St. Louis has been named the best baseball city in the nation by Time magazine, ESPN, and Bleacher Report, among others. And while watching the game, and the excitement on the field at Busch Stadium is the main draw for most fans, there is also a lot of action to take in, both in and around the stadium as well. 
Before the game, there are countless activities a short distance away from Busch Stadium. The revitalization of downtown within the last decade has created new hotspots in the city. 
City Garden was built in 2009, thanks to a grant from the St. Louis Gateway Foundation. The downtown sculpture park takes up two city blocks and features a water pad, 24 original sculptures, and a restaurant. City Garden is consistently busy throughout the day, but the crowd swells before Cards home games as it is a popular pre-game destination. 
Yet the park does nothing out of the ordinary to attract people. “It is simply the garden’s popularity. It has absolutely surpassed the designers expectations,” Paul Wagman, a spokesperson for City Garden explained. “It’s a very friendly and inviting place.”
Wagman says that City Garden was designed to attract people from all walks of life: young, old, black, white, art lovers, nature lovers, and so on. “There is nothing that says ‘This place is too good for you,’” Wagman continued. “There are no ‘Do Not Touch’ signs. You can see kids climbing all over some sculptures.” 
The action continues when the game starts. Busch Stadium has many activities even during the game. One great one is the Family Pavilion in left field. 
“The family pavilion is recommended for kids, including younger teens,” said Julia Row, who manages Busch Stadium on non-game days. “There are batting cages, which are fun for all ages, a play area, and a great view of the game,” Another event Row spoke about was theme nights. Some recent themes include Jewish Night at the park, Mizzou Night, and Grateful Dead Night. “These are games where, with a special ticket, you can receive a giveaway. For Jewish Night, there have been giveaways including yarmulkes and Star of David Cardinal hats,” Row says.
The Cardinals are lucky to have so many legends living in St. Louis. If you love the Cardinals greats, Row recommends the speaker series. 
“Hall of Famers come in during non-game days,” she said. “Before the event there is a photo opportunity with the World Series Trophy of that player’s era. The player will speak for a bit and then do a 90-minute question and answer session with one of the Fox Sports Midwest anchors. Recent players have included Bob Gibson and Ozzie Smith.” 
Once the Cardinals have brought home a win, it’s time to head over to Ballpark Village. The new complex is what the designers of Busch have been dreaming of since its groundbreaking. The beautiful facility prominently features massive television screens, restaurants and great seating areas. 
Still, some people don’t know what Ballpark Village has in store. “For teens I recommend Busch 2, our outside patio area just west of Ballpark Village. It is very family friendly, featuring a 24-foot outdoor screen, washers, corn hole games, and hotdog stands,” said Brett Singleton, marketing director for BallPark Village. “The space is also available for teens to use for events. I would say it is the perfect spot for a fundraiser or birthday party.” 
Ballpark Village brings a great new aspect to Busch Stadium. The year-long fixation of Cardinal culture is great for the whole city. Fans  love the whole feel of the stadium and surrounding area. 
“My favorite thing about Busch Stadium is the atmosphere. You might get a better view on TV at home, but nothing beats being at the game,” says Ben Remis, a sophomore at John Burroughs and Shaare Emeth congregant.
Most of the highlighted areas are very recent additions. The revitalization of downtown in the past few years has clearly benefited Cardinal nation. Who knows what will come next for the area?