BALLPARK VILLAGE HITS A HOME RUN, VIPS SAY NEW DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX OPENS ON AN EVENING FILLED WITH LOCAL DIGNITARIES, CARDINALS

Excerpted March 28, 2014

ith a snip of a Cardinal red ribbon, excitement despite an outcry this week any day at Fox Sports Midwest Live!,” the Ballpark Village entertainment over a controversial dress code posted Fox Sports Midwest Live! posted on andW sports bar development opened with for many of the development’s restau- Facebook. a lot of “wows” Thursday night right next rants, including no jerseys except during door to Busch Stadium. home games. The opening was accompanied by big smiles from Bill DeWitt Jr., Cardinals CEO “It’s a winner,” declared Jack Buck Jr., But the Cardinals announced Thursday and chairman; Bill DeWitt III, Cardinals one of the revelers, who paraphrased afternoon that Fox Sports Midwest Live!, president; David Cordish and his son that favorite of his late father, the beloved the giant sports bar filling the first-floor Blake Cordish of the Cordish Cos., which Cardinals broadcaster. “My dad would atrium, has changed its code to allow co-sponsored the development; Gov. Jay love it. I think it’s fabulous.” jerseys and hats any time. Nixon; and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. All spoke at the grand opening ceremony The $100 million, 120,000-square-foot “We heard you, and you now will be shortly after 5 p.m. on one of the stages first phase of Ballpark Village opened to able to rock your team colors any time, in the Fox Sports Midwest Live! central plaza. The speakers drew cheers and Al Hrabosky, emcee at the grand opening U.S. Marine Sgt. Ian Copeland of standing ovations from the crowd of ceremony, said some may have worried Philadelphia and Cpl. Chester Nash III business and civic leaders, politicos and about whether it would ever be built. of Atlanta got special VIP tickets. While Cardinals stars, past and present. they still root for their home teams, Nash “While many thought this day would nev- said, “I love that St. Louis fans love their A private VIP party for 2,000 people fol- er come.... one thing we should all know team so much.” lowed, and the general public got its first about the St. Louis Cardinals... They are look shortly before 9 p.m., before a free a team that never gives up.” Tamara Adams of Fenton walked in and concert by Third Eye Blind. DeWitt Jr. predicted “fans will fall in love exclaimed: “This is amazing.” She got her with Ballpark Village and all that it has to tickets from a co-worker who received At the party, Ballpark Village’s eateries offer beyond even game days.” them as a gift. and bars provided refreshments, and music, jugglers, bagpipers, a cotton Slay said it would be a regional desti- Adams said she was surprised at the candy lady or two and celebrities added nation that could link with “the exciting strict announced dress code, and to the ambience. Ozzie Smith and other transformation underway at the Arch was pleased to learn it was changed Cardinals greats roamed the crowds. grounds.” Thursday. Baseball jerseys and caps will now be allowed in parts of Ballpark Smith said he visited about 10 days ago. The first phase of Ballpark Village fea- Village. “This is phenomenal,” Smith said. Asked tures Cardinals Nation, the Cardinals whether riding the mechanical bull at multi-story bar and restaurant visible DeWitt III joked about the dress code one of the bars could be as difficult as from the stadium beyond central field. controversy. He noted to the crowd that his famous back flips, he said with a grin: Two employees, Julie Edwards and all the speakers wore Ballpark Village red “That’s a mean bull.” Michael Brown, said their favorite part ties with the signature fleur de lis and two was the outside patio with a clear view baseball bats. This first phase features a into the stadium. 120,000-square-foot building of restau- “Dress code!” he said. rants and bars dedicated to sports and “This is fabulous,” Edwards, a hostess, fun. Cardinals and Cordish executives, said of the night’s festivities. “It’s history.” St. Louis Alderman Phyllis Young, who who secured public and private financ- Other businesses that are part of the represents the ward where the stadium ing, remain hopeful that one day an opening are the Budweiser Brew House, is located, said the excitement was just envisioned residential tower and offices Fox Sports Midwest Live!, PBR St. Louis beginning. will fill the remainder of the 10 acres of — a Cowboy Bar, Howl at the Moon and land set aside for the project. Drunken Fish. “This summer the Cardinals will be great, and a lot of people will be exploring David Cordish said he expects it to spark The Fox Sports venue features one Ballpark Village.” a burst of development with hotels, of- of the largest television screens in the fices and businesses around Ballpark Midwest, as well as a retractable roof, Village. which opened briefly for the festivities.