Troy and Ali Reider of New Baden, Ill., dance while tailgating before the home opener for the UFL鈥檚 狐狸视频 Battlehawks, who played the Arlington Renegades at The Dome at America鈥檚 Center on Saturday.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Tyler Gray, sporting a Battlehawks shirt, and his wife Samantha Gray, from Alton, walk to Busch Stadium for a game between the Miami Marlins and the 狐狸视频 Cardinals in downtown 狐狸视频 on Saturday, April 6, 2024. The couple also have tickets for the Battlehawks game later and parked their car down by the Dome to tailgate before the Battlehawks game after the Cardinals game. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Sports fans walk to Busch Stadium for a game between the Miami Marlins and the 狐狸视频 Cardinals in downtown 狐狸视频 on Saturday, April 6, 2024.
David Carson, Post-Dispatch
"We came out for the games today," said Edmond Artice IV, who plays the trombone with the Spiritual Uplifters, who perform for fans before the games open for a MLS game between 狐狸视频 City SC and FC Dallas on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at CityPark in 狐狸视频, Mo. The band was down at Busch earlier in the day for the Cardinals game and even checked out the Battlehawks game but it was too crowded. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
Sophie Goeller, 13, of Kirkwood takes a shot during a kids game on Lou Fusz Plaza before the gates to open for a MLS game between 狐狸视频 City SC and FC Dallas on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at CityPark in 狐狸视频, Mo. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
ST. LOUIS 鈥 Things got started early at Jack Patrick鈥檚 Bar and Grill on Saturday.
Before the clock struck noon, there were Cardinals fans chowing down on a pregame meal, sports blaring on the televisions, and five men from Wisconsin drinking beer while wearing jerseys that read: 鈥淜awuella,鈥 鈥淜awnsas,鈥 鈥淜akawvin,鈥 鈥淜awmeleon 3000,鈥 and 鈥淜abob.鈥
Starved for football with college football and the Green Bay Packers season over, they鈥檇 adopted 狐狸视频鈥 United Football League team to tide them over last year and gotten hooked.
鈥淭he people are so happy to have a team again, and they just hate Stan Kroenke,鈥 said Kody Kanas. 鈥淭he games are crazy.鈥
鈥淎nd let鈥檚 be honest,鈥 said Kevin Armstrong, 鈥渨e鈥檙e just looking for an excuse to party.鈥
They were in the right place Saturday. An estimated 100,000 fans were expected to flood downtown on a day when the stars aligned for 狐狸视频 sports.
For the first time in recent memory, three 狐狸视频 professional sports teams were scheduled to play home games on the same day, within walking distance from each other: The Cardinals had the Marlins at Busch Stadium. 狐狸视频 City SC had FC Dallas at CityPark. And the Battlehawks had plans to take on the Arlington Defenders in front of the largest crowd for a professional spring football game ever.
It was a nice boost for a city center that鈥檚 taken some lumps in recent years. The pandemic emptied its hotels and offices. High-profile shootings, out-of-control driving and late-night mayhem have refueled narratives about lawlessness. But it remains an economic and entertainment powerhouse and the region鈥檚 great convener.
A short walk north from Jack Patrick鈥檚, the brunch spot Rooster was bursting with patrons and Washington Avenue was bustling with shoppers, sports fans and people going to the Oddities and Curiosities Expo at the convention center.
To the south, red-shirted fans were beginning their familiar parade from their parking lots into Busch Stadium.
Among those waiting for others to meet them at the Stan Musial statue off South Eighth Street was Al Lichtenstein, a 61-year-old from south 狐狸视频 County wearing a Cardinals shirt and a City SC cap. He and group of friends were going to a game while their wives were at a baby shower. Two of them had already gone in to get the complimentary bobbleheads of team icons Jason Isringhausen or Jose Oquendo.
Like many Cardinals fans, he said he鈥檚 hopeful that the new season will be better than the last, but he鈥檚 not counting on it yet. He doesn鈥檛 trust management to spend the money it takes to win. 鈥淚 think we got by too long on the cheap,鈥 he said.
Chris Baumgartner, 67, was more optimistic. He likes the team and manager Oli Marmol. And he was more focused on the day itself.
鈥淚 came down today especially because I thought there would be a good crowd,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd there鈥檚 a lot of electricity.鈥
He said he might try to go to one of the other games afterward. As it happened, there was a scalper nearby who said he had tickets to all the games.
What鈥檚 selling the best, someone asked. 鈥淎ll of them,鈥 he said.
A little while later, as the Cardinals took an early lead on the Marlins en route to winning their second game in a row, the first City SC fans began to arrive at the pubs around CityPark.
Ryan Burge, a 29-year-old from Granite City, was on his way to Syberg鈥檚 when he stopped to marvel at the day and wonder how it could be better.
鈥淭hey should have had the Blues play, too,鈥 he said.
Two big saves in the second half by goalkeeper Roman Burki kept the game tied for City SC, which couldn't score either and played a 0-0 tie wi…
Troy and Ali Reider of New Baden, Ill., dance while tailgating before the home opener for the UFL鈥檚 狐狸视频 Battlehawks, who played the Arlington Renegades at The Dome at America鈥檚 Center on Saturday.
Tyler Gray, sporting a Battlehawks shirt, and his wife Samantha Gray, from Alton, walk to Busch Stadium for a game between the Miami Marlins and the 狐狸视频 Cardinals in downtown 狐狸视频 on Saturday, April 6, 2024. The couple also have tickets for the Battlehawks game later and parked their car down by the Dome to tailgate before the Battlehawks game after the Cardinals game. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
"We came out for the games today," said Edmond Artice IV, who plays the trombone with the Spiritual Uplifters, who perform for fans before the games open for a MLS game between 狐狸视频 City SC and FC Dallas on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at CityPark in 狐狸视频, Mo. The band was down at Busch earlier in the day for the Cardinals game and even checked out the Battlehawks game but it was too crowded. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Five men from Wisconsin, in 狐狸视频 Saturday to see the Battlehawks, wore jerseys that read: 鈥淜awuella,鈥 鈥淜awnsas,鈥 鈥淜akawvin,鈥 鈥淜awmeleon 3000,鈥 and 鈥淜abob.鈥
Sophie Goeller, 13, of Kirkwood takes a shot during a kids game on Lou Fusz Plaza before the gates to open for a MLS game between 狐狸视频 City SC and FC Dallas on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at CityPark in 狐狸视频, Mo. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com