2024 Cardinals Opening Day Schedule and Details

2024 OPENING DAY IN ST. LOUIS – SCHEDULE & DETAILS

Cardinals to Open Home Schedule Against Miami Marlins at 3:15 PM CT; Gates Open at 12:00 PM & Pregame Ceremonies Begin at 2:30 PM

ST. LOUIS, Mo., April 1, 2024 – A pregame ceremony that introduces the 2024 St. Louis Cardinals, honors the club’s Hall of Famers and celebrates the great tradition of Opening Day in St. Louis will highlight the annual return of baseball at Busch Stadium on Thursday, April 4.  The Cardinals will open their 2024 home schedule against the Miami Marlins at 3:15 PM CT.  An Opening Day timeline and schedule information can be found below and at cardinals.com/OpeningDay to help fans enjoy the unofficial holiday that is #OpeningDaySTL:

Pregame Schedule

• 10:00 AM – 12:30 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 2024 games.
• 12:00 PM: Busch Stadium Gates Open
  2024 Cardinals Magnet Schedule: All fans, ages 21 and older, will receive a magnet featuring the 2024 Cardinals schedule, compliments of Budweiser.
• 12:05 – 12:55 PM: Cardinals batting practice (subject to change)
• 1:00 – 1:50 PM: Marlins 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 at home plate
  Introduction of Cardinals Hall of Famers via 2024 Ford Mustang convertible motorcade
  #ForTheLou – Welcome Back Hometown Heroes who played for the Cardinals
• 2:48 PM: Introduction of the 2024 St. Louis Cardinals via Ford F-150 truck motorcade
  Introduction of the Miami Marlins
• 3:00 PM: National Anthem performance by country music artist Michael B. Whit with Color Guard presentation by the Ft. Leonard Wood Joint Service Color Guard
  Ceremonial First Pitch by Members of the 2004 National League Championship Team
• 3:15 PM: First Pitch by Cardinals Opening Day starting pitcher Lance Lynn

Forecasted Weather

Partly to mostly cloudy.  High 52° F.  Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.

Television Coverage

The Home Opener airs on Bally Sports Midwest and streams on the Bally Sports app.  An extended edition of Cardinals Live pregame begins at 1:30 PM on Bally Sports Midwest and will include live coverage of the pregame ceremonies inside Busch Stadium. 

Chip Caray and Jim Edmonds will call the game, with Jim Hayes serving as reporter.  Alexa Datt, Brad Thompson and Al Hrabosky will host pregame and postgame coverage inside Busch Stadium.

Radio Coverage

Fans can tune into KMOX 1120 AM, 98.7 FM, or one of the other 146 stations in the Cardinals Radio Network to hear John Rooney, Ricky Horton, and Mike Claiborne call the game.  The Ameren Total Access Show starts at 1:35 PM and will include live coverage of the pregame ceremonies inside Busch Stadium.

Fans can tune in locally to WIJR 880 AM “La Tremenda”, or one of the other seven stations in the club’s Cardinals Spanish Radio Network to hear Spanish broadcasters Polo Ascencio and Bengie Molina call the game as well.

FarmTruk: A new local food stand inside the ballpark

Among the new local offerings this season is a ballpark outpost of FarmTruk, the farm-to-table food truck concept created by chef Samantha Mitchell, located in Budweiser Terrace near Section 428.  The menu, drive by fresh, locally sourced, free-range products, includes:

• Reuben Sandwich: Thick-sliced corned beef, Swiss cheese, thousand island, smoked bacon kraut, scratch pickles on marbled rye, served with house chips.
• Brisket Mac: Pulled beef brisket, creamy mac & cheese, Red Hot Riplet crumbles, smoky BBQ, and green onion.
• Pork Belly Jalapeno Popper Sliders: Confit smoked pork belly, candied jalapeno whipped cream cheese, tomato jam, Vitale’s slider buns, served with house chips.
• Chicken Nachos: Scratch queso, chicken thighs, roasted tomato salsa, pickled red onions, candied jalapeno, avocado crema and micro herbs.
• Gooey Butter Cake: Classic vanilla or rotating seasonal offering.

New Concession Items at Busch Stadium

The general concessions at Busch Stadium will feature several new menu items for the 2024 season, including:

• The Slinger Dog: Third-pound, all-beef hot dog topped with fresh-made hash browns, taco meat and two sunny-side-up fried eggs. Complete with a variety of fresh cold and hot toppings.  Available at the Top Dog portable near Section 132.
• Supreme Nacho Fries: French fries topped with nacho cheese, taco meat, salsa, jalapenos and sour cream.  Available near Sections 101, 169, 233, 266 and 450.
• The Triple Play BBQ Box: Half-pound of house-smoked brisket, turkey and pulled pork topped with BBQ seasoning and BBQ sauce. Served with fresh-baked corn bread loafs, potato salad and jalapeno garnish. Available at Broadway BBQ Stand near Section 109.
• Chicken Tenders from Big Chicken: Four freshly prepared, hand-dipped chicken tenders with Big Chicken seasoning.  Available near Sections 135 and 458.
• Chicken Bacon and Swiss Sandwich from Freddy’s: Grilled chicken breast topped with Swiss cheese, bacon and pickles – served on a fresh bun.  Available at Freddy’s Steakburgers near Section 432.
• Wacho! Custard Nachos: Layer of waffle chips with two scoops of Freddy’s custard, topped with chocolate, strawberry, crushed Oreos, sprinkles, whipped cream and a cherry.  Available at Dingers Donuts near Section 151.
• Farmer’s Fridge: New vending machines for fresh salads and sandwiches. Available at two locations: Schnucks Grab N Go Market near Section 158 and inside the Redbird Club.

2024 Economic Impact

Based on a projected regular season attendance of 3 million fans, Greater St. Louis, Inc. and Explore St. Louis estimate the Cardinals to generate a total of $311.1 million in regional economic activity for the upcoming season.  The total amount is comprised of $141.3 million in direct economic impact and $169.8 million in indirect economic impact. Out-of-town visitors are expected to make up approximately 35% of game attendees. 

The analysis uses the economic impact model IMPLAN, which measures how spending tied to an event has multiple impacts and spreads throughout a region, thereby benefiting households and firms within the region.  The direct, indirect, and total economic figures are based on estimates of visitor spending and the economic contribution of the Cardinals and Busch Stadium operations.

2024 Official Team Media Guide

The St. Louis Cardinals Media Guide is the official resource used daily by sportswriters, broadcasters and Cardinals front office staff.  Featuring Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Jordan Walker and newest Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray on the cover, the Cardinals Media Guide contains stats and biographies of every player and coach in the organization and is the best and most comprehensive book about the Cardinals anywhere.

Printed copies of the 2024 Media Guide are available for $20 at the Official Cardinals Team Store at Busch Stadium, inside Cardinals Authentics Shops, at Cardinals Magazine vendor carts inside the ballpark or online at cardinals.com/mediaguide.

Opening Weekend-Long 50/50 Raffle

Ticket sales for the Cardinals Care 2024 Opening Weekend 50/50 Raffle, presented by Draft Kings at Casino Queen, will open online at 9:00 AM CT on Thursday, April 4, and remain open until the end of the 7^th inning on Sunday, April 7.  Tickets can also be purchased at Busch Stadium when gates open until the end of the 7^th inning during games played between April 4-7.

The winning number will be drawn on Sunday, April 7, at the end of the 7^th inning.  One lucky winner will take home half of the total pot, while the other half will go to Cardinals Care to help support the Redbird Rookies youth softball and baseball programs, youth ballfields and grant program that provides much needed funding to area non-profits that support kids.

Raffle tickets are 10 for $10, 60 for $20, and 200 for $50.  Fans must be 18 years of age or older and be located in the state of Missouri at the time of purchase.  For more information or to purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/5050.

Cardinals Care Silent Auctions

Cardinals Care will conduct a Silent Auction throughout the first home series featuring autographed jerseys, baseballs, bats and more beginning on Thursday, April 4, at 9:00 AM CT through Sunday, April 7, at 9:00 PM CT.  Fans can bid online at cardinals.com/ccauctions.

Prohibited Items 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”; food, non-alcoholic beverages in factory-sealed plastic bottles no larger than 2 liters; empty cups, mugs or plastic bottles.
• Fans can visit cardinals.com/security for the complete stadium inspection policy and prohibited items list.

— STL —