ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The St. Louis Cardinals announced the capacity at Busch Stadium is increasing at all home games starting May 21.
The stadium capacity will increase roughly double the current 30% capacity that has allowed about 15,000 fans in for games so far this season. Seating pods will now be spaced a minimum of 3 feet apart in all directions.
It comes just in time for the first rivalry series agains the Chicago Cubs, who come to town for a weekend series May 21–23.
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Additional tickets to the Cubs series are on sale now, with tickets starting as low as $20. Ticket on-sale dates for June games will be determined and announced at a later date.
The team also announced it will open the stadium as a vaccination event on May 12–14. Each individual who receives a vaccine at the event will receive a voucher good for two free tickets to a 2021 Cardinals game. Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be available. Individuals are asked to register in advance for the event, here.
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The club plans to announce a similar vaccination effort in cooperation with St. Louis County at a later date.
Policies and protocols that have been in place since the start of the season will remain to ensure the health and safety of fans, employees, and players in 2021, including:
Socially-distanced seating: Guests will be seated in pods of four or less with a minimum distance of three feet between seating pods in all directions.
Masks required: Masks are required at all times in all areas of the stadium, including the seating bowl, unless guests are actively eating and drinking.
Mobile-only ticketing: All game tickets will be delivered via the MLB Ballpark app, ensuring a touchless entry into the ballpark.
Cashless transactions: Concession stands, kiosks and other retail transactions made in the stadium are cashless and only offer credit and debit payment options. Debit cards are available for purchase using cash with no service fees at a limited number of locations inside the stadium.
Bags not permitted: To reduce contamination and ensure touchless entry, bags are not permitted to be brought in to Busch Stadium, except for medical bags, diaper bags with a child or clutches/wristlets not exceeding 6" x 8". All exceptions must enter via the designated Inspection Lane at each gate.
Designated entry gates: Guests will be directed to enter and exit the stadium through one of six designated entry gates to expedite the process and limit crowding at any one entrance. A designated entry gate will be noted on each ticket. Guests are not permitted to exit and re-enter the stadium.
Fans can view the full list of Busch Stadium policies and protocols for the 2021 season at cardinals.com/backatbusch.
Cardinals vice president of stadium operations Matt Gifford says they've already had plans ready to be implemented for weeks and have just been waiting for COVID-19 guidelines to be softened.
"What were hoping is that eventually (social distancing guidelines) will be dropped by the CDC and if that happens we've got contingencies already to expand the capacity and I think we'll be able to do that by what we've learned," Gifford says.
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Since May 3, all businesses in St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis have been allowed to reopen to full capacity for the first time in more than a year due to pandemic-related restrictions. All businesses must still comply with CDC social distancing and face mask guidelines.
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