Busch Stadium recipient of Stadiums USA 2014 MLB Stadium of the Year award

Each year, Stadiums USA recognizes venues across the U.S. for superior operation, management and service in the communities they serve. Busch Stadium is the 2014 Stadiums USA MLB Stadium of the Year. The award was presented at a ceremony in St. Louis with Cardinals officials. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) November 11, 2014 - "We wanted to achieve a new baseball heaven." St. Louis Cardinals Vice President of Stadium Operations Joseph Abernathy says the goal was clear as Cardinal officials took to the drawing board to sketch out plans for a new stadium to replace the former Busch Stadium.

"The old concrete doughnut had become a home for all of us and we had a great time in the 1980's when the team did really well. It was home for St. Louis. We knew we had our work cut out for us to make a new home."

The new Busch Stadium, which opened in 2006, is a true baseball Mecca. From any seat in the park, fans can view the signature Gateway Arch that towers above the downtown skyline. The Cardinals reported 2014 attendance at 3,540,649 second to only the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cardinals topped all of MLB with 99.4% seating capacity.

2014 featured the debut of St. Louis' Ballpark Village, which sits adjacent to Busch Stadium. The $650 million development houses restaurants, retail shops and the Cardinals Hall of Fame. Designed as an extension to Busch Stadium, it resembles Chicago's Wrigleyville neighborhood where fans can view Cardinals games from rooftop seating. "Ballpark Village means a lot for the stadium, but it means more for the city of St. Louis," says Abernathy. "It gives the city the opportunity to come to a place and enjoy a number of activities. It was bustling during the baseball playoffs but has been just as busy when the Blues were in the playoffs and for Rams home games. It's become the gathering place in downtown St. Louis."

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