Opening Day articles:
- For Rob Rains and Mike Rains’ “Rains on the Cardinals” Pre-Opening Day Podcast CLICK HERE.
- Final touches being put on Busch Stadium for the start of the season: CLICK HERE.
Everything you need to know about Opening Day
This article will be an on-going article with updates periodically so check back in case there are updates.
Forecasted Weather
Sun and clouds mixed with a chance of rain during the afternoon. High 70° F. Winds SSE at 10 MPH.
Pep Rally at Ballpark Village- 10:30a.m.-1 p.m.
Tickets Still Available for Opening Day
Schedule:
Pregame Schedule
10:30 AM – 1:00 PM Official Opening Day Pep Rally at Ballpark Village: Join Fredbird, Team Fredbird, DJ Todd Thomas, Cardinals organist Dwayne Hilton and Cardinals Alumni at the Busch II Infield Stage in the Together Credit Union Plaza for the Cardinals Opening Day Pep Rally. This event is free for all fans to attend and includes prizes and ticket giveaways to Opening Day and other 2025 games.
12:00 PM Busch Stadium Gates Open
2025 Cardinals Magnet Schedule: All fans, ages 21 and older, will receive a magnet featuring the 2025 Cardinals schedule, compliments of Budweiser.
12:05 – 12:55 PM Cardinals batting practice (subject to change)
1:00 – 1:50 PM Twins batting practice (subject to change)
2:30 PM Pregame ceremonies begin with an appearance by the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales
Introduction of Fredbird & Team Fredbird
Recognition of Chairman & CEO, Bill DeWitt Jr.; President, Bill DeWitt III; and President of Baseball Operations, John Mozeliak
Introduction of National Baseball & Cardinals Hall of Famers via 2025 Ford Mustang convertible motorcade
Red JacketsThe following National Baseball Hall of Famers & Cardinals Hall of Famers are expected to take part in Opening Day pregame ceremonies (subject to change):
National Baseball Hall of Famers: Tony La Russa, Ted Simmons, Ozzie Smith & Joe Torre
Cardinals Hall of Famers: Vince Coleman, Jim Edmonds, Matt Holliday, Jason Isringhausen, Ray Lankford, Matt Morris, José Oquendo, Scott Rolen, John Tudor
2:49 PM Introduction of the 2025 St. Louis Cardinals via Ford F-150 truck motorcade
Introduction of the Minnesota Twins
3:04 PM National Anthem performance by GRAMMY Award winner and St. Louis native Lloyd Nicks with Color Guard presentation by the Ft. Leonard Wood Joint Service Color Guard
Ceremonial First Pitch by Members of the 1985 National League Championship Team
3:15 PM First Pitch by Cardinals Opening Day starting pitcher Sonny Gray
Projected Opening Day Roster
Pitchers (13): Erick Fedde, Ryan Fernandez, Sonny Gray, Ryan Helsley, John King, Kyle Leahy, Matthew Liberatore, Phil Maton, Steven Matz, Miles Mikolas, Andre Pallante, JoJo Romero, Chris Roycroft
Catchers (2): Iván Herrera, Pedro Pagés
Infielders (7): Nolan Arenado, Luken Baker, Alec Burleson, Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan, Nolan Gorman, Masyn Winn
Outfielders (4): Lars Nootbaar, Victor Scott II, Michael Siani, Jordan Walker
Injured List (1): Zack Thompson-LHP
Television Coverage
FanDuel Sports Network will air over eight hours of live programming on Opening Day, including 90 minutes of pregame coverage starting at 1:30 PM.
The network’s MLB programming begins at 10 AM with Foul Territory. At 12 PM, the network will air its national pregame show FanDuel Sports Network Countdown to Opening Day. The show will be hosted by Rich Hollenberg alongside Gaby Sanchez and Cardinals analyst Mark Sweeney and take fans to ballparks across the country during their whip-around coverage.
The Cardinals LIVE pregame show starts at 1:30 PM and will originate from the field at Busch Stadium on Opening Day, hosted by Alexa Datt alongside analyst Ricky Horton. Coverage of the Cardinals’ pregame ceremonies and player introductions will start at approximately 2:30 PM.
Calling the Cardinals vs. Twins will be play-by-play announcer Chip Caray and analyst Brad Thompson with Jim Hayes reporting from around Busch Stadium. The pregame ceremonies and game will re-air in prime time following Cardinals LIVE postgame.
Visit cardinals.com/TV for more information on all the ways to watch Cardinals baseball in 2025.
GETTING TO THE STADIUM:
Busch Stadium 700 Clark Street St. Louis, MO 63102 314-345-9600
Road Closures: As usual, Clark Street will be closed in between the stadium and Ballpark Village.
Ride Metro to the Game
Getting to the ballpark is as easy as 1-2-3.
- Park for free at any of the 24 Metro Park-Ride lots at MetroLink stations in Missouri and Illinois.
- Purchase a $5 Metro Day Pass for unlimited trips on MetroLink and MetroBus. For added convenience, plan your trip and purchase your tickets in advance with the Transit app .
- Ride On—Sit back and enjoy the ride while MetroLink brings you to the Stadium Station, right across the street from the ballpark.
St. Louis fans can also catch the #40 Broadway or #99 Downtown Trolley, which both have stops near Busch Stadium. Click here for additional transit tips.
If you are traveling from the EAST
- Take I-70 W toward St. Louis
- Merge with I-55 S approximately 20 miles east of St. Louis.
- Continues on I-70 W/ I-55 S towards St. Louis
- Continue onto I-64 once you cross into Missouri
- Take Exit 40A toward Stadium/Tucker Blvd
- Take right at Clark St.
- Stadium is one block on right side
From I-64 West (Belleville/Mt. Vernon/Evansville, IN.)
- Take I-64 W toward St. Louis
- Continue on I-64 W into Missouri
- Take Exit 40A toward Stadium/Tucker Blvd
- Take right at Clark St.
- Stadium is one block on right side
If you are traveling from the WEST
From I-44 East (Kirkwood/Eureka/Springfield/Joplin)
- Take I-55 E toward St. Louis
- Merge with I-55 N approximately 2 miles west of St .Louis
- Take Exit 208 to merge onto Park Ave toward 7th St.
- Turn left at 7th St.
- Take right at Clark St.
From I-64 East (Clayton/Chesterfield)
- Take I-64 E toward St. Louis
- Take Exit 40B for 6th St.
- Exit left at Exit 39C toward 11th St/Stadium
- Take right at Clark St.
- Stadium is three blocks on right side.
From I-70 East (St. Charles/Wentzville/Columbia/Kansas City)
- Take I-70 E toward St. Louis
- Take the Convention Center/Broadway/Busch Stadium exit, Exit 249C
- Merge onto N Broadway
- Take right at Clark St.
THINGS TO KNOW:
Bag Policy
In conjunction with a league-wide policy established by Major League Baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals reserve the right to inspect all items entering Busch Stadium. Guests may bring in items such as: bags, purses and soft-sided coolers not exceeding 10″ x 8″ x 10″. See Prohibited Items for more information.
Prohibited Items
In conjunction with a league-wide policy established by Major League Baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals reserve the right to inspect all items entering Busch Stadium. Guests may bring in items such as: bags, purses and soft-sided coolers not exceeding 10″ x 8″ x 10″; food, non-alcoholic beverages in factory-sealed plastic bottles no larger than 2 liters; empty cups, mugs or plastic bottles.
Prohibited items include but are not limited to the following items:
- Alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beer
- Aluminum cans/bottles, glass bottles/items, metal cans
- Animals (with the exception of service dogs or other service animals trained to perform work or tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability or other service animal expressly authorized under applicable law)
- Bags larger than 10″ x 8″ x 10″, Guests are encouraged to limit bags for stadium entry. Exceptions will be made for medical bags and diaper bags with a child. All bags will be inspected upon entry.
- Balloons, beach balls and other inflatables
- Brooms
- Chairs, stools, including bleacher seats with backs
- Commercial camera equipment (lenses longer than length of the camera body), including video cameras, tripods and monopods
- Containers – aerosol cans (i.e. hairspray, sunscreen), aluminum or glass cans/bottles, glass cans/bottles, flasks, non-factory sealed plastic bottles larger than 2 liters
- Coolers – hard-sided and Styrofoam coolers, soft-sided coolers larger than 10″ x 8″ x 10″, hard plastic inserts for soft-sided coolers
- Drones
- Face paint, costume masks, and any other costume that covers the head/face
- Firearms
- Fireworks
- Flag poles, PVC pipe and other poles
- Flasks
- Hover boards/skate boards/roller skates, roller blades
- Illegal substances
- Knives longer than 4 inches when unopened
- Laser pointers/lights
- Luggage
- Noisemakers of any kind, including, but not limited to air horns, cowbells, and Thunderstix
- Obscene, offensive, or indecent clothing
- Stun guns/tasers
- Weapons of any kind
- Wrapped packages
Exceptions may be made to the above list and are at the discretion of Busch Stadium Management and Event Staff Personnel.
The St. Louis Cardinals reserve the right to deny entry to a guest if management feels an item may be a hazard to the safety of other guests and/or employees. We appreciate that all guests adhere to the above list and work together with stadium personnel so everyone can enjoy the game.
Leading up to Opening Day
St. Louis loves baseball and the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station is celebrating Spring Break with the animals from Friday, March 14 – through Sunday, March 30 with its new Spring Training baseball-themed adventure.
Make this spring break unforgettable by taking your team to St. Louis Union Station, the region’s top family entertainment destination. Explore all seven amazing attractions, including t America’s most interactive aquarium, and the magnificent St. Louis Wheel.
Get the details at www.stlouisaquarium.com or via social media @aquariumstl.
ALL STAR ANIMALS: Some of the most beloved animals at the Aquarium have joined the Spring Break team. Those animals will be part of All-Star presentations each day. Sessions highlight a unique animal, providing guests with an unforgettable glimpse into their lives and the innovative training each All-Star participates in at the Aquarium. As a special keepsake, guests receive a collectible baseball card featuring the star of the show. All-Star presentations will be held at the Ambassador Animal Stage at 10 am and 2 pm daily and will feature rotating visits by the two-toed sloth, southern tamandua, six-banded armadillo, digging salamander, African grey parrot, Virginia opossum, and the sulcata tortoise.
NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTERS: Celebrate Spring Break with the Aquarium’s otters every day. The three furry siblings will be featured in presentations at their habitat at 11 am and 3 pm. Otters Sawyer, Thatcher and Finn — named for the Mark Twain characters — will be fed during the presentations at their land habitat.
SEE SHARK TWAIN: The St. Louis Aquarium’s toothsome mascot, Shark Twain, will be hosting meet and greets every day during Spring Training. Shark Twain appearances happen every day at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm. Don’t miss a chance to meet this larger-than-life very friendly shark.
BUILD A DREAM TEAM & DESIGN A JERSEY: Join Shark Twain to form an amazing water conservation baseball team. It’s a scavenger hunt with a watery twist. Collect signatures from 12 of the Aquarium’s amazing animals and rally support to protect precious water resources. Stop by KidZone to design a baseball jersey for your personal Dream Stream Clean Team.
GET A FREE BASEBALL: Each day of Spring Training the first 25 guests with a child’s ticket will get a free baseball. The baseball willl have the Spring Training logo on one side and the Rawling logo on the other, courtesy of St. Louis-based Rawlings Sporting Goods.
DOUBLE PLAY DEAL AT THE ST. LOUIS WHEEL: Spring breakers can save all day with the Wheel Park Double Play Deal. Guests get unlimited rides on the Wheel and Carousel and unlimited Mini Golf games along with $25 in carnival game play for one price. Tickets are available online or in person. Visit the Wheel Park ticket window to redeem the game vouchers and get a Double Play wristband. The 200-foot observation wheel and the other rides and games are open daily. www.thestlouiswheel.com. @stloouiswheelpark
St. Louis Union Station, a National Historic Landmark opened in 1894, was once the biggest and busiest train terminal in the nation. It is now home to the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, a Curio Collection by Hilton; the hands-on, hands-wet St. Louis Aquarium; the 200-foot-tall St. Louis Wheel; the St. Louis Carousel; St. Louis Mini-Golf; Selfie Express, a photo illusion attraction; the
A-Maze-Ing Mirror Maze; and the St. Louis Ropes Course. Food offerings at the Station include the Soda Fountain retro-style diner; Train Shed, a gastro pub; The Pitch soccer-themed tavern; the casual 1894 Cafe; and the elegant Station Grille.
