When it comes to travelling to see the Toronto Blue Jays play on the road there’s no better place than St. Louis. St. Louis is a baseball town. The city has had a major league baseball team since 1882. Cardinals fans are loyal and passionate about their team which means there’s always an energetic atmosphere when you attend a game at Busch Stadium.
There’s so much to enjoy when you go to a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium. To ensure you don’t miss a thing we’ve put together everything you need to know to plan a Toronto Blue Jays package to St. Louis. Before you get started, here are a few cool facts about the Cardinals and their stadium:
- The St. Louis Cardinals have won 11 World Series championships.
- Established in 1882, the team was originally called the St. Louis Browns and then the St. Louis Perfectos.
- In 1899 the team debuted new uniforms which featured Cardinal red trim. Fans and the media began referring to the team as the Cardinals. A year later the team officially changed the name.
- The St. Louis Cardinals ballpark is named after Anheuser-Busch, a St. Louis brewing company and longtime sponsor of the Cardinals.
- Busch Stadium was built in 2006. The Cardinals first major league game there was against the San Diego Padres.
- The first season Busch Stadium was open, the Cardinals played the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.
- Austin Riley of the Atlanta Braves holds the record for the longest home run at Busch Stadium–473 feet.
The first 3 things to do when planning your Toronto Blue Jays travel package to St. Louis
1. Book your accommodations and flight
By booking your flight and hotel accommodations at the same time you will save money. To do this we suggest using Expedia. There are a few reasons why:
- The Expedia booking platform is simple and easy to use.
- By bundling your flight and hotel purchase on Expedia you can save an average of $600.
- When you sign up and become an Expedia member (it’s free) you will earn rewards points on both flight and accommodation bookings. You can then use these points to reduce the cost of booking flights and hotels for your next Toronto Blue Jays travel package.
- As an Expedia member you will save an additional 10% on select hotel accommodations.
To book your accommodation and flight at the same time go to the Expedia website. On the home page, click on “Packages” which is displayed in the main menu. (Don’t forget to sign in so you can earn your rewards points.)
A few St. Louis hotel suggestions near Busch Stadium
When you’re planning your trip to see the Blue Jays play in St. Louis, your number one goal is to be close to the stadium so you can spend as much time as possible soaking up the atmosphere inside and outside the ballpark. Here are some St. Louis accommodation options that are not far from Busch Stadium.
Baseball-themed Live! By Loews – St. Louis (4/5 on TripAdvisor): located right beside Busch Stadium, Live! By Loews – St. Louis features an interior adorned with baseball memorabilia and St. Louis Cardinals décor. There’s a sports bar too. Often the hotel hosts pre-game and post-game events. And some rooms offer views of the Gateway Arch.
Across the street. Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark (4/5 on TripAdvisor): located directly across from the St. Louis Cardinals stadium. A convenient and comfortable hotel. Some rooms even offer views of the ballpark.
A short walk away. Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch (4/5 on TripAdvisor): located within walking distance of Busch Stadium and downtown attractions. Some rooms offer great views of the Gateway Arch and Mississippi River.
Budget-friendly. Holiday Inn St. Louis – Downtown Conv Ctr (4/5 on TripAdvisor): If you don’t mind stretching your legs a little, this hotel is a good option. Within walking distance of the Cardinals baseball field, it offers a comfortable stay plus a complimentary breakfast.
2. Buy your tickets to the game
Seeing a game at Busch Stadium is a must for baseball fans across North America. Couple that with the Cardinals’ large, loyal, local following and you can see why the earlier you get your tickets the better. To purchase tickets visit the Cardinal’s website or use a reseller like Stubhub or SeatGeek.
Seating suggestions for your Jays vs. Cardinals game at Busch Stadium
Not sure what ticket to buy for your visit to Busch Stadium? Here are a few suggestions:
- Most affordable ticket: Upper Deck outfield.
- Unique Perspective: Rooftop seating.
- Catch-a-home-run ticket: The Bleacher Seats. They stretch from right field to left centre of the St. Louis Cardinals’ stadium.
- Avoid the Sun ticket: First base side of the field, particularly sections 136 to 142 on the lower level and sections 236 to 242 on the Club level. The back rows of the Upper Deck.
- See the players up close: Field Level Seats or Club Level Seats.
- Splurge: Club Seats behind home plate.
3. Include a tour of Busch Stadium in your Toronto Blue Jays travel package
If you’re a baseball fan who likes to get an intimate feel for a ballpark, Busch Stadium offers their Classic Tour.
On this tour you will get up close and personal with the field’s warning track and the Cardinals dugout, game-day broadcast booth, and the UMB Champions Club and Redbird Club viewing/bar areas.
The Classic Tour of Busch Stadium runs three times a day at 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. On days when the Cardinals have a game at 6:15 p.m., the 2:00 p.m. tour will take place at 1:00 p.m. Note: When the Cardinals have an afternoon game (i.e., before 6:00 p.m.), the Classic Tour is not offered that day.
Classic Tour tickets can be purchased at: https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/ballpark/tours.
JAYS FAN INSIDER TIP: Enjoy savings. Also included with your Classic Tour ticket is free admission to the not-to-be-missed Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum. More on that below.
Check out the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum
When you have a baseball team that’s been in existence for over 140 years, there’s a lot of memorable players and moments to celebrate. The Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum at Busch Stadium does a great job of doing that.
A must see to include in your Toronto Blue Jays travel itinerary to St. Louis, the museum is home to the largest team-specific collection of artifacts and memorabilia in the world.
Take a walk through the seven galleries at the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum and you’ll see things like championship rings, trophies and other memorabilia.
There are uniforms worn by great Cardinals players like Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, and Ozzie Smith and other baseball artifacts like baseballs, bats and gloves.
You can try interactive displays like working the broadcast booth and calling a moment from an epic Cardinals’ game.
Plus, there are always special limited time exhibits being added to the museum.
The Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There is a cost for admission. Admission is free if you purchase a ticket for the Classic Tour of Busch Stadium.
Things to do before your Jays game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis
The gates at Busch Stadium usually open 2 hours before the first pitch. There are a few reasons why you may want to plan to be there at this time.
Tailgating: some fans enjoy tailgating in the parking lots surrounding the St. Louis Cardinals stadium before the game. Even if you’re not tailgating yourself, it’s fun to take in the tailgating spectacle.
Batting Practice: more on this below in the next section.
Giveaways and Promotions: if the St. Louis Cardinals are having a game day promotion, like a bobblehead or baseball cap giveaway, you should get down to Busch Stadium as soon as possible to give yourself the best chance of getting the giveaway.
Classic Tour of the Stadium: tours of Busch Stadium run three times a day at 11:00, 12:30, and 2:00 p.m. If you want to go on one you’ll need to be at the ballpark much earlier than game time.
Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum: the museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. If you want to walk through it on game day, you’ll need to be at the ballpark a few hours before game time.
What time is batting practice at Busch Stadium?
If you would like to watch batting practice you should plan to arrive at Busch Stadium right when it opens, typically 2 hours before game time.
As the home team, the Cardinals usually take batting practice 3 to 4 hours before the game. Therefore, if you do attend batting practice you are most likely to only see the Jays taking their cuts.
JAYS FAN INSIDER TIP: the timing of when batting practice will take place can change depending on the start time of the game and whether it is a day or nighttime game. To be sure of of the time, give Busch Stadium a call before you head over to the ballpark.
Best place for autographs at the Busch Stadium
When visiting Busch Stadium there are a number of possible locations inside and outside the ballpark where you may be able to get an autograph from a Cardinals or Blue Jays player.
The dugouts: get to the ballpark early and hangout near the dugouts. As players come and go, they may stop by and give you an autograph.
During batting practice: head down to the seating area that’s at field level.
In the bullpen area: if you have seats near either team’s bullpen, you may be able to get an autograph before or during the game from one of the pitchers.
Player’s parking lot: as they’re leaving Busch Stadium and heading to their vehicles, Cardinals players may stop and give you an autograph.
Don’t forget epic selfies as part of your Toronto Blue Jays travel package to St. Louis
Let your friends and family instantly know what ballpark you’re visiting during your latest Toronto Blue Jays road trip getaway by snapping a selfie at one of these unmistakable Busch Stadium locations.
Outside the main entrance: with its grand architecture, the front entrance to the Busch Stadium is a fantastic selfie spot.
Beside a statue: take a pic beside a statue of St. Louis Cardinals’ legends like Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith, Enos Slaughter, or Red Schoendienst.
With the Gateway Arch: when you’re outside and inside the stadium take a selfie with St. Louis’s famous Gateway Arch in the background.
In the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum: with seven galleries jam-packed with Cardinals memorabilia, the museum serves as the perfect backdrop for a selfie at Busch Stadium.
4 ballpark foods you gotta try at Busch Stadium
Toasted Ravioli: breaded and deep-fried ravioli pockets filled with meat or cheese and a tangy marinara sauce for dipping.
St. Louis-style BBQ: St. Louis is know for its unique style of BBQ. Items include smoked ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, and BBQ nachos.
St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake: A St. Louis concocted favorite since the 1930s. It’s a square that has a cookie-like bottom layer of sweetened cake mix, with a gooey middle section of butter, sugar, and eggs, topped with a dusting of icing sugar.
Ted Crewes Frozen Custard: an institution in St. Louis, their food stand within Busch Stadium gives you the opportunity to try their famous frozen custard. It’s so thick, it’s lovingly referred to as “concrete”.
Shop for a souvenir of your Toronto Blue Jays vacation package to St. Louis
No plan to visit Busch Stadium would be right without including a stop at the Official St. Louis Cardinals Team Store.
Located at 708 Clark Ave, it carries a wide variety of St. Louis Cardinal merchandise to check out like:
- Game-used items: baseballs, bats, jerseys, and photos, that are authenticated and certified by Major League Baseball.
- Autographed memorabilia: items such as baseballs, jerseys, and photographs signed by current and former Cardinals players.
- Replica championship rings: recreations of the championship rings received by Cardinals players.
- Game-used infield dirt: take home a vial of dirt taken from the infield at Busch Stadium.
After-the-game plans to include in your Blue Jays road trip itinerary to St. Louis
3 restaurant recommends near Busch Stadium
Before or after your Jays vs. Cardinals game at Busch Stadium, you might want to hit a restaurant. Here are a few suggestions close by:
Pappy’s Smokehouse: a renowned barbecue joint known for its mouthwatering smoked meats and classic sides. It’s a must-visit for barbecue enthusiasts.
Crown Candy Kitchen: Established in 1913, it’s famous for its old-fashioned soda fountain, decadent malts, and delicious sandwiches.
Three Sixty Rooftop Bar: Located atop the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark hotel. Enjoy great views of the city, including Busch Stadium, and drinks and appetizers.
3 sports bar to check out before your Jays game at Busch Stadium
Feel the anticipation of attending a St. Louis Cardinals home game by planning a stop at one of the sports bars located near Busch Stadium.
Ballpark Village: this is actually an entertainment complex located adjacent to St. Louis Cardinals stadium. While it’s not a traditional sports bar, it offers various dining and entertainment options, including sports-themed venues like Fox Sports Midwest Live!
Over/Under Bar & Grill: a sports bar with multiple screens for watching games and a menu featuring classic bar food.
Tin Roof St. Louis: an energetic sports and music venue. Known for its live music and casual atmosphere.
Other things to add to your Toronto Blue Jays vacation package to St. Louis
Busch Stadium is located in the central part of St. Louis which is close to many other attractions that the city has to offer. As part of your trip, make some time to include the following in your itinerary:
Gateway Arch Tour: take a guided tour and learn all about the history, and the making of, St. Louis’ famous arch. Then take the tram ride to the top and take in the breathtaking view of the city and the mighty Mississippi River.
Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour: on this tour learn about the history of this 170-plus-year-old brewer and the beer-making process behind brands such as Budweiser, Busch, and Michelob.
Mississippi Riverboat Cruise: Enjoy a cruise on the Mississippi River aboard a paddle wheel riverboat. Some cruises offer dinner, live music, and scenic views of the city skyline.
Breweries and BBQ Tour: Check out some of the city’s most popular craft brewers and indulge in some authentic St. Louis BBQ.
Plus, I would suggest also checking Groupon and Viator for more money-save discounts on things to see and do in St. Louis.
Enjoy your Toronto Blue Jays travel package to St. Louis!
Photo Credit: Populous
