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qO0pAAAAIBAJ&pg=7301%2C5672929 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=NL box scores |date=August 25, 1975 |page=2, part 2 }}</ref>]]
In its opening year, Busch Stadium hosted the [[1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], a 2–1 [[National League]] victory in 10 innings, mostly remembered for the humidity and {{convert|105|F}} temperatures. The stadium hosted [[World Series]] games in six different seasons: {{wsy|1967}}, {{wsy|1968}}, {{wsy|1982}}, {{wsy|1985}}, {{wsy|1987}}, and {{wsy|2004}}. The Cardinals won the World Series in [[1967 St. Louis Cardinals season|1967]] and [[1982 St. Louis Cardinals season|1982]] while playing in the stadium (the seventh game of the 1982 Series was won at Busch). The 1968 and 2004 World Series were clinched in Busch Stadium by visitors: the [[1968 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] in the seventh game and the [[2004 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] in a four-game sweep, respectively.
In its opening year, Busch Stadium hosted the [[1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], a 2–1 [[National League (baseball)|National League]] victory in 10 innings, mostly remembered for the humidity and {{convert|105|F}} temperatures. The stadium hosted [[World Series]] games in six different seasons: {{wsy|1967}}, {{wsy|1968}}, {{wsy|1982}}, {{wsy|1985}}, {{wsy|1987}}, and {{wsy|2004}}. The Cardinals won the World Series in [[1967 St. Louis Cardinals season|1967]] and [[1982 St. Louis Cardinals season|1982]] while playing in the stadium (the seventh game of the 1982 Series was won at Busch). The 1968 and 2004 World Series were clinched in Busch Stadium by visitors: the [[1968 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] in the seventh game and the [[2004 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] in a four-game sweep, respectively.


The stadium was also the site of [[Mark McGwire]]'s historic 62nd home run of the [[1998 St. Louis Cardinals season|1998]] season that broke [[Roger Maris]]' single-season record, and also of McGwire's 70th of that season, for a record which lasted until [[Barry Bonds]] surpassed it in 2001. The dimensions in the center and the power alleys had been altered from time to time over the years. Initially, the park was very favorable to pitchers, with spacious outfield dimensions. Consequently, its design (as well as the Astroturf surface) was favorable to the Cardinals' style of play for most of the time from the 1960s through the 1990s, which emphasized good baserunning and extra-base hits. Later changes attempted to make the outfield better balanced between pitching and power hitting.<ref name="Storied"/>
The stadium was also the site of [[Mark McGwire]]'s historic 62nd home run of the [[1998 St. Louis Cardinals season|1998 season]] that broke [[Roger Maris]]' single-season record, and also of McGwire's 70th of that season, for a record which lasted until [[Barry Bonds]] surpassed it in 2001. The dimensions in the center and the power alleys had been altered from time to time over the years. Initially, the park was very favorable to pitchers, with spacious outfield dimensions. Consequently, its design (as well as the Astroturf surface) was favorable to the Cardinals' style of play for most of the time from the 1960s through the 1990s, which emphasized good baserunning and extra-base hits. Later changes attempted to make the outfield better balanced between pitching and power hitting.<ref name="Storied"/>


Before the 1996 season, the stadium was retrofitted to become a baseball-only stadium. Part of the top deck in center field was permanently closed, and in 1997, flags were put in place to honor the team's retired numbers and pennants.<ref name=cibst>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eA4pAAAAIBAJ&pg=3614%2C2631439 |newspaper=Southeast Missourian |location=Cape Girardeau |agency=Associated Press |title=Cards inject Busch Stadium with the second dose of tradition |date=December 13, 1996 |page=3B }}</ref> Even before then, the stadium had come under less scorn from baseball purists than other cookie-cutter stadiums built during the same era, partly because the "crown of arches" gave it a more traditional look than its cousins and partially because it was alone amongst cookie-cutters in having field-level outfield seating.<ref name="Storied"/>
Before the 1996 season, the stadium was retrofitted to become a baseball-only stadium. Part of the top deck in center field was permanently closed, and in 1997, flags were put in place to honor the team's retired numbers and pennants.<ref name=cibst>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eA4pAAAAIBAJ&pg=3614%2C2631439 |newspaper=Southeast Missourian |location=Cape Girardeau |agency=Associated Press |title=Cards inject Busch Stadium with the second dose of tradition |date=December 13, 1996 |page=3B }}</ref> Even before then, the stadium had come under less scorn from baseball purists than other cookie-cutter stadiums built during the same era, partly because the "crown of arches" gave it a more traditional look than its cousins and partially because it was alone amongst cookie-cutters in having field-level outfield seating.<ref name="Storied"/>


The baseball diamond was oriented [[Points of the compass#32 cardinal points|southeast by east]] (home to center field); the new stadium is aligned east-northeast, the recommended orientation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Baseball Rules, 2021 Edition |url=https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/atcjzj9j7wrgvsm8wnjq.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108025619/https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/atcjzj9j7wrgvsm8wnjq.pdf |archive-date=November 8, 2022 |access-date=December 4, 2022 |website=mlb.com}}</ref>
The baseball diamond was oriented [[Points of the compass#32 cardinal points|southeast by east]] (home to center field); the new stadium is aligned east-northeast, the recommended orientation by MLB.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Baseball Rules, 2021 Edition |url=https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/atcjzj9j7wrgvsm8wnjq.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108025619/https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/atcjzj9j7wrgvsm8wnjq.pdf |archive-date=November 8, 2022 |access-date=December 4, 2022 |website=mlb.com}}</ref>


===Football===
===Football===
Busch Stadium was also the home of the [[History of the St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] of the [[National Football League]] for 22 seasons, from [[1966 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|1966]] through [[1987 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|1987]].
Busch Stadium was also the home of the [[History of the St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] of the [[National Football League]] for 22 seasons, from [[1966 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|1966]] through [[1987 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|1987]].


The stadium was one of, and later the smallest, facilities in the NFL: while the Cardinals played there, it seated 54,692 people, barely more than the NFL's minimum capacity of 50,000 (mandated in 1970). Various efforts were made to get a new larger stadium or expansion of Busch Stadium, but after these failed, Cardinals owner [[Bill Bidwill]] relocated the team to [[Phoenix, Arizona]] after the 1987 season.
The stadium was one of, and later the smallest, facilities in the NFL: while the football Cardinals played there, it seated 54,692 people, barely more than the NFL's minimum capacity of 50,000 (mandated in 1970). Various efforts were made to get a new larger stadium or expansion of Busch Stadium, but after these failed, Cardinals owner [[Bill Bidwill]] relocated the team to [[Phoenix, Arizona]] after the 1987 season.


The football Cardinals never hosted a playoff game during their 28 seasons in St. Louis, while the "Gridbirds" made only three playoff appearances during that stretch, losing on the road against the [[1974 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] in [[1974–75 NFL playoffs|1974]], [[1975 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]] in [[1975–76 NFL playoffs|1975]], and [[1982 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] in [[1982–83 NFL playoffs|1982]]. Despite this lack of success, they won the [[Third place playoff|third place]] [[Playoff Bowl]] after the [[1964 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|1964]] season, upsetting [[Vince Lombardi]]'s [[1964 Green Bay Packers season|Packers]] 31–24 at the [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]] in [[Miami]].
The football Cardinals never hosted a playoff game during their 28 seasons in St. Louis, while the "Gridbirds" made only three playoff appearances during that stretch, losing on the road against the [[1974 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] in [[1974–75 NFL playoffs|1974]], [[1975 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]] in [[1975–76 NFL playoffs|1975]], and [[1982 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] in [[1982–83 NFL playoffs|1982]]. Despite this lack of success, they won the [[Third place playoff|third place]] [[Playoff Bowl]] after the [[1964 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|1964 season]], upsetting [[Vince Lombardi]]'s [[1964 Green Bay Packers season|Packers]] 31–24 at the [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]] in [[Miami]].


Busch Stadium was also briefly the home of the [[1995 St. Louis Rams season|St. Louis Rams]], who had relocated from [[Anaheim Stadium]] in [[Anaheim, California]]. Due to completion of their new home stadium, the new and nearby Trans World Dome (later renamed the [[Dome at America's Center]]) being delayed, the Rams played the first half of the [[1995 St. Louis Rams season|1995]] season at Busch Stadium: for these four home games, Busch Stadium seated 60,000 people.
Busch Stadium was also briefly the home of the [[1995 St. Louis Rams season|St. Louis Rams]], who had relocated from [[Anaheim Stadium]] in [[Anaheim, California]]. Due to completion of their new home stadium, the new and nearby Trans World Dome (later renamed the [[Dome at America's Center]]) being delayed, the Rams played the first half of the [[1995 St. Louis Rams season|1995 season]] at Busch Stadium: for these four home games, Busch Stadium seated 60,000 people.


The Rams played their last game at Busch Stadium on October 22, while the new indoor venue hosted its first NFL game on November 12, 1995.
The Rams played their last game at Busch Stadium on October 22, while the new indoor venue hosted its first NFL game on November 12, 1995.


Between the Cardinals' 1987 departure and the Rams' 1995 arrival, the stadium hosted two NFL pre-season games: one between the [[Seattle Seahawks]] and the [[New England Patriots]] in 1989, and one between the [[New York Jets]] and the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] in 1991.
Between the Cardinals' 1987 departure and the Rams' 1995 arrival, the stadium hosted two NFL pre-season games: one between the [[Seattle Seahawks]] and the [[New England Patriots]] in 1989, and one between the [[New York Jets]] and the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] in 1991.

===Soccer===

The [[St. Louis Stars (soccer)|St. Louis Stars]], a professional soccer team, played at Busch Stadium for several years in the 1960s and 1970s. They were initially a member of the [[National Professional Soccer League (1967)|National Professional Soccer League]] for one season in 1967 and moved to the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]] for their remaining seasons, which they split between Busch Stadium and [[Francis Field (St. Louis)|Francis Field]]. The team set their record attendance of 32,605 against the [[New York Cosmos (1970–1985)|New York Cosmos]] in 1977.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gordon |first=Jeff |date=November 18, 2018 |title=Gordo: Remembering the area's fringe sports teams |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/jeff-gordon/gordo-stl-s-fringe-sports-teams/collection_5fd06089-69a3-55b1-b20c-52a358955001.html |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url-access=subscription |accessdate=July 20, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cross |first=Wally |date=June 24, 1977 |title=Stars Get The Verdict Before Record Witnesses |page=1C |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-stars-get-the-ve/128600548/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=July 20, 2023}}</ref> The Stars were relocated to [[Southern California]] after the 1977 season after being unable to sign a new lease at Busch Stadium.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cross |first=Wally |date=October 9, 1977 |title=How Many Players Will Move To West Coast With Soccer Stars? |page=10G |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-how-many-players/128600671/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=July 20, 2023}}</ref>

The stadium also hosted international soccer. It served as the temporary home venue for [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago]] in a [[1985 CONCACAF Championship]] match against the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]], who won 2–1 in front of 15,823 fans. The match was part of regional qualifiers for the [[1986 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Burnes |first=Cathie |date=May 17, 1985 |title=U.S. Wins, Ever So Slowly, 2-1 |page=5D |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-us-wins-ever/128600809/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=July 20, 2023}}</ref>

The annual [[Saint Louis–SIU Edwardsville men's soccer rivalry|Bronze Boot Game]] between the [[Saint Louis Billikens men's soccer|Saint Louis Billikens]] and the [[SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's soccer|SIU Edwardsville Cougars]] was played at Busch Stadium from 1972 until 1985. The matchup saw record size crowds, including the all-time record attendance for a regular season college soccer match: 22,512 on October 30, 1980.<ref>{{cite web|title=Men's Soccer Attendance Records|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_soccer_RB/2014/attend.pdf|website=[[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]|publisher=ncaa.org|accessdate=July 3, 2024}} </ref>


===Concerts===
===Concerts===
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*[[The Beatles]], on August 21, 1966, during their final North American tour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-beatles/1966/busch-memorial-stadium-st-louis-mo-7bd67e1c.html |title=The Beatles Setlist at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri, USA |publisher=setlist.fm |access-date=June 18, 2013}}</ref>
*[[The Beatles]], on August 21, 1966, during their final North American tour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-beatles/1966/busch-memorial-stadium-st-louis-mo-7bd67e1c.html |title=The Beatles Setlist at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri, USA |publisher=setlist.fm |access-date=June 18, 2013}}</ref>
*[[Jeff Beck]], [[Ted Nugent]], [[Jefferson Starship]] and [[Fleetwood Mac]], as part of "Super Jam 76"
*[[Jeff Beck]], [[Ted Nugent]], [[Jefferson Starship]] and [[Fleetwood Mac]], as part of "Super Jam 76"
*[[The Rolling Stones]], on September 17, 1989, during their [[Steel Wheels Tour]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Holden |first1=Stephen |title=Rolling Stones' Tour |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/11/arts/rolling-stones-tour.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=11 July 1989 |access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref>
*[[The Rolling Stones]], on September 17, 1989, during their [[Steel Wheels Tour]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Holden |first1=Stephen |title=Rolling Stones' Tour |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/11/arts/rolling-stones-tour.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 11, 1989 |access-date=November 9, 2019}}</ref>
*[[New Kids on the Block]] on August 26, 1990, during [[The Magic Summer Tour]]
*[[New Kids on the Block]] on August 26, 1990, during [[The Magic Summer Tour]]
*[[U2]] on September 20, 1992, during their [[Zoo TV Tour]]
*[[U2]] on September 20, 1992, during their [[Zoo TV Tour]]
*[[Paul McCartney]] on April 29, 1993, during [[The New World Tour]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Corrigan |first1=Patricia |title='The Cute Beatle' Wows Crowd Here |url=https://stltoday.newspapers.com/clip/4856945/4301993_paul_mccartney_hits_a_home/ |website=newspapers.com |access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref>
*[[Paul McCartney]] on April 29, 1993, during [[The New World Tour]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Corrigan |first1=Patricia |title='The Cute Beatle' Wows Crowd Here |url=https://stltoday.newspapers.com/clip/4856945/4301993_paul_mccartney_hits_a_home/ |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=April 30, 1993 |page=1 |access-date=November 9, 2019}}</ref>
*[[Elton John]] and [[Billy Joel]] on August 9, 1994, during their first Face to Face Tour<ref>{{cite web |last1=Derrick |first1=Sean |title=BILLY JOEL TO PLAY BUSCH STADIUM ON SEPTEMBER 21 |url=http://www.midwestrewind.com/2017/02/03/billy-joel-play-busch-stadium-september-21/ |website=midwestrewind.com |date=3 February 2017 |publisher=First Mag |access-date=27 October 2019}}</ref>
*[[Elton John]] and [[Billy Joel]] on August 9, 1994, during their first Face to Face Tour<ref>{{cite web |last1=Derrick |first1=Sean |title=BILLY JOEL TO PLAY BUSCH STADIUM ON SEPTEMBER 21 |url=http://www.midwestrewind.com/2017/02/03/billy-joel-play-busch-stadium-september-21/ |website=midwestrewind.com |date=February 3, 2017 |publisher=First Mag |access-date=October 27, 2019}}</ref>


==Seating capacity==
==Seating capacity==
Line 127: Line 135:
|-
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|St. Louis Cardinals}};"|1971–1978
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|St. Louis Cardinals}};"|1971–1978
| 50,126<ref>{{cite news|title=A View From the Bleachers|url=http://www.modernsteel.com/archives/PDFs_61-90/1971A9_11-3.pdf|work=Modern Steel Construction|access-date=August 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526232256/http://www.modernsteel.com/archives/PDFs_61-90/1971A9_11-3.pdf|archive-date=2013-05-26|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 50,126<ref>{{cite news|title=A View From the Bleachers|url=http://www.modernsteel.com/archives/PDFs_61-90/1971A9_11-3.pdf|work=Modern Steel Construction|access-date=August 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526232256/http://www.modernsteel.com/archives/PDFs_61-90/1971A9_11-3.pdf|archive-date=May 26, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|St. Louis Cardinals}};"|1979–1986
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|St. Louis Cardinals}};"|1979–1986
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|-
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|St. Louis Cardinals}};"|2001–2003
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|St. Louis Cardinals}};"|2001–2003
| 50,354<ref>{{cite web |title=Sea of Red Helps Busch Grade|first=Jeff|last=Merron|url=http://espn.go.com/page2/s/ballparks/busch.html|work=[[ESPN]]|access-date=August 14, 2013}}</ref>
| 50,354<ref>{{cite web |title=Sea of Red Helps Busch Grade|first=Jeff|last=Merron|url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/ballparks/busch.html|work=[[ESPN]]|access-date=August 14, 2013}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|St. Louis Cardinals}};"|2004–2005
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|St. Louis Cardinals}};"|2004–2005
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*[http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/BuschStadium.htm Ballparks of Baseball-Busch Stadium-St. Louis Cardinals]
*[http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/BuschStadium.htm Ballparks of Baseball-Busch Stadium-St. Louis Cardinals]
*[http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/national/buschs.htm Ballparks by Munsey and Suppes – Busch Stadium]
*[http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/national/buschs.htm Ballparks by Munsey and Suppes – Busch Stadium]
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051210023632/http://www.redbirdcentral.com/demolition_TL.htm |title=Busch Stadium III Construction Time-Lapse |date=2005-12-10}}
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051210023632/http://www.redbirdcentral.com/demolition_TL.htm |title=Busch Stadium III Construction Time-Lapse |date=December 10, 2005}}
*{{webarchive |url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020915222224/http://cardinals.mlb.com/nasapp/mlb/stl/ballpark/stl_ballpark_history.jsp |title=Busch Stadium history |date=2002-09-15}}, from the [[Major League Baseball]] website
*{{webarchive |url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020915222224/http://cardinals.mlb.com/nasapp/mlb/stl/ballpark/stl_ballpark_history.jsp |title=Busch Stadium history |date=September 15, 2002}}, from the [[Major League Baseball]] website
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209104339/http://tsn.sportingnews.com/baseball/ballparks/busch.html |title=Busch Stadium |date=2006-02-09}}, from the ''[[Sporting News]]''
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209104339/http://tsn.sportingnews.com/baseball/ballparks/busch.html |title=Busch Stadium |date=February 9, 2006}}, from the ''[[Sporting News]]''
*[http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/D00C303D15F093E38625708D00614EE7?OpenDocument A toast to Busch]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, article from the ''[[Saint Louis Post-Dispatch]]''
*[http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/D00C303D15F093E38625708D00614EE7?OpenDocument A toast to Busch]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, article from the ''[[Saint Louis Post-Dispatch]]''
*[http://photos.johnsebben.com/?page=old_busch_stadium_demolition_diary Busch Stadium Demolition Diary]
*[http://photos.johnsebben.com/?page=old_busch_stadium_demolition_diary Busch Stadium Demolition Diary]

Latest revision as of 19:36, 3 August 2024

Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Stadium II
Baseball Heaven

April 2005 (above; in baseball configuration) and September 1977 (below; in football configuration)
Map
Former namesCivic Center Busch Memorial Stadium (1966–1981)
Busch Stadium (1982–2005)
Location250 Stadium Plaza
St. Louis, Missouri
Coordinates38°37′26″N 90°11′33″W / 38.62389°N 90.19250°W / 38.62389; -90.19250
OwnerSt. Louis Cardinals
OperatorSt. Louis Cardinals
CapacityBaseball: 49,676 (1997–2005)
57,676 (1966–1996)
Football: 60,000
Field sizeLeft Field – 330 ft (101 m)
Left-Center – 372 ft (113 m)
Center Field – 402 ft (123 m)
Right-Center – 372 ft (113 m)
Right Field – 330 ft (101 m)
Backstop – 64 ft (20 m)

Original Dimensions (1966)
Left Field – 330 ft (101 m)
Left-Center – 386 ft (118 m)
Center Field – 414 ft (126 m)
Right-Center – 386 ft (118 m)
Right Field – 330 ft (101 m)
Backstop – 64 ft (20 m)
SurfaceNatural grass (1996–2005)
AstroTurf (1970–1995)
Natural grass (1966–1969)
Construction
Broke groundMay 25, 1964; 60 years ago (May 25, 1964)[1][2]
Built1964–1966
OpenedMay 12, 1966; 58 years ago (May 12, 1966)[1]
ClosedOctober 19, 2005; 18 years ago (October 19, 2005)
DemolishedNovember 7 – December 8, 2005
Construction costUS$24 million[1]
($225 million in 2023 dollars[3])
ArchitectSverdrup & Parcel
Edward Durell Stone
Schwarz & Van Hoefen, Associated
General contractorFruin–Colnon/Millstone[4]
Tenants
St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) (1966–2005)
St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) (1966–1987)
St. Louis Stars (NPSL / NASL) (1967–1974, 1977)
St. Louis Rams (NFL) (1995)

Busch Memorial Stadium (Busch Stadium II) was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri, that operated for 40 years, from 1966 through 2005.[5] Built as Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium, its official name was shortened to Busch Stadium in January 1982.[6]

The stadium served as the home of the St. Louis Cardinals National League baseball team for its entire operating existence, while also serving as home to the National Football League's Cardinals team for 22 seasons, from 1966 through 1987, as well as the St. Louis Rams during part of the 1995 season. It opened four days after the last baseball game was played at Sportsman's Park (which had been renamed Busch Stadium in 1953, when Anheuser-Busch bought the team). The St. Louis Stars of the NPSL and later NASL played at the stadium from 1967 to 1974; the team later used the stadium for select matches up through the 1977 season.

The stadium was designed by Sverdrup & Parcel and built by Grün & Bilfinger.[7] Edward Durell Stone designed the roof, a 96-arch "Crown of Arches".[8] The Crown echoed the Gateway Arch, which had been completed only a year before Busch Stadium opened. Otherwise, it was very similar in appearance to other circular multipurpose "cookie-cutter" stadiums built in the 1960s and early 1970s in Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh, all of which were essentially open-air copies of the Houston Astrodome.

Its final event was the sixth game of the 2005 NLCS on October 19.[9] The stadium was demolished by wrecking ball in late 2005 and part of its former footprint is occupied by its replacement stadium—the new Busch Stadium (a.k.a. Busch Stadium III), located just south.

History

[edit]

Background

[edit]

With new stadiums such as the Astrodome and Shea Stadium, St. Louis felt the need to modernize. Many of these stadiums demonstrated modern feats of engineering and architecture, but also demonstrated a transition occurring for the American public at the time—traditional to the cutting edge.[10] At the time of design, the Busch Stadium II was planned to be used for several purposes. The stadium was named Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium.[11] Just weeks after opening, the new stadium hosted the All-Star Game, followed by a performance by the Beatles.[12] The landmark that distinguishes St. Louis' skyline today, the Gateway Arch, was built across the street. To complement this historic landmark, the new stadium had 96 open arches on its roof.[13] As a testament to the design, Busch was one of the last built in the 1960s to be torn down. After serving the St. Louis Cardinals for 40 seasons, it was torn down in 2005.[13]

Construction

[edit]

The baseball Cardinals had played at Sportsman's Park since 1920, originally as tenants of the St. Louis Browns of the American League.

The Cardinals had long since passed the Browns as St. Louis' premier team, and chafed at having the Browns as landlords. At least as early as the 1940s, the Cardinals had sought to build their own park. Longtime owner Sam Breadon had set aside $3 million to build a new park. However, he was unable to find any land to do so, and World War II put those plans on hold. By 1947, Breadon faced the prospect of having to pay a heavy tax bill on his stadium fund. Tax lawyer Fred Saigh convinced Breadon to sell him the team, arguing this would save the Cardinals from this stiff tax burden.

When this tax dodge came to light in 1953 following an IRS audit, Saigh was subsequently charged with tax evasion, and pleaded no contest. Facing certain banishment from baseball, he put the team up for sale. Ultimately, Anheuser-Busch bought the Cardinals with the specific goal of keeping them in St. Louis.[14]

However, the Cardinals would have needed a new park in any event. Sportsman's Park had been built in its final form in 1909, and had not aged well. By 1953, even with the rent from the Cardinals, there was not nearly enough revenue to bring the stadium up to code, with city officials even threatening to have it condemned. With this in mind, soon after Anheuser-Busch bought the Cardinals, Browns owner Bill Veeck sold the park to the Cardinals, who heavily renovated the park and renamed it Busch Stadium, while Veeck relocated his team to Baltimore (rebranding it the Orioles).

By the late 1950s, however, the need for a new park could no longer be staved off. Sportsman's Park/Busch Stadium had almost no parking, and the neighborhood around it had gone to seed.

In 1958, Charles Farris, the city's head of development, proposed a new stadium downtown as the core of a plan to revive a 31-block area of the business district. The original design of the stadium called for a baseball-only format, but after the NFL's Chicago Cardinals moved to St. Louis at the end of the 1959 season, becoming known as the football Cardinals in St. Louis, the design was altered to accommodate football as well: the football Cardinals would share Sportsman's Park/Busch Stadium with the baseball Cardinals.

With support from the local Chamber of Commerce, the Civic Center Redevelopment Corporation was established in September 1959, and it was given power of eminent domain, which was used to condemn several areas that were rundown or had gone to seed years before, including the small Chinatown district, the Grand Theater (a historic opera house that had evolved into a burlesque strip club),[15] and various flophouses and abandoned warehouses.[1]

Groundbreaking occurred on May 25, 1964,[2] and construction took just under two years. The plan also included parking garages, a hotel (a Stouffer's hotel), and office buildings.[1] A few years later, it also became the new home of the Spanish Pavilion from the 1964 New York World's Fair.[16]

The stadium opened on May 12, 1966, one month into the baseball season, as Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium. However, the "Civic Center" part was rarely used, and most people called it simply Busch Memorial Stadium.

Subsequent years

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The stadium's grass was replaced with AstroTurf in 1970.[17] St. Louis' notoriously hot summers made it difficult to keep the grass alive, especially when the football Cardinals insisted on practicing on the field during the end of the baseball Cardinals' season. The Cardinals retained a full dirt infield for eight seasons. A removable, sectioned Astroturf surface covered the infield during football season. The infield was converted to sliding pits when the surface was replaced for the 1978 baseball season.[18][19] With artificial turf, the playing conditions at Busch Stadium were among the hottest in baseball,[20] with temperatures well above the local official readings.[21][22]

Anheuser-Busch (who owned the baseball Cardinals at the time) bought the stadium in 1981 for $53 million and removed the "Memorial" from the stadium's name, becoming simply Busch Stadium; the price included the parking garages.[1]

New & old Busch Stadiums in August 2005

Over the years, the grounds became home to bronze statues of Stan Musial, Enos Slaughter, Dizzy Dean, Rogers Hornsby, Red Schoendienst, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, James "Cool Papa" Bell, George Sisler, Jack Buck, and Ozzie Smith.[citation needed]

Following Busch's last 1995 event—the Rams' October 22 game before the opening of the now-Dome at America's Center—the Cardinals retrofitted it into a baseball-only stadium. A large section of the upper deck outfield seats was closed, replaced with a hand-operated scoreboard and flags commemorating the Cardinals' retired numbers and World Series championships. The stadium's original natural grass field was restored, and the outfield walls were re-painted green from their original blue.[23]

The 96 arches in the stadium's upper-level visually echo the Gateway Arch.

Demolition

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Old Busch Destroyed.
Busch Stadium II demolition in December 2005

Busch Memorial Stadium was originally slated to be imploded, like most modern-day stadium demolitions, to be able to finish construction on the new stadium in time for the 2006 season. Due to fear of damaging the nearby Stadium MetroLink station, it was decided to tear down the stadium with a wrecking ball, piece-by-piece, over the course of a few weeks.

Demolition of the stadium began at 3:07 p.m. CST on November 7 and was completed shortly after midnight on December 8, 2005.

Part of the footprint of the old stadium is now occupied by the outfield of the current stadium. The Cardinals had planned to build Ballpark Village on the site of the stadium ($320 million for the first phase). It was to consist of boutiques and restaurants, condominium apartments anchored by the new headquarters of Centene Corporation—all to be built in time for the All-Star Game in 2009.

None of the construction had occurred until groundbreaking ceremonies on February 8, 2013, and locals derisively referred to its rain-soaked unfinished status before that date as "Lake DeWitt"—after Cardinal President William DeWitt, Jr. In March 2009, the Cardinals announced the site would be used for a softball field and parking during the game.[24]

Uses

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Baseball

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Lou Brock stealing second base against the Braves in August 1975[25]

In its opening year, Busch Stadium hosted the All-Star Game, a 2–1 National League victory in 10 innings, mostly remembered for the humidity and 105 °F (41 °C) temperatures. The stadium hosted World Series games in six different seasons: 1967, 1968, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 2004. The Cardinals won the World Series in 1967 and 1982 while playing in the stadium (the seventh game of the 1982 Series was won at Busch). The 1968 and 2004 World Series were clinched in Busch Stadium by visitors: the Detroit Tigers in the seventh game and the Boston Red Sox in a four-game sweep, respectively.

The stadium was also the site of Mark McGwire's historic 62nd home run of the 1998 season that broke Roger Maris' single-season record, and also of McGwire's 70th of that season, for a record which lasted until Barry Bonds surpassed it in 2001. The dimensions in the center and the power alleys had been altered from time to time over the years. Initially, the park was very favorable to pitchers, with spacious outfield dimensions. Consequently, its design (as well as the Astroturf surface) was favorable to the Cardinals' style of play for most of the time from the 1960s through the 1990s, which emphasized good baserunning and extra-base hits. Later changes attempted to make the outfield better balanced between pitching and power hitting.[19]

Before the 1996 season, the stadium was retrofitted to become a baseball-only stadium. Part of the top deck in center field was permanently closed, and in 1997, flags were put in place to honor the team's retired numbers and pennants.[26] Even before then, the stadium had come under less scorn from baseball purists than other cookie-cutter stadiums built during the same era, partly because the "crown of arches" gave it a more traditional look than its cousins and partially because it was alone amongst cookie-cutters in having field-level outfield seating.[19]

The baseball diamond was oriented southeast by east (home to center field); the new stadium is aligned east-northeast, the recommended orientation by MLB.[27]

Football

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Busch Stadium was also the home of the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League for 22 seasons, from 1966 through 1987.

The stadium was one of, and later the smallest, facilities in the NFL: while the football Cardinals played there, it seated 54,692 people, barely more than the NFL's minimum capacity of 50,000 (mandated in 1970). Various efforts were made to get a new larger stadium or expansion of Busch Stadium, but after these failed, Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill relocated the team to Phoenix, Arizona after the 1987 season.

The football Cardinals never hosted a playoff game during their 28 seasons in St. Louis, while the "Gridbirds" made only three playoff appearances during that stretch, losing on the road against the Minnesota Vikings in 1974, Los Angeles Rams in 1975, and Green Bay Packers in 1982. Despite this lack of success, they won the third place Playoff Bowl after the 1964 season, upsetting Vince Lombardi's Packers 31–24 at the Orange Bowl in Miami.

Busch Stadium was also briefly the home of the St. Louis Rams, who had relocated from Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. Due to completion of their new home stadium, the new and nearby Trans World Dome (later renamed the Dome at America's Center) being delayed, the Rams played the first half of the 1995 season at Busch Stadium: for these four home games, Busch Stadium seated 60,000 people.

The Rams played their last game at Busch Stadium on October 22, while the new indoor venue hosted its first NFL game on November 12, 1995.

Between the Cardinals' 1987 departure and the Rams' 1995 arrival, the stadium hosted two NFL pre-season games: one between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots in 1989, and one between the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs in 1991.

Soccer

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The St. Louis Stars, a professional soccer team, played at Busch Stadium for several years in the 1960s and 1970s. They were initially a member of the National Professional Soccer League for one season in 1967 and moved to the North American Soccer League for their remaining seasons, which they split between Busch Stadium and Francis Field. The team set their record attendance of 32,605 against the New York Cosmos in 1977.[28][29] The Stars were relocated to Southern California after the 1977 season after being unable to sign a new lease at Busch Stadium.[30]

The stadium also hosted international soccer. It served as the temporary home venue for Trinidad and Tobago in a 1985 CONCACAF Championship match against the United States, who won 2–1 in front of 15,823 fans. The match was part of regional qualifiers for the 1986 FIFA World Cup.[31]

The annual Bronze Boot Game between the Saint Louis Billikens and the SIU Edwardsville Cougars was played at Busch Stadium from 1972 until 1985. The matchup saw record size crowds, including the all-time record attendance for a regular season college soccer match: 22,512 on October 30, 1980.[32]

Concerts

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Acts who have performed at Busch Stadium include:

Seating capacity

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See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f O'Neil, Tim (May 11, 2013). "In 1966, new Busch Stadium was a tub-thumping civic cause". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Football Cards remain undecided on Atlanta". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. Associated Press. May 26, 1964. p. 2C.
  3. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  4. ^ O'Neil, Tim (May 11, 2013). "In 1966, New Busch Stadium Was a Tub-Thumping Civic Cause". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  5. ^ Newberry, Paul (October 13, 2005). "Cardinals want to close out old home with title". Southeast Missourian. Cape Girardeau. Associated Press. p. 4B.
  6. ^ "Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium, will now be known simply as Busch Stadium - This Day in Baseball". January 1982.
  7. ^ Bilfinger Berger Corporate history animation Archived March 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Save the Arches – jbauer.com – Retrieved January 22, 2008 Archived February 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Fitzpatrick, Mike (October 20, 2005). "Busch stadium closes in disappointing fashion". Southeast Missourian. Cape Girardeau. Associated Press. p. 1B.
  10. ^ Reichard, Kevin (April 13, 2015). "The birth of modern baseball design: 1965". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  11. ^ O'Neill, Dan (October 2005). "Old Busch Stadium served its purpose well: Ready for wrecking ball: [Toronto Edition]". National Post. ProQuest 330390044.
  12. ^ O'Neill, Dan (October 2005). "A toast to Busch Old stadium isn't quite ready to turn job over to newcomer: [Fourth Edition]". St. Louis Dispatch. ProQuest 402662094.
  13. ^ a b "Busch Stadium". ballparks.com. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  14. ^ Purdy, Dennis (2006). The Team-by-Team Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball. New York City: Workman. ISBN 0-7611-3943-5.
  15. ^ Valerie Battle Kienzle (2017). "Grand Opera House". Lost St. Louis. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. ISBN 9781439663738.
  16. ^ Held, Kevin (May 25, 2010). "May 24, 1969: Spanish International Pavilion Moves to St. Louis". KSDK. St. Louis. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  17. ^ "Mixed feeling on Astroturf in St. Louis". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. April 14, 1970. p. 2–C.
  18. ^ "Busch Stadium will get artificial turf". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. December 20, 1977. p. 2–C.
  19. ^ a b c Smith, Curt (2001). Storied Stadiums. New York City: Carroll & Graf. ISBN 0-7867-1187-6.
  20. ^ Hertzel, Bob (August 3, 1987). "Busch Stadium holds the heat". Pittsburgh Press. p. D2.
  21. ^ "Turf gives Cards hotfoot". St. Petersburg Independent. Associated Press. June 16, 1970. p. 1–C.
  22. ^ "Busch Astroturf hits 152 degrees". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. July 2, 1970. p. 21.
  23. ^ "Busch Stadium rolls out the grass". Southeast Missourian. Cape Girardeau. Associated Press. February 14, 1996. p. 1B.
  24. ^ Ballpark Village site to become softball field, parking lot for now Archived April 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine St. Louis Post-Dispatch March 19, 2009,
  25. ^ "NL box scores". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. August 25, 1975. p. 2, part 2.
  26. ^ "Cards inject Busch Stadium with the second dose of tradition". Southeast Missourian. Cape Girardeau. Associated Press. December 13, 1996. p. 3B.
  27. ^ "Official Baseball Rules, 2021 Edition" (PDF). mlb.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  28. ^ Gordon, Jeff (November 18, 2018). "Gordo: Remembering the area's fringe sports teams". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  29. ^ Cross, Wally (June 24, 1977). "Stars Get The Verdict Before Record Witnesses". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 1C. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Cross, Wally (October 9, 1977). "How Many Players Will Move To West Coast With Soccer Stars?". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 10G. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Burnes, Cathie (May 17, 1985). "U.S. Wins, Ever So Slowly, 2-1". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 5D. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Men's Soccer Attendance Records" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. ncaa.org. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  33. ^ "The Beatles Setlist at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri, USA". setlist.fm. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  34. ^ Holden, Stephen (July 11, 1989). "Rolling Stones' Tour". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  35. ^ Corrigan, Patricia (April 30, 1993). "'The Cute Beatle' Wows Crowd Here". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 1. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  36. ^ Derrick, Sean (February 3, 2017). "BILLY JOEL TO PLAY BUSCH STADIUM ON SEPTEMBER 21". midwestrewind.com. First Mag. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  37. ^ "Cardinals Set New Record for Attendance". St. Petersburg Times. August 29, 1966. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  38. ^ "Cardinals Send Briles Against Bell in Hopes of Winning Series at Home". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. October 7, 1967. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  39. ^ "A View From the Bleachers" (PDF). Modern Steel Construction. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 26, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  40. ^ "Some 22,000 Series Tickets Go On Sale in St. Louis Saturday". St. Joseph News-Press. October 1, 1982. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  41. ^ a b c d e Snyder, John (2010). Cardinals Journal: Year by Year and Day by Day with the St. Louis Cardinals Since 1882 (Second ed.). Cincinnati: Clerisy Press. p. 622. ISBN 978-1-57860-338-1. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  42. ^ "Departure of Football Cardinals Helped Baseball Cardinals". RetroSimba. March 13, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  43. ^ Jackson, Andre; Scales–Cobbs, Ann (December 31, 1990). "Murders Up In City, County For 1990 Property Crimes Show Decline". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 3A.
  44. ^ Scales, Ann (April 13, 1991). "Baseball Fans Suffer Cold, Rain for Tickets". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 23. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  45. ^ Kohn, Edward H. (April 3, 1992). "Workers Prepare Stadium for Opening Day". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. pp. 1, 20. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  46. ^ Kohn, Edward H. (April 11, 1993). "Civic Center Has a 'Vision' for Busch". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 39. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  47. ^ a b McGuire, John M. (April 7, 1996). "Turf's Up! The Cardinals Have a New Field of Dream". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 6.
  48. ^ Salter, Jim (December 13, 1996). "Busch Stadium Adds Old–Fashioned Scoreboard". Fort Scott Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  49. ^ Merron, Jeff. "Sea of Red Helps Busch Grade". ESPN. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  50. ^ Shontz, Lori (February 25, 2006). "Cardinals Halt Season Ticket Sales". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. B4.
  51. ^ "Brooks Unfazed that Rams Won't Have Dome for Home". The Register-Guard. Eugene. October 14, 1995. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
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