Busch Stadium, home of two NFL teams during its existence, was the
primary home of the St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) throughout its
existence. During the
1950s talk began about the possibility of building a circular
multipurpose stadium in downtown St. Louis. For more than five
decades, the Cardinals (MLB) had been playing at Sportsmans Park. In
1960, the Chicago Cardinals moved to St. Louis giving the city a
professional football team. Established in 1898, the Cardinals are
the oldest team in professional football. From 1929 until 1959 the
Chicago Cardinals played at Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago
White Sox (MLB). By the late 1950s the Cardinals were one of the
worst teams in the NFL that led to a decline in attendance and
revenues. Because of this, the Bidwell family decided to move the
team to St. Louis where they would share Sportsmans Park with
baseball's St. Louis Cardinals. By the early 1960s
Anheuser-Busch pledged $5 million and the city pledged $20 million
towards a new stadium. On May 24, 1964 ground was broken for a
stadium on 30 acres in downtown St. Louis. A concrete, circular,
multipurpose stadium was built in just under two years.
The St.
Louis Cardinals (NFL) played their first game at Busch Stadium on
September 11, 1966 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Three tiers of
50,000 red circled the grass field. In order for the stadium to be
converted from a baseball field to football, two sets of 8,000
seats could be moved parallel to each other to form the football
gridiron. Astroturf replaced natural grass in 1973 so the stadium
could be converted easily from football to baseball. By the mid
1980s the Cardinals were struggling on the field and attracting
fans to Busch Stadium. They were also unsuccessful in trying to
get a new football stadium built for the team. After the 1987 the
Cardinals moved to Phoenix and Sun Devil Stadium. The St. Louis
Cardinals played their last game at Busch Stadium on December 13,
1987 against the New York Giants.
-Tenant:St. Louis Cardinals/Rams -Capacity: 59,000 (NFL) -Surface: Astroturf/Grass -Opened: September 11, 1966 (NFL)
-Closed: October 22, 1995 (NFL)
-Other Names: None -Cost:
Unknown
-Architect:
Sverdrup & Parcel and
Associates; Edward Durell Stone -Demolished: November 2005, site adjacent to new Busch
Stadium (MLB)
The St. Louis Cardinals (MLB),
were the only tenant at the stadium until 1995, when the Los
Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis. The Rams played part of the 1995
season at Busch Stadium and then moved into their own stadium, the
Edward Jones Dome. The last football game ever at Busch Stadium
was played on October 22, 1995 against the San
Francisco 49ers.
After the Rams left Busch Stadium, it was retrofitted for
baseball only. Grass replaced the Astroturf and numerous other
improvements were completed at Busch Stadium. The St. Louis Cardinals (MLB)
played at Busch Stadium until October 2005 and will move into a
new ballpark in April 2006. Busch Stadium was demolished in
November 2005.
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The St. Louis Cardinals (MLB),
were the only tenant at the stadium until 1995, when the Los
Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis. The Rams played part of the 1995
season at Busch Stadium and then moved into their own stadium, the
Edward Jones Dome. The last football game ever at Busch Stadium
was played on October 22, 1995 against the San
Francisco 49ers.
After the Rams left Busch Stadium, it was retrofitted for
baseball only. Grass replaced the Astroturf and numerous other
improvements were completed at Busch Stadium. The St. Louis Cardinals (MLB)
played at Busch Stadium until October 2005 and will move into a
new ballpark in April 2006. Busch Stadium was demolished in
November 2005.
