Attendance uncertainties loom as Cardinals begin 2026 season
ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Cardinals open their 2026 season at home Thursday at Busch Stadium III against the Tampa Bay Rays.
And, while many expect the stadium to be full or at near-capacity for the home opener, the rest of the season could tell a very different story in terms of home attendance. The Cardinals have missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. Last season, fan frustration over the direction of their beloved franchise appeared to show in the team’s home game attendance, as indicated by several different statistical markers.
According to Baseball Reference , last year the Cardinals had the lowest attendance in a non-pandemic season since 1997. It was also the first time they had fewer than 3,000,000 tickets sold for such a season since 2003. And, in late August , the redbirds set a new record-low in fan attendance at Busch Stadium III.
How to watch St. Louis Cardinals games in 2026: Cardinals. TV and beyond The franchise has since taken multiple steps to attract fans back to the ballpark, including introducing new all-you-can eat tickets that give fans in select sections unlimited access to classic ballpark staples and Coca-Cola beverages throughout the game.
On Wednesday, we caught up with fans and a longtime ticket booker to get their takes on the 2026 attendance outlook for the Cardinals as the franchise embarks on its 145 th season. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved.