Downtown St. Louis is set for a full-on sports takeover this Saturday, with the Battlehawks, Cardinals and Blues all playing at home in a tightly packed schedule that runs from late morning well into the evening.
Three Games, Three Venues
The St. Louis Battlehawks kick things off at 11 a.m. at The Dome at America's Center, according to Ticketmaster. Not long after, the Cardinals are slated to host the Tampa Bay Rays at Busch Stadium in an early afternoon matchup listed on Explore St. Louis. The St. Louis Blues close the curtain with a 6 p.m. game at Enterprise Center, per the arena's Ticketmaster listing. The back-to-back-to-back slate is set to funnel fans into downtown in rapid succession.
Crowds, Marketing and Safety
Tourism and public safety officials say the stacked schedule is a major boost for downtown businesses, but it also means extra coordination behind the scenes. As reported by FOX 2, Explore St. Louis communications vice president Catherine Neville said the convergence of games could generate "millions of dollars," and that organizers are using website tools and geofencing to steer fans toward nearby restaurants, bars and attractions. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department told the station it will enforce a youth curfew beginning at 11:59 p.m. through the weekend.
The nightcap brings a little extra subplot for hockey fans. Toronto is coached by Craig Berube, who once led the Blues, a connection that many say has added intrigue to the matchup, according to NHL.com.
How To Navigate The Day
If you are heading downtown, expect a rolling wave of arrivals and departures around each venue. MLB's Opening Day timeline highlights gate times and pregame activities for higher traffic dates, and the Cardinals' early afternoon start means Ballpark Village and surrounding bars are likely to be busy well before first pitch. Arriving early is the simplest way to avoid rush-hour style backups and long concession lines, per MLB.com.
With crowds moving between the Dome, Busch Stadium and Enterprise Center throughout the day, rideshares and surface parking are expected to be in high demand, and MetroLink and other transit options may fill up quickly as fans stack one event on top of another.
What This Means For The City
For downtown restaurants, bars and hotels, three major home games in a single day amounts to a welcome surge in business, and local promoters and venues have been preparing for heavier foot traffic and longer hours. For fans, the most realistic strategy is to pick one event, build in extra time to get in and out, and be ready for a slower exit once the final whistle, horn or last out arrives.
Even if you are only there for one game, the spillover effect means there should be plenty of energy in the streets, with the downtown core carrying a game day feel from morning through the end of the night.
