St. Louis Cardinals Return to the World Series

After beating the Los Angeles Dodgers to win their 19th National League Pennant, the St. Louis Cardinals are returning to the World Series for the fourth time in ten years. The series matchup with the Boston Red Sox – which started last night at Fenway Park – is the fourth meeting between the two clubs. The Cardinals defeated the Red Sox in seven games during the 1946 and 1967 Fall Classics, but fell victim to a four-game sweep in 2004. The Cardinals are making their tenth appearance in the postseason since 2000 and the 26th postseason appearance in franchise history. When the Cardinals take the field on Saturday at Busch Stadium, the team will be wearing their home alternate uniforms that feature “St. Louis” in place of “Cardinals” on the jersey – the first World Series appearance since 1931.

WS Game 1 – Wednesday, October 23, 2013 –Fenway Park – 7:07 p.m. CT (FOX)

WS Game 2 – Thursday, October 24, 2013 –Fenway Park – 7:07 p.m. CT (FOX)

WS Game 3 – Saturday, October 26, 2013 – Busch Stadium – 7:07 p.m. CT (FOX

WS Game 4 – Sunday, October 27, 2013 – Busch Stadium – 7:15 p.m. CT (FOX)

WS Game 5 – Monday, October 28, 2013 – Busch Stadium – 7:07 p.m. CT (FOX)

WS Game 6 – Wednesday, October 30, 2013 – Fenway Park – 7:07 p.m. CT (FOX)

WS Game 7 – Thursday, October 31, 2013 – Fenway Park – 7:07 p.m. CT (FOX)

MoDOT has limited roadwork when the Cardinals are at home in the World Series. Currently, fans can expect no significant traffic impacts due to construction on Missouri interstates heading into Busch Stadium or heading home Saturday, October 26, Sunday, October 27, or Monday, October 28. Fans should remember that since the Rams will be playing Seattle Monday night, the Broadway ramp into the city from eastbound I-70 will be closed due to NFL security requirements. Drivers can use the Pine Street ramp. In addition, they may also use the new ramp from eastbound I-70 to Tucker Boulevard to get to the games, avoiding much of the downtown interstate traffic. Fans can take Tucker to Market Street to get to parking for the game.

MetroLink is a convenient alternative to driving, allowing fans to avoid the cost of parking and game day traffic. To avoid the traffic congestion and the cost of parking on game day, fans can use one of 19 free Park-Ride lots along the MetroLink line and take the train to Stadium Station, right across the street from the ballpark. Check the Metro website www.MetroStLouis.org for schedules and the Park-Ride lot nearest you. There are also plenty of buses in Missouri and Illinois that will get fans to Busch Stadium including the RedBird Express that departs from the Water Tower at St. Clair Square in Fairview Heights, Illinois. The first RedBird Express leaves 2 ½ hours before the game and runs approximately every 5 minutes.  

“In what is happily becoming a regular October event, baseball fans from around the world again will be able to enjoy the unique experience of what St. Louis and Missouri have to offer: a welcoming atmosphere that includes friendly people, great places to eat and shop, and unique historical, recreational and cultural sites,” Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said the city is filled with pride as the Cardinals embark on their 12th World Series attempt to win. “We couldn’t be more proud of the entire Cardinals organization for their great work both on and off the field. Our whole city buzzes with excitement during the postseason. We’ll be ready for fans and will showcase the incredible $5 billion transformation our city has seen over the past decade.”

St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley said, “with more than 16,000 hotel rooms and scores of restaurants and entertainment options, St. Louis County stands ready to welcome the influx of fans to the St. Louis Region.”

The World Series, which opens in Boston on Wednesday (October 23) and Thursday (October 24), will shift to St. Louis for Game 3 on Saturday (October 26), Game 4 on Sunday (October 27) and Game 5 (if necessary October 28).

Considered one of the crown jewels in sports, the World Series (nationally televised on FOX) will be watched by millions of viewers worldwide, giving the entire state and St. Louis region outstanding and valuable international exposure. 

Not surprisingly, Missouri and St. Louis regional partners welcome the national and international attention. Year-round, the St. Louis Partnership Team works collaboratively to promote economic and workforce development, retention, tourism and hospitality in the St. Louis region. The team includes the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, the Bi-State Development Agency, Civic Progress, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, Rally St. Louis, St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, Regional Business Council, Partnership for Downtown St. Louis, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, and the St. Louis Regional Chamber.

The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission and Regional Chamber estimate the total economic impact of each home World Series game will be approximately $7.9 million; $3.7 million of this total will be direct spending in and around Busch Stadium, and $4.2 million of it will be in indirect spending, as those dollars circulate throughout the region. This analysis uses an economic impact model that measures how spending tied to an event has multiple impacts and spreads throughout a region, thereby benefiting households and firms within the area. This figure is based on estimates of visitor spending and Busch Stadium jobs and operations expenditures. Historically, out of town visitors constitute about 40% of Cardinals attendance, but during the World Series, about half of the attendees are from out of town. Visitor spending on dining and lodging provides a significant boost to the regional economy.

This additional World Series economic impact comes on top of the $5.9 million per game average economic impact from the previous rounds of playoffs at Busch Stadium.

For Cardinal Nation, the fall classic is more than about international attention and economics. It’s an opportunity to show visitors why the St. Louis area is considered one of the best baseball communities in America. The Cardinals annually draw more than 3 million visitors a year from all over the state, region and Midwest.

Fans click through the Busch Stadium turnstiles to support a franchise that has won 11 World Series championships (second only to the New York Yankees) and the most National League pennants (19). Few teams can also match the Cardinals’ star power. More than 40 former Cardinals players and managers are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.