Sports and Recreation

     The 2005 season marked the beloved St. Louis Cardinals' 114th year as a baseball franchise and also their final year playing at venerable Busch Stadium, which opened in 1966. Diehard fans had two big reasons to celebrate in 2006: The new Busch Stadium opened on schedule, and the Cardinals won the World Series--their first in 24 years--on the home field against the Detroit Tigers.
     The improved design of the ballpark offers wider concourses, elevators and escalators between levels and excellent spectator sightlines, as well as dramatic views of downtown and the Gateway Arch. For schedule and ticket information phone (314) 345-9600.
     Minor league baseball fun is offered by the Frontier League Western Division's River City Rascals at the Ozzie Smith Sports Complex in O'Fallon, about 35 miles west of downtown St. Louis; phone (636) 240-2287.
     The St. Louis Rams play football at the Edward Jones Dome at America's Center; phone (314) 982-7267. The arena football season runs from March through June for the Show-Me Believers at St. Charles Family Arena; phone (636) 896-4200.
     The St. Louis Blues professional hockey team, (314) 622-2500, takes to the ice October through April at the Savvis Center, 14th and Clark streets. The St. Charles Family Arena is the home of the Missouri River Otters minor-league hockey team as well as the St. Louis Steamers indoor soccer team; phone (636) 896-4200. The St. Louis Aces, (314) 647-2237, play team tennis in July at Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park.
     Gateway International Raceway in nearby Madison, Ill., offers marquee motorsports events, including NHRA National, Indy Car Championship, stock and sports car events; phone (618) 482-2400.
     Fairmont Park in nearby Collinsville, Ill., offers Thoroughbred racing mid-March through October; phone (618) 345-4300. There are many golf courses throughout the area, including a public course at Ruth Park, 8211 Groby Rd., and three public courses at Forest Park.
     Horseback riding is one of many recreational activities available at A.P. Greensfelder Park, north of I-44 on Allenton Road in nearby Pacific. The Wayne C. Kennedy Recreation Complex, on Wells Road, and Edgar M. Queeny Park, between Mason and Weidmann roads, offer ice skating, tennis and swimming. Ice skating and roller skating are popular at the Steinberg Memorial Skating Rink in Forest Park.