It will arrive in 2006 in the form of the most exciting ballpark ever constructed in the major leagues – one that borrows from the best features of other acclaimed facilities that have opened in the last decade, and builds from there. From the outfield vista that connects the symbol of our city, the Gateway Arch, with the interior of the park, to the brick and steel design that reflects the architecture of historic local land-marks, to state-of-the-art amenities, the Cardinals new ballpark will exceed your expectations of what a “Field of Dreams” was meant to be.

The new Cardinals ballpark will be built mostly on the parking lot directly south of Busch Stadium. While the site allows fans to enjoy many of the same conveniences related to parking and interstate access, the new ballpark’s relationship to its urban surroundings will be radically different than Busch Stadium’s. Most obvious is the repositioning of the seating bowl to face northeast, providing those inside the ballpark a spectacular view of the downtown riverfront skyline, including the Gateway Arch. This view is made possible by the absence of significant structural obstacles in the outfield, particularly in left field.

Moreover, the northeast corner of the ballpark site is 30 feet higher than the southwest corner. This elevation change, coupled with the “sunken” playing field, will allow pedestrians along Clark Street, as well as tenants of commercial and residential property in the adjacent Ballpark Village, to have a magnificent view into the ballpark. Clark Street, as illustrated by the site plan below, will be reconnected after the demolition of Busch Stadium, helping to define the Ballpark Village to the north. The entire, collective effect creates an exciting relationship between the stadium and the surrounding urban streetscape.