ST. LOUIS — Baseball fans can look forward to Cardinals-themed friendship bracelets, Stanley tumbler giveaways and St. Louis slinger hot dogs piled high with hash browns, seasoned meat and fried eggs this year at Busch Stadium.
The ballpark’s newest changes and latest offerings were unveiled ahead of Thursday’s opening day. Cardinals president Bill DeWitt III said that though fans care most about the product on the field, their support is tested if the team isn’t good, so there’s pressure to keep the fan experience enjoyable.
“On opening day, you want everyone to feel a sense of newness and excitement for the upcoming season as well as a little nostalgia for what Cardinals baseball is all about,” DeWitt said. “The next game we want to be about the game day experience and making sure we have an exciting team to watch and everything else.”
The Cardinals’ home opener is set for 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 4.
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New dishes available for purchase this season include supreme nacho fries, Freddy’s chicken bacon Swiss sandwich, Shaq’s Big Chicken chicken tenders, a variety box of smoked brisket, pulled pork and turkey with cornbread and potato salad from Triple Play BBQ — and “Wachos” or waffle nachos consisting of waffle cone “chips,” Freddy’s frozen custard, chocolate and strawberry sauces, crushed Oreos, whipped cream and a cherry.
And of course, the St. Louis slinger hot dog — Busch Stadium’s take on the local diner dish. For $13.79, fans can get a ⅓-pound all-beef hot dog perched on a bed of hash browns and topped with nacho meat and two fried eggs, all nestled in a bun, at the Top Dog stand in section 132.
“This is a party in your mouth,” said Vicki Bryant, vice president of events, services and merchandise.
Also available will be fare from FarmTruk, a food truck business making its Busch Stadium debut on the Budweiser terrace during the Cardinals’ home opener against the Miami Marlins.
“This is a big deal to us,” CEO and chef Samantha Mitchell said of the partnership. “We’re amped. We’re ready.”
The local farm-to-table business will sell Reuben sandwiches, brisket macaroni and cheese, jalapeno popper sliders, chicken nachos and seasonal gooey butter cake, which is currently a Key lime pie flavor. Mitchell said she’s still toying with the idea of a Cracker Jacks-flavored gooey butter cake for future games.
Changes are also found in the Cardinals Team Store on Clark Avenue. New products include Taylor Swift-inspired Cardinals friendship bracelets, 314 plastic chain necklaces, mini backpacks, fanny packs, high-end purses, pet toys, women’s jackets, high-end branded shirts and quarter zips, kids’ bat and ball sets, and other souvenir items.
Hospitality company Delaware North runs concessions and merchandise sales at Busch. Retail director Stephanie Spargur said new products are often inspired by fan requests or trending items.
However, their most popular merchandise continues to be Cardinals hats and t-shirts. Spargur said the Team Store sold just shy of 100,000 of each last season.
During promotional giveaway games, the first 25,000 fans through the gates that day will receive a free item. Megan Eberhart, director of promotions, said they have Hall of Fame player bobbleheads, purses, Stanley tumblers, basketball jerseys, Cardinal bird hats and a 200-piece Adam Wainwright puzzle lined up for this season.
“We like to study what’s out there, retail trends,” Eberhart said on how they decide what giveaways to schedule. “I really like to listen to fans when they email, when they call, when they post online. I read all of it. And we like to try new things.”
Theme nights, such as Star Wars Night, Margaritaville night, Metro Boomin night and cancer awareness night will also be celebrated with product giveaways.
“For at least half of our themes, you can get a themed ticket for $19,” said Bethany White, manager of theme tickets. “You get to see a ballgame and you get to take home a really cool item.”
The new Budweiser 703 Club, named after Albert Pujols’ 703 career home runs, will open in left field on the second level of the ballpark, replacing the Budweiser Bowtie Bar. Club tickets start at $99 and grant attendees access to reserved, mesh stadium seats, an indoor lounge equipped with a bar, pasta station, a stone pizza oven, a full nacho bar and dessert stations featuring soft-serve ice cream.
“It’s a really new look on the field and off the field this year which should bring people back the way they’ve always supported us,” DeWitt said of the changes around the stadium. “We try to refresh it every season.”
Photos: St. Louis Cardinals show off new food and upgrades at Busch Stadium
St. Louis Cardinals theme and promotion nights
Slinger Dog at Busch Stadium
St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium food, Farm Truk
St. Louis Cardinals theme nights
St. Louis Cardinals merchandise at team store in Busch Stadium
St. Louis Cardinals merchandise at team store in Busch Stadium
St. Louis Cardinals promotion nights
St. Louis Cardinals merchandise at team store in Busch Stadium
St. Louis Cardinals theme nights
St. Louis Cardinals 703 Club
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