Spring 2007 issue of Horizons

AN INTERVIEW WITH Mark Lamping – St. Louis Cardinals

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: A Case for Civic Commitment A few weeks ago, the HORIZONS editorial staff had the privilege of sitting down with Mark Lamping, president of the St. Louis Cardinals, to discuss commitment. Overlooking the new Busch Stadium, where fans were streaming toward the Cardinals’ new $400 million ballpark, one is struck by the economic impact and vibrancy of the Cardinals’ new flagship stadium. Our $400 million new ballpark, combined with the planned $650 million Ballpark Village development, represents more than $1 billionwewill invest into downtown St. Louis. We believe our investment has provided the momentum for additional downtown redevelopment, especially in the southeast quadrant of downtown. Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village serve as a great bridge from the south part of downtown to the Old Post Office and Washington Avenue districts. Now we’re seeing extensive development going on at Cupples Station with lofts, apartments, offices and retail. It’s really starting to gel. What’s the status of the Ballpark Village development? It’s moving along as expected. Something this big takes considerable time to develop. It just doesn’t happen overnight. Our fans travel from throughout the Midwest to attend Cardinal games and are always looking for things to do before and after the game. We believe a great opportunity exists for redeveloping the old Busch Stadium site. The elevation is such that buildings in Ballpark Village will have great views into the new ballpark. It’s also close to St. Louis’ central business district, so it’s absolutely the best location for this type of mixed-use development. Our goal is to create a new neighborhood to support the millions of Cardinals fans who visit the ballpark each year. At the same time, we want to provide something special for the people who live and work downtown. It’s a multi-use destination development, with a great mix of entertainment, retail, office and residential spaces – contained in more than 450,000 square feet of new development covering six city blocks. How would you rank Busch stadium and St. Louis fans? Our ballpark is the finest in the world because it is filled with the best fans in baseball. It’s an unbelievable combination. Frankly, we would not have received the 2009 All-Star bid without our new stadium. Editor’s note: The coveted annual 2009 All-Star Game will be played in St. Louis at Busch Stadium on July 7, 2009. How much have the St. Louis Cardinals invested in downtown St. Louis?

What’s the economic impact of the Cardinals on the St. Louis economy? Without question, it’s huge. During the summer, almost 40 percent of our fans travel more than 100 miles to see a game. That draw has a tremendous impact on area restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions. A number of area businesses are solely dependent on the Cardinals for their continued success. More than 1,000 employees in nearby businesses are directly impacted by our operations. There are various estimates of our financial impact on the city out there, but the RCGA tells us our economic impact is well in excess of $200 million annually. Can you talk a little more about the financing of the ballpark? The financing of our new ballpark was very unique. Unlike most new ballparks across the country, which are publicly owned and financed, our new ballpark is privately owned and privately financed. To be able to privately finance a ballpark in a market the size of St. Louis is a real tribute to our fans and the commitment of Cardinals ownership. Giving back to St. Louis and being part of this community is fundamental to the St. Louis Cardinals. Last year, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Cardinals Care, the team’s charitable foundation. Founded in 1997, Cardinals Care is designed to help children in the St. Louis area through a variety of partnerships, programs and funding to groups that support kids. While recognizing our 10th anniversary in 2006, Cardinals Care donated nearly $2 million to local organizations, bringing the total it has given since its founding to more than $10 million. Let’s talk more about commitment. How does that play out for the Cardinals?

13 u summer 2007 issue