Busch Stadium
St. Louis Cardinals (MLB ) (since 2006)
Busch Stadium (often New Busch Stadium or Busch Stadium III ) is an ballpark in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Opened on 4 April 2006 stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League of Major League Baseball. It replaced Busch Memorial Stadium and is in part the same place as the old stadium.
The first official game of the Major League at Busch Stadium was the 6-4 success of the Cardinals against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 10, 2006. The stadium is the third in St. Louis, which bears the name Busch Stadium. The Sportsman's Park was renamed Busch Stadium in 1953. After the "old" Busch Stadium was closed in 1966, a new multi-purpose arena for the Cardinals and the NFL team Arizona Cardinals has been built, which was named Busch Memorial Stadium. Named these stages are all after the former team owner of the Cardinals August Busch.
Busch Stadium was chosen by MLB as the venue for the All-Star game in 2009.
Financing
The team owners of the Cardinals started in 1995 in order to provide a new ballpark in St. Louis in view, but the team was not financially able to realize this. In June 2001, the State of Missouri signed a contract with the team that ensured funding for several years. However, the following financing plan was rejected.
As a result, the team owner sought an alternate place in Madison, Illinois. In order not to lose the Cardinals chose the city of St. Louis but then for a financial plan. The money for the building came from private shares, loans from financial institutions, a long-term loan from the St. Louis County and the private ownership of the team owner. Thus, the required budget of 646 million U.S. dollars was ( roughly equal for the stadium and the other half for the surrounding Baseball Village ) compiled.
In the debut season Busch Stadium was sold out every home game, what a total audience of 3,407,104 complied and represented the second largest backdrop of the team 's history.
Construction
The new Busch Stadium was designed by HOK Sport Venue Event, a company specializing in sports venues architects and cost an estimated 365 million U.S. dollars. It was built by the company Hunt Construction. The construction took place in different phases:
- Phase 1: Construction of the south side of the stadium.
- Phase 2: Demolition of the old stadium from November 7 to December 8, 2005.
- Phase 3: Construction of the north side of the new stadium.
Until the opening day 37 962 seats and 2,751 standing places were completed. The total capacity of 46 861 seats was reached on May 29, 2006 game against the Houston Astros.
Stadium details
Like several other new baseball stadiums that emerged around the same time, the stadium is built in a relatively unpretentious industrial retro look that is reminiscent of the rise of baseball as a typical workers' sports in the early 20th century. Outside therefore dominated brickwork. While the old stadium was completely closed, the new stadium is opened behind the outfield, allowing a view of the surroundings. You can see the panorama of St. Louis, as well as the world-famous Gateway Arch
Before the input 3 on the west side is a bronze statue of Cardinals legend Stan Musial. Other statues which formerly stood around the old Busch Memorial Stadium are now to be found at the entrance 4.
The new stadium has almost the same dimensions as the old one. Sole the foul territory is somewhat smaller. The field dimensions are still "fair" because the symmetry of the square, neither batsman or pitcher, nor right or left handed disadvantaged.
Playoff history
On 7 and 8 October 2006, the Busch Stadium was the venue of playoff games for the first time. It was Game 3 and 4 of the National League Division Series between the Cardinals and the San Diego Padres. Game 3 was 3-1 to the Padres, Game 4 won the Cardinals, which thus could decide the series for themselves.
On the 24th, 26th and 27th October 2006, the Busch Stadium was the venue of the World Series in 2006 against the Detroit Tigers. The Cardinals have won all three home games and secured so their 10th title. The victory of the Cardinals in the World Series, the Busch Stadium is part of a very short list of stadiums that have already succeeded in the opening year of the title. The last time this was in 1923 at Yankee Stadium the case.