Busch 2.5 & 3

[stlfan]

Many people on here probably don't know the full story on design ideas for when the Cardinals were considering a new stadium in the late 1990's. I bought a Cardinals Busch Stadium III Commemorative Yearbook last year and it goes through the whole process of the conception of the new stadium to the finished product.

What many didn't know were the design ideas to save Busch II. Here are several design proposals that the owners went through in an effort to possibly renovate and keep Busch II. The first photo rendering considered taking out almost all of the outfield upper deck seating and replacing them with standing-room balconies. The second idea was to knock out the whole outfield structure and try an outfield scoreboard set-up like at U.S. Cellular. The 3rd idea was to knock out all but the first several rows of the upper deck seating to get a view of the skyline but keep the overall circular seating bowl. The 4th option was similar to option 2.

[nymdan]

Shea Stadium Midwest

[stlfan]

Busch 3

Here are early designs for Busch 3.

The first is a blueprint of the stadium. For the most part the seating bowl is how it is today but the outfield seating is somewhat different. The loge level continued out to centerfield and the bleacher seating arrangement in deep right center is different. Also there is a significant wedge of seating at field level in the right field corner that is cut out, similar to Turner Field. I'm guessing this is where equipment would have been brought in and taken out. The left field wall near the corner juts in considerably due to the seats.

The second shows a panorama from the first base side. The style and seating configuration is way different than what they went with. Thank god they didn't go with the G.A.B.P inspired wedge at about third base. Team offices would have been in a building beyond center field with the scoreboard on top. Another "Eads Bridge" type entrance would have been out in right field.

The 3rd illustration shows the "Eads Bridge" entrance where the Stan Musial statue is. I actually like this architectural style. It is even more reflective of the historical architecture in St. Louis. This was one of the first renderings of the ballpark that we in St. Louis saw.

The 4th design is of the same entrance with a different style and green trusses. I am so glad they did not go with this design.

[JWB13]

Here are early designs for Busch 3.

The first is a blueprint of the stadium. For the most part the seating bowl is how it is today but the outfield seating is somewhat different. The loge level continued out to centerfield and the bleacher seating arrangement in deep right center is different. Also there is a significant wedge of seating at field level in the right field corner that is cut out, similar to Turner Field. I'm guessing this is where equipment would have been brought in and taken out. The left field wall near the corner juts in considerably due to the seats.

The second shows a panorama from the first base side. The style and seating configuration is way different than what they went with. Thank god they didn't go with the G.A.B.P inspired wedge at about third base. Team offices would have been in a building beyond center field with the scoreboard on top. Another "Eads Bridge" type entrance would have been out in right field.

The 3rd illustration shows the "Eads Bridge" entrance where the Stan Musial statue is. I actually like this architectural style. It is even more reflective of the historical architecture in St. Louis. This was one of the first renderings of the ballpark that we in St. Louis saw.

The 4th design is of the same entrance with a different style and green trusses. I am so glad they did not go with this design.

I guess I'm in the minority, but I liked these plans better than the one the Cards eventually chose.

And I'm glad they nixed those proposals for Busch II.

[stlfan]

Here are more early designs for Busch 3.

The first photo is how the "Eads Bridge" entrance basically looks today.

The second image is the same entrance design from 2003 with green colored iron work and a more modern look in the placement of awnings around the entrance. This too is a design I am glad they didn't go with.

The third image looks to be of the same design as the second one. The major differences to the final design is the structure of the stadium at the corner of Clark and 8th (left field corner) and the "Eads Bridge" entrance in right field. That part of the design eliminates how far back the bleachers go. It also looks like the loge level and the front sections of the upper deck extend one section more towards center than the finished design. There are also 2 light towers in right instead of 1.

The 4th design is close to what they eventually built. The iron work is green though as are the seats.

[stlfan]

Yet, even more.

The first one is a different angle of the 3rd one shown in my previous post.

The second image is a different angle of the last image shown in my previous post, except the seats aren't even colorized. The iron work is still green at this phase of the design.

The third image shows the main entrance in earlier designs. There is different brickwork design than what they went with in the final design, as well as brick "connectors" near the top of the arches. The signage is also white instead of red.

[The Monument]

Cool stuff. All of that was in a Cards yearbook? Or a Special Edition book? I might try to find one of those.

[JohnCropp]

Man, I really like that first Busch II with the arches across the outfield. I don't know how practicle it would have been, but it would have been a nice change. At least for a few years.

Can't help but note the lack of altering to the shadows across the outfield.

[NYBase]

This would've been sweeter. Too bad.

[stlfan]

I like it too, but I don't like everything in this design. I definately don't like the "wedge" in the seating at the loge and upper deck at 3rd base. I like the team offices beyond center field with the scoreboard on top, but I think they might have nixed this because it doesn't give as nice of a view of downtown that you have at the stadium now. I also like the picnic area in right with a large open concourse. That would have been neat seeing homeruns land there. I really wish they would have gone with the archtectural style, though the overall structure (elevator and stair towers) are similar to what they ended up doing. Overall, I really like the way the stadium turned out. There were a lot of the earlier designs that I disliked.

[stlfan]

Ok, here are even more from the yearbook. It's called "Cardinals '06 Busch Stadium Commemorative Yearbook." It was published by the St. Louis Cardinals.

This first one is even closer to the chosen design except it too has a brick "connector" near the top of the arches. This image is of the corner at the left field corner.

The second one shows the inside close to how it was actually built. The differneces are of course the green seats and the green painted iron work. Also, it looks like they were going to have an enclosed restaurant in left field where they eventually put the small "Casino Queen Party Porch" mini section between field level and the upper deck. I am glad they went with the "Party Porch" instead.

The last one is a bad scan, but it was hard since the photo was in the center of the book. The scoreboard looks very different than what they went with. I like the design they chose to use. Also this design still has the "Eads Bridge" entrance in right field and no bleachers behind the Cardinals bullpen. The loge and upper deck design still extends one more section further out than what they went with in the final version.

[Phantom Dreamer]

I like this option. Too bad it was never realized.

[Phantom Dreamer]

Shea Stadium Midwest

Much classier than Shea. Too bad the old Busch wasn't saved, it was much more distinctive than the current stadium.