Cardinals & Anheuser-Busch extend longstanding iconic hometown partnership
ST. LOUIS, Mo., December 13, 2023 – The St. Louis Cardinals and the world’s leading brewer, Anheuser-Busch, announced today that the two historic St. Louis institutions have agreed to a five-year extension of their long-term marketing agreement through 2030.
The agreement maintains Anheuser-Busch’s exclusivity on all alcoholic beverage advertising on all Cardinals radio and television broadcasts, promotions, use of the team logo, and stadium signage, along with an extension of Busch Stadium naming rights.
“It is through our sponsorships of leagues, teams and stadiums across the county that we are able to continue our rich tradition of bringing fans closer to the sports they love,” said Matt Davis, Vice President of Partnerships, Anheuser-Busch. “Anheuser-Busch and the Cardinals are part of the fabric of St. Louis, and this continued investment in our shared hometown is an exciting next chapter in our decades long story.”
The two organizations have been intertwined and synonymous with baseball in St. Louis for over 70 years, since Anheuser-Busch purchased the Cardinals in 1953 and then, one month later, bought Sportsman’s Park from the St. Louis Browns and renamed it “Busch Stadium”. The brewer was instrumental in building a new downtown stadium in the mid-1960s, and named it “Busch Memorial Stadium” when it opened in 1966. Anheuser-Busch then sold the Cardinals to the current ownership group led by Cardinals Chairman and CEO William O. DeWitt Jr. in 1995, with the two sides agreeing to a marketing relationship that continues to this day.
“We are honored to continue our partnership with Anheuser-Busch, which is such an important part of our identity as an organization,” stated Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III. “For over 70 years, Anheuser-Busch has championed the success of the Cardinals and the St. Louis community, and we are thrilled that this will continue for many more years.”
The extension also includes a five-year extension of Anheuser-Busch’s marketing agreement with Ballpark Village, the vibrant mixed-used neighborhood adjacent to Busch Stadium. This includes Anheuser-Busch’s rights to advertise a variety of beer brands, as well as the continuation of the Budweiser Brewhouse Restaurant, Bud Deck Rooftop and Sports & Social, the one-of-a-kind sports bar and social lounge.
“Anheuser-Busch has been a founding partner of Ballpark Village since we opened our doors 10 years ago, and we are excited for this next chapter together,” said Mike LaMartina, Chief Operating Officer of Ballpark Village. “Synonymous with St. Louis, sports and entertainment – Budweiser and the Anheuser-Busch family of brands continue to join us in creating unique experiences for the millions of fans who visit Ballpark Village before, during and after Cardinals games every season.”
Anheuser-Busch is the longest standing sponsor of Major League Baseball dating back to 1980, with Budweiser currently serving as the league’s co-exclusive beer sponsor, and includes collaborative partnerships with 18 MLB Clubs across the league and MLB events.
BUDWEISER 703 CLUB – BUSCH STADIUM’S NEW ALL-INCLUSVE TICKETED SEATING AREA
The St. Louis Cardinals also announced today the construction of Busch Stadium’s newest all-inclusive seating area, Budweiser 703 Club, that will debut for the 2024 season. The club will be located in left field on the second level of the ballpark (former location of the Budweiser Bowtie Bar & Left Field Porch) and will incorporate design elements saluting Cardinals legend Albert Pujols’ historical 703 career home runs.
The Budweiser 703 Club will feature a glass exterior design with open views to both the playing field and Ballpark Village. Ticket holders will have exclusive access to a private climate-controlled indoor lounge and an upgraded reserved outdoor seating experience complete with comfortable mesh seats and sharable tables.
The team’s first new all-inclusive area since 2017 will introduce a variety of food and beverage stations throughout the club in lieu of the traditional single buffet set-up, with an open kitchen concept that will allow fans to see their food prepared before them. Enhanced food and beverage station offerings will include:
- House made stone-fired pizzas served fresh from the oven
- Pasta station featuring fresh pasta prepared daily in the club paired with delicious house made sauces
- Freshly-grilled hot dogs, bratwursts and smash burgers, the latter of which has traditionally been served exclusively in the Owner’s Suite
- Variety of individually-portioned salads, including fresh hand-tossed Caesar
- Full nacho bar and shrimp cocktail shooters
- Dessert stations featuring soft-serve ice cream
- Additional “grab-n-go” snacks and beverages
- Full-service bar serving beer, mixed drinks, wine, hard seltzers, frozen drinks, and a variety of Coca-Cola products.
“Budweiser 703 Club will introduce a brand new way for fans to enjoy and entertain at the ballpark, said Joe Strohm, Cardinals Vice President of Ticket Sales. “We’re excited to showcase this new all-inclusive food and beverage stations concept and provide our guests with another enjoyable and comfortable gameday experience option.”
Tickets to Budweiser 703 Club for the upcoming season are on-sale now and start as low as $99. For more information about Busch Stadium’s newest all-inclusive seating option, visit cardinals.com/703club.