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MLB Ballpark Rankings: St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
Busch Stadium III|Capacity: 46,861|Opened: 2006
OVERALL RANK
5
Busch Stadium III
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Category Rank (1-30)
25		Affordability
How would you rate the affordability of a trip to your hometown ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
7.1% 18.1% 50.8% 15.4% 8.6%
 
Ticket Costs
Average Ticket % Increase From 2007 MLB Rank MLB Average Ticket
$29.32 3.1% 24th $25.43
Courtesy Team Marketing Report, 2008
Category Rank (1-30)
17		Food
How would you rate the food at the ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
2.1% 4.7% 42.5% 38.3% 12.4%
 
How would you rate the cost of food and beverages at the ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
14.4% 22.3% 40.2% 20.5% 2.6%
 
What is the must-have food item offered at the ballpark and what makes it so good?
  • "Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich behind the left-field bleachers. It's just gooey goodness. Except no green peppers!"
  • "St. Louis fans are very traditional when it comes to baseball and their baseball food. What is the must-have at Busch? I'd have to say let's keep it simple: cold Budweiser and jumbo hot dog."
  • "It used to be the nachos supreme, but last year they cut the container size in half and it no longer became a great deal. It still tasted good, but now you get the same ripped-off feeling you get with most other ballpark foods."
  • "Toasted Ravioli, a combination of fried and pasta is excellent."
  • "Love the Ben & Jerry's stands all over the place, but that's not specific to St Louis. It's the vibe and family atmosphere of the park that is the best. Toasted Raviolis are really a St. Louis item, but not really a hot summer night item if you know what I mean. Of course the Bud, Bud Light and Bud Select is always cold and fresh, and that's the most important."
Category Rank (1-30)
21		Team Quality
How would you rate the quality of the product currently being put on the field by the hometown team?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
8.2% 29.4% 34% 22.3% 6.1%
 
Which player on your team is the most worth paying to watch?
Albert Pujols Rick Ankiel Adam Wainwright Chris Carpenter Yadier Molina
90.5% 3.8% 1.9% 1.4% 0.8%
 
Scott Rovak/SI
Category Rank (1-30)
5		History & Tradition
How would you rate the sense of tradition and history at the ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
2.4% 4.5% 10.4% 22.2% 60.4%
 
Category Rank (1-30)
3		Ballpark Atmosphere
How would you rate the atmosphere at the game?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
1.3% 2.4% 5.6% 23.5% 67.2%
 
How would you rate the level of personal comfort when you are sitting in your seat?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
1.6% 3% 23.5% 34.8% 37.2%
 
Category Rank (1-30)
1		Fan Intelligence
How would you rate the "baseball intelligence" of the home fans?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
2.1% 1.1% 3.5% 19.1% 74.2%
 
Category Rank (1-30)
1		Fan Hospitality
How would you rate the hospitality offered to fans of the opposing team?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
1.1% 1.9% 11.5% 31.7% 53.9%
 
What is the worst incident you've witnessed against an opposing fan or yourself?
  • "Any Cubs fan. They are jerks even when they come to St. Louis."
  • "I can't recall any -- this ain't New York."
  • "I've been to 70-plus games at both Busch Stadiums that have been used during my life and never witnessed one. Now, as an opposing fan at other parks, that's another matter."
  • "Simple verbal harassment."
  • "When the Cubs were in town I saw two Cardinals fans fighting with one of their fans. But it was the Cubs who were playing."
Category Rank (1-30)
14		Promotions
How would you rate the quality of the promotions/giveaways offered by the home team?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
2.2% 5.9% 47.7% 31.5% 12.7%
 
What is the best promotion/giveaway your team has offered? What is the worst? What is a promotion you'd like to see?
  • "The enlistment of recruits to the U.S. Navy is the best promotion that I've seen."
  • "Jim Edmonds replica of his catch in Game 7 of the NLCS in 2004 vs. Houston."
  • "Best: Replicas of all three Busch Stadiums."
  • "The Cardinals rarely offer promotions to anyone above 15 years old."
  • "Seat cushion night in Busch II was the best. The worst was mini-bat night at Busch II. The promotion I'd like to see: No season ticket holders allowed night. Busch III is great, but it really needs more seats."
Category Rank (1-30)
9		Getting To The Game
How would you rate the traffic to and from the ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
5.1% 9.1% 47.1% 26.7% 12%
 
How would you rate the parking availability/cost at the ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
7.8% 16.6% 37.4% 25.7% 12.6%
 
How would you rate the public transportation options to and from the ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
4.3% 9.1% 31.5% 29.8% 25.3%
 
Category Rank (1-30)
11		Neighborhood
How would you rate the dining and drinking options within walking distance of the ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
4% 9.4% 26% 29.5% 31.1%
 

Agree or disagree with the rankings? Post your own comments and see what others had to say.

 
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