The Cardinals are opening Busch Stadium to more fans -- and just in time for the biggest home series of the young season.

The club announced on Tuesday that it was granted approval from St. Louis and the city health department to double its capacity from the current 32 percent admittance starting with the series opener against the Cubs on May 21, increasing to around 30,000 fans. Tickets for the rivalry series -- sold in pods -- are on sale now, with tickets for the first two home series in June also available for purchase.

In unveiling the capacity increase, the Cardinals in tandem announced that they are hosting a three-day COVID-19 vaccine clinic with the city at the Cardinals Club at Busch Stadium through Friday. Each individual who receives a vaccine at the event will receive a voucher good for two free tickets to a 2021 Cardinals game, with sign-ups available for those 16 and older through the department of health.

“As more of our residents make the choice to become vaccinated, in tandem with the Cardinals leadership’s efforts to have stadium-goers follow COVID-19 safety protocols, we believe more fans can be allowed into Busch Stadium without impacting the critical work our community has done to limit the spread of [SARS-CoV-2],” said Dr. Fredrick Echols, acting director of health for St. Louis. “As the Cardinals take this latest step toward a new normal, we all must continue to comply with the city’s COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue efforts to reopen the economy in a safe and responsible manner.”

All prior established safety measures will continue to be in effect with the expanded attendance, including the requirement of approved face masks, mobile-only ticketing, cashless transactions and other efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing will still be in effect, but pods will now be spaced out by three feet after starting the year at six feet spacing. All safety and return to ballpark information can be found on the Cardinals' website.

The Cardinals -- one team with at least 85 percent of its traveling party (players, coaches, trainers, etc.) to have received their vaccines -- also plan to host a vaccine event in St. Louis County at a later date.

“We are thankful for the guidance provided by Mayor Tishaura Jones’ office and Dr. Echols in helping us safely increase our capacity at Busch Stadium,” said Cardinals president Bill DeWitt III. “We are also proud to partner with the City of St. Louis in their effort to vaccinate more fans and encourage those who haven’t been vaccinated yet to come down to the ballpark, get your vaccine and enjoy a Cardinals game on us later this year.”