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PostApr 11, 2006#76

It's a shame, if anybody else has been to any of HOK stadiums (Jacob's in Cleveland, or Camden in Baltimore), ok well just Cleveland, the park is a sham its not built for the fan who goes to see's games, its built and I've used this elsewere and been persecuted but its built as "eye candy" for the casual suburbanite who creeps into town once a year reluctantly.....lets not name names, but you know who you are.....



Anyway, the new stadium was needed, I don't like it, but I've been to every stadium except Toronto and Seattle in the nation, and the 6 that are in existance that are built around HOKs same "retro" theme, they're lame....and its my opinion.



I judge on the access to the game, when I walked in last tuesday, and again today, it took me nearly 30 minutes to get to my seats because of all the promotional crap....and a lot of cool abstract photo ops that smacked me crazy....(which by the way were not from the stadium itself, or whatever you call it, mall, food court, baseball park...etc)...



The best stadium by far is Wrigley, or Fenway, and guess what they're also the oldest stadiums around, and none of them have been modeled after, because they don't contain enough space for 600 vendors, 60 team stores, 600 suites, a 5000 foot x 5000 foot Cardinal Club....thats not baseball (that is new Busch) but thats for the casual business/rich slob, for the rest of us we're stuck with this: like my season ticket seats below:











Again, those bars were not there in old busch, I don't care if it adds to the athestic view or not, I shouldn't have to lean over a bar to look down on the field, and I certainly shouldn't have to put up with a glass shield in my face blocking my view....thankfully after many angry letters (only after friendly reminders leading up to opening day) did I get the screen removed.



Next time I go, friday night, I shall smuggle in a saw and I will saw that black rail down in front of my seats....lookout below in 250![/img]
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PostApr 11, 2006#77

^relax dude, it's a freaking baseball stadium that the cardinal owners primarily paid for themselves. when BV is completed, the whole area/experience will be far better than what the old Busch was able to provide.
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PostApr 11, 2006#78

It was predictable that "they" would show up - those who can't let go of the past.



30 minutes to get to your seat? I think it took me a little over 5. Do you use a walker or something?
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PostApr 11, 2006#79

Bring-back-Busch wrote:


The best stadium by far is Wrigley, or Fenway, and guess what they're also the oldest stadiums around, and none of them have been modeled after, because they don't contain enough space for 600 vendors, 60 team stores, 600 suites, a 5000 foot x 5000 foot Cardinal Club....thats not baseball (that is new Busch) but thats for the casual business/rich slob, for the rest of us we're stuck with this: like my season ticket seats below:











Again, those bars were not there in old busch, I don't care if it adds to the athestic view or not, I shouldn't have to lean over a bar to look down on the field, and I certainly shouldn't have to put up with a glass shield in my face blocking my view....thankfully after many angry letters (only after friendly reminders leading up to opening day) did I get the screen removed.



[img]


My brother has season tickets and Fenway and I've been there several times. It is a lot of fun there -- they block off a street and put the entire street inside the paid stadium ticket holder zone -- with vendors out on the street. But on the downside, the seats are very small and tight, and there are posts someone has to look around. I saw them seat a blind person right behind a post -- (I assume they told her.) It is very crowded under the stands. Beer vendors are not allowed to sell in the stands, and I think there is a 2 beer limit for the evening that you buy below the stands or on street that is inside the perimeter. Fenway also keeps making changes to add seats and sky boxes. Last year they cantelevered more seats over the street behind the big green monster. Fenway only holds 35K or so for a city of 5 million, so ticket prices are sky high. But it is a lot of fun there -- especially the quirky things like everyone singing -- Sweet Caroline.



As far as the bars go at the new stadium, I have a 4 game pack in row 10 of section 452 -- the next to the last row in the whole stadium. I saw the bars and glass too, but realized it only blocked some foul territory if I didn't stand up. Looks like the bars and glass only block a portion of the foul track in your pictures. I'll trade that for the spectular skyline view.
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PostApr 11, 2006#80

Yikes Bring-back-Busch. I have to disagree with your every word. Have you ever considered the fact that stadiums have changed to the fans liking? With time, the fans have asked for wider seats, less obstructive views, more food and bathrooms, and more activities. It's what the customers have been asking for.



Anyway, I went to all the festivities today, just to check it out. Didn't have tickets, just wanted to hang out in the atmosphere. There had to be 200,000+ people out there. After spending about 45 minutes just to find parking, I walked all around downtown to all the tents and such. I was amazed how big they made this thing. It also made me think how many suburbanites were becoming aware of how the city is coming back.



I have one great memory though just as I was leaving. Walking along the otuside of the west side of the stadium, I see a little golf cart heading towards me. Turns out it's Stan "The Man" Musial! As pathetic as this makes me sound, I was just a foot away from the greatest ball player of all time. People started to take notice that it was him and ran over towards him and took pictures. One guy recited the poem about him, a few cars that were driving by started honking, and all the people around him just broke in to a round of applause. It was beautiful.



I will also be at the game Wednesday, and I can't wait. After touring the stadium, then semi-experiencing the game-day vibe, I know this will be one of the best moments for me as far as baseball goes.
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PostApr 11, 2006#81

I don't know how sarcastic that comment was about the glass screen and railing, but I'm pretty sure that Busch would not receive an occupancy permit without them. It's called safety. That is a pretty hefty fall from those seats, enough to kill a person, and the person they land on. You should be happy that they considered the fan by putting glass at the bottom of the stairs, not bars. From your photos alone, besides me actually sitting in many of those seats, only some foul territory is obstructed. And seriously, is there some reason that it took you 30 minutes to get to your seat? I was in the stadium for about 5 hours on Saturday, and I could circle it three times in less than thirty minutes, much less get to a seat.



Give it up. Busch is long gone, and this park is so much better in every way.
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PostApr 11, 2006#82

Busch 2 was only a great stadium because of the memories that were created by the fans and the team we supported. To wish that cement hole back just shows a lack of vision. I've been to wrigley, and I think it's overrated. I'm actually taking a visit to Fenway next year, but it's part of a Boston trip I've planned with a friend. I'm looking forward to seeing it, but I'm looking forward more to Wednesday, which is my first experience first hand with Busch 3.
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PostApr 11, 2006#83

Geeze gents, its like nobody can rant here without being torn apart like its some goddam Fox news debate show, I just wanted to....nevermind.

PostApr 11, 2006#84

Also, they didn't have the glass and railing in old busch, nobody ever fell, in fact people that careless generally tend to sit in the bleachers where falling is a sport and a common practice....it doesn't matter though, the screen is down, it was only because the screen if you look in the picture is half and half in the way of one of my seats, so you have to pull your head to the left to avoid a metal bar, and to the right, now think about this, when its rainy and the screen is wet...anyway it once I got to the top heads in the organization I got a lot of agreement and sympathy, they said it was a last second design feature that didn't really get agreed upon but thrown in for free....



bunch of young-ins.....trying to tell an old man how to think...phfff
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PostApr 11, 2006#85

OT: http://ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=95061



Yeah, thats my cousin, a perfect idea!





Cornbread: you can take metrolink from the Hanley lot and park for free.
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PostApr 11, 2006#86

bprop wrote:
SoulardD wrote:That 'shows off downtown' part is key. 3 million people per year being shown that the city is back. I think it'll go a long way to dispell the perception that many suburbanities still have about the city being a dead spot. Seeing the Pointe 400 building, the new BP Village, and all the other action taking place around might just convince some of the big money that goes through that place that they want to be part of the action. I think this new Ballpark is clutch for downtown.


I agree to a point...but ask this forum a question posed by an out-of-towner visiting downtown on Saturday: Where can we have lunch [before going to the Busch Stadium Open House]?



We're talking the walkable downtown area. They walked around for over an hour starting at 11:00 am, and settled on BreadCo because it was the only thing they found open.



We've come a long way, but our downtown, sorry to say, is still "dead" much of the time.


My friends and I ate at Paddy O's, which was OK food. You could've eaten at the Broadway Oyster bar, Al Hrabosky's, Friday's, Jaques' (sp?) in the Sheraton, Houlihan's or the Hard Rock at Union Station, Show Me's, Trainwreck, Hannegan's, The downtown Cantina, Lucas Park, Flannery's, Jack Patrick's, Maurezio's, or many other downtown restaurants. I admit some that I listed are a bit of a walk from the stadium, but walking never hurt anyone, and I'm sure I missed a bunch that are close to the stadium. I will say that downtown should make it more painfully obvious where to eat and shop, and could use alot more street signage. Thing is, though; I rode my bike around downtown last weekend and there has to be twice as many restaurants and businesses downtown today than even a couple years ago. Seemed like alot more than even 6 mo. ago. I guess suburbanities may be confused at the lack of 50ft. tall signs and sea-sized parking lots in front of strip malls?
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PostApr 11, 2006#87

Doug wrote:OT: http://ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=95061



Yeah, thats my cousin, a perfect idea!


I saw that brick last Tuesday night and was wondering if it was for opening day. I thought it was a really good idea, as long as they stayed together long enough to get to that point.
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PostApr 11, 2006#88

Doug wrote:Cornbread: you can take metrolink from the Hanley lot and park for free.
Thanks, I'll be sure to use that for Wednesday's game. On Monday I ended up parking on N 14th and St. Charles on a meter. It was quite the walk, but Maurezio's was on the way, and you can never pass up their pizza! :wink:
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PostApr 11, 2006#89

No matter what building they play in, whether it's Busch I, II, or III, nothing will ever curtail the experience of being apart of Cardinal baseball. Move the team from North Grand? Move them a couple hundred yards south? Change the dial from 1120 to 550? As much as it shakes us all up, it doesn't matter. The Cards will keep playing quality ball and stealing our hearts every summer no matter what.



Just like with the Stan Musial experience from above. It did not matter where you saw him...you saw him, and it was awesome. Same with the team. If you are truly a fan, and you are watching your team, it will be filled with postive feelings and get a good reputation. Great fans and traditions make great ballparks (CHI, BOS); even ballparks with shortcomings (which they all have, old and new).
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PostApr 13, 2006#90

I went to the game tonight, and I must say...WOW.



First off, the complaints that people have about the hike to your seats, is understandable. We had seats in the first deck and it was a haul to our seats. But the ramps are much more graded, so it seems to take a much longer time to get up them.



I started on the SE corner, and walked all the way around to enter by the Stan statue, what a beautiful outside. As we entered, I walked right up to the SRO section behind home plate, and it was stunning. Really, the pictures don't do the view justice, because you can actually see the rusty parts of the Old Courthouses green roof. After standing in awe for several minutes, we hiked up to the top level. Looking out over the Hardees section in the upper deck was really cool. The view was great. We continued around the outside, while still in the upper concourse, and the views were simply amazing. You could see the Brewery, the River, really...anything you wanted. We walked all the way around the top concourse, before heading down to our seats. The seats were, again, just amazing. Great views. The lighting was great, the ambiance was phenomenal, I can't wait to make a number of spectacular memories in this facility.



To cap the night off, me and my brother were walking along the concourse during the game (after getting a cold adult beverage) and actually ran into Mark Lamping, who was visiting friends in one of the boxes. We had the opportunity to critique the stadium (while also severely praising it) with Mr. Lamping, and he was greatly congenial and spoke with us for more than 5 minutes about the stadium and all of the planned development downtown. I actually brought up the prospect of Chouteaus Landing as more residential and his eyes lit up, saying that he couldn't wait to see all the development happen downtown to see the ballpark area as a thriving neighborhood. He mentioned that Ballpark Village, when finished, will really cap off the project.



Anyway, I had a great time at the ballpark tonight.
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PostApr 13, 2006#91

^

I had an amazing time tonight as well. My seats were actually next to that Hardee's you were talking about in the upper deck. I had a great view of the Gateway Arch and everything to the North and East of the stadium. I couldn't have asked for a nicer experience.

By the way, I also went extra early and took photos from all the places you seemed to talk about. To cap it off, the Cardinals won.
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PostApr 13, 2006#92

I was there last night as well. I had standing room tickets, and we ended up on the lower level by second base. It was a beautiful night, a great game and the perfect environment for baseball. I could tell on TV that the views would be great, but they're even better in person. To me, being able to see the Arch and the Old Courthouse really make the view spectacular.
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PostApr 13, 2006#93

Was the Arch lit up last night? I thought it was, but then I was on the first base side and didn't have that view.
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PostApr 13, 2006#94

We were @ last night's game as well, with what sounds like similar seats to M2tbone, a few sections right of the Hardees. Beautiful view. Here are a couple pics i took last night-









Just before dusk-















Night- (doesn't look like the arch was lit up Trent.)















Leaving the stadium, turned around for a shot at the magnificant entrance!













Got there when the sun was still out, and walking west inside the stadium, when you walk through an area where the sun peers in, you can't see ANYTHING...made for an interesting game of "do not bump into anyone/anything and spill beer." It was blinding. I enjoy chaos though.



Was also funny to see everyone walking around not knowing where they're going, and just looking at all the new stuff. Like a bunch of kids in a candy store, lost and drooling. haha.



Can't wait to go back next week.
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PostApr 14, 2006#95

ContractorKitchens wrote:We were @ last night's game as well, with what sounds like similar seats to M2tbone, a few sections right of the Hardees. Beautiful view. Here are a couple pics i took last night-









Just before dusk-











man, is that nice!



Night- (doesn't look like the arch was lit up Trent.)















Leaving the stadium, turned around for a shot at the magnificant entrance!













Got there when the sun was still out, and walking west inside the stadium, when you walk through an area where the sun peers in, you can't see ANYTHING...made for an interesting game of "do not bump into anyone/anything and spill beer." It was blinding. I enjoy chaos though.



Was also funny to see everyone walking around not knowing where they're going, and just looking at all the new stuff. Like a bunch of kids in a candy store, lost and drooling. haha.



Can't wait to go back next week.
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PostApr 14, 2006#96

I was also there Wednesday night, and like a few others, my seats were right by the Hardee's. I was surprised how dim the skyline was later in the night. The Arch was lit, just looked very dim. The only real complaint I had was all the smokers along the edge of the upper deck. It was very hard to find a place to stand and look at the city without having smoke blown in your face.
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PostApr 14, 2006#97

Actually, if you really looked at each building they were rather well lighted. Gateway One had EVERY single floor lit up as well as Equitable. Actually, the cards sent letters to each building manager downtown to turn on all their lights. I think the light gets drowned by all of the stadium lights though, which might be the reason for the arch not looking illuminated.
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PostApr 15, 2006#98

SoulardD wrote:


My friends and I ate at Paddy O's, which was OK food. You could've eaten at the Broadway Oyster bar, Al Hrabosky's, Friday's, Jaques' (sp?) in the Sheraton, Houlihan's or the Hard Rock at Union Station, Show Me's, Trainwreck, Hannegan's, The downtown Cantina, Lucas Park, Flannery's, Jack Patrick's, Maurezio's, or many other downtown restaurants. I admit some that I listed are a bit of a walk from the stadium, but walking never hurt anyone, and I'm sure I missed a bunch that are close to the stadium. I will say that downtown should make it more painfully obvious where to eat and shop, and could use alot more street signage. Thing is, though; I rode my bike around downtown last weekend and there has to be twice as many restaurants and businesses downtown today than even a couple years ago. Seemed like alot more than even 6 mo. ago. I guess suburbanities may be confused at the lack of 50ft. tall signs and sea-sized parking lots in front of strip malls?


If you read my post, it wasn't me who was looking for places to eat, even though you address my question as though it was. I know of and patronize all of those places. I was talking about out-of-towners who rode Metrolink downtown to see just how much the city is [supposedly] back. After getting off at 8th and Pine -- under the impression that it's in the middle of our vibrant downtown (isn't it?), they passed the myriad of restaurants that weren't open. Had they known to walk 8 blocks northwest, I'm sure they would have stumbled across the Washington Ave. places, or 12 blocks west to Union Station. BTW, Jack Patrick's was closed when they went by. As it was, they passed the dozens upon dozens of restaurants in our core city that are not open for lunch on Saturday.



Nice assumptions by the way.
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PostApr 15, 2006#99

Hungo said during the game yesterday that when BPV is built it will not hinder the view of the courthouse from homeplate. Good stuff.
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PostApr 15, 2006#100

that is great, but we need to light that sucker up! Do you think that brighter lights could be installed to light up the courthouse dome?



another thing, are they going to light up the clock next to the two birds on the scoreboard?

http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/nl/busch62.jpg

i think it looks stupid not lit up
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