No matter your age, interests or budget, you’ll find something fun to do in St. Louis this weekend.
Named the “Ultimate Sports City” by ESPN The Magazine, St. Louis gives fans something to cheer about all year long.
Touted as the best fans in baseball, St. Louis Cardinals supporters dress in red and descend on Busch Stadium in droves. The current ballpark opened in downtown St. Louis on April 10, 2006, becoming a good luck charm for the home team – the Cardinals became the first team in almost 100 years to win the World Series in the inaugural season of a new ballpark. The retro-style stadium has 46,000 seats – with a great view from each. Here, the 11-time World Series Champion team is the main draw, but there are also game-day activities that you’ll find fun even if you’re not a fan of baseball. Home games include batting practice (which is open to ticketholders), spectacular views of the Gateway Arch, plenty of Fredbird sightings and some of the best hot dogs in town. While you’re here, snap a photo with the bronze statue of Cardinals legend Stan “The Man” Musial, which stands outside the Gate 3 entrance, and check out the food and entertainment options at Ballpark Village.
Winter wouldn’t be complete without cheering on the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center. The NHL team has always put on a good show, but the experience is especially exciting since we won the Stanley Cup in 2019. In between periods, grab hearty fare from local eateries, including barbecue from Sugarfire Smoke House and burgers with fries from Hi-Pointe Drive-In, at the arena’s concession stands. Traveling with kids? The whole family will enjoy a stop at Union Station – home to the St. Louis Aquarium, the St. Louis Wheel, the Grand Hall and delicious dining options – before or after a game. Need more action? St. Louis Blues practices at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights are free and open to the public. Follow @STLCIC on Twitter or Centene Community Ice Center on Facebook for the most up-to-date practice times.
There’s something inherently hopeful about the start of a new sports franchise, and whether you’re a lifelong fan of soccer or simply an inquisitive visitor to the area, the induction of St. Louis CITY SC into the local sports scene is exciting. Playing at Energizer Park – which connects the city’s downtown core and its thriving Cortex Innovation Community – St. Louis CITY SC is the first female majority-owned club in Major League Soccer; its main jersey sponsor, Purina, is also led by a woman, president and CEO Nina Leigh Krueger. Along with the action on the pitch, match day at Energizer Park promises robust chants and scrumptious snacks. Enlisting a “flavor officer” – James Beard Award-winning chef Gerard Craft of Niche Food Group – St. Louis CITY SC has developed the most comprehensive food experience in sports. Its local food partners, including Anthonino’s Taverna, Balkan Treat Box, BEAST Craft BBQ Co., Bold Spoon Creamery, Chez Ali, Crown Candy, Kaldi’s Coffee, Nudo House and Steve’s Hot Dogs, represent a mouthwatering variety of traditional St. Louis tastes and original flavors from our unique neighborhoods. We hope that you’ll join the fans clad in CITY Red and root for St. Louis’ newest sports team.
Ka-Kaw! Football is back where it belongs – St. Louis. As part of the XFL’s latest reboot, the St. Louis Battlehawks have soared back into the city, playing at The Dome at America’s Center. “I’m excited to bring the Battlehawks – the team and the logo – back to St. Louis and to have the fans back in The Dome,” head coach Anthony Becht says. “It’s going to be a fun experience for both the fans and the players.” The Battlehawks play five home games per season, with single tickets starting at $25. On weekends when the team is in town, expect fan-engagement and community-outreach events featuring players and staff. All the Battlehawks players will also be accessible via social media.
The Surge, St. Louis’ professional women’s basketball team, competes in the Global Women’s Basketball Association. Over 10 seasons, the team has won five regional championships and two national championships, and it continues to recruit character first without sacrificing talent to assemble a highly decorated roster of professional athletes from across the country. Building community and spotlighting smart women leaders, the team represents itself and its city with class. So, gather your group and head to the Field House on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis for a game that you won’t soon forget.
In Madison, Illinois, just east of St. Louis, World Wide Technology Raceway hosts major events that appeal to a wide range of racing interests. Currently, it’s the only track in the world to host the NASCAR Cup Series, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and Formula DRIFT. In September 2023, it will also host the 28th annual Mickey Thompson Million Dollar Drag Race, continuing the race’s long-running tradition while elevating the racer experience. Covering more than 700 acres, World Wide Technology Raceway is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area, and it’s committed to making a difference in the community while providing first-class fun and memories that last a lifetime.
A member of the Frontier League, the Gateway Grizzlies are a professional baseball team, which plays at GCS Credit Union Ballpark across the Mighty Mississippi in Sauget, Illinois. Located just 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis, the team offers affordable family fun. Want to enhance your experience? The Gateway Grizzlies invite you to have a party in the Munie Leisure Hot Tub Suite, where you can soak in a hot tub while enjoying a live baseball game!
Founded in 2013, the St. Louis Ambush is an indoor soccer team that plays at The Family Arena in Saint Charles. The team is a current member of the Major Arena Soccer League. If you want to feel the excitement of a live game in your bones, make sure to get seats in the Ambush fan zone.
The Saint Louis University Billikens compete in the Atlantic 10 conference in a variety of men’s and women’s sports, but the basketball teams are arguably the biggest draws. Both teams play at the 10,600-seat Chaifetz Arena, and the Saint Louis Billikens men’s basketball team has become a regular in the NCAA tournament. College basketball is at the top of the sports menu every March, as well, when the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament comes to town. Playing at Enterprise Center, the winner of the tournament earns an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.
