Busch Stadium, home to the St. Louis Cardinals, opened on April 4, 2006 with an exhibition game between the Memphis Redbirds and Springfield Cardinals (both minor league affiliates of the Cardinals). The first official MLB game at Busch Stadium took place six days later, April 10, 2006, which saw the Cardinals defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-4.
The stadium has a seating capacity of 44,494, with 3,706 club seats and 61 luxury suites. It is the third stadium in St. Louis to carry the name Busch Stadium.
The first stadium in St. Louis to bear the name Busch Stadium was previously Sportsman’s Park, renamed in 1953. Then-owner of the St. Louis Cardinals August Busch Jr. had planned to it Budweiser Stadium, but MLB rules prohibited naming a venue after an alcoholic beverage, so Busch named the stadium after himself. The first Busch Stadium closed in 1966.
The second Busch Stadium, named Busch Memorial Stadium, opened on May 12, 1966. The final event at the venue was the sixth game of the National League Championship Series on Oct. 19, 2005, between the Cardinals and the Houston Astros. Busch Memorial Stadium was demolished at the end of 2005.