St. Louis Cardinals hospitality!

[Snuffy]

30 years ago, I was staying in a downtown St. Louis hotel that was within walking distance of the stadium.  The Cards were playing the Astros.  Since the game was not on local TV and I was too cheap to buy a ticket, I walked by the stadium during the game while listening to the game on the radio. 

Suddenly, the gates were opened and there were plenty of seats!!!  Turns out the gates were opened each night during the bottom of the 7th inning, apparently allowing walk-in traffic!  Returned the next night, enjoying the last 2.5 innings of two Astros wins!!!  It was great and the price was right!

Have you ever heard of another ball club that allows or did offer this freebie?  Surely, much depends on the neighborhood, but St. Louis was great!

[toddthebod]

My dad told me that when he was growing up in Brooklyn, the Dodgers would let the kids in for free after the 7th inning.

When I was growing up, the guards at the Summit would let us into the Rockets game for free in the 4th quarter.  But that was definitely not team policy. 

[juliogotay]

30 years ago, I was staying in a downtown St. Louis hotel that was within walking distance of the stadium.  The Cards were playing the Astros.  Since the game was not on local TV and I was too cheap to buy a ticket, I walked by the stadium during the game while listening to the game on the radio. 

Suddenly, the gates were opened and there were plenty of seats!!!  Turns out the gates were opened each night during the bottom of the 7th inning, apparently allowing walk-in traffic!  Returned the next night, enjoying the last 2.5 innings of two Astros wins!!!  It was great and the price was right!

Have you ever heard of another ball club that allows or did offer this freebie?  Surely, much depends on the neighborhood, but St. Louis was great!

I think that is a smart idea. Your future fanbase.

[Duman]

It is true at most minor league parks as well. 

[Navin R Johnson]

30 years ago, I was staying in a downtown St. Louis hotel that was within walking distance of the stadium.  The Cards were playing the Astros.  Since the game was not on local TV and I was too cheap to buy a ticket, I walked by the stadium during the game while listening to the game on the radio. 

Suddenly, the gates were opened and there were plenty of seats!!!  Turns out the gates were opened each night during the bottom of the 7th inning, apparently allowing walk-in traffic!  Returned the next night, enjoying the last 2.5 innings of two Astros wins!!!  It was great and the price was right!

Have you ever heard of another ball club that allows or did offer this freebie?  Surely, much depends on the neighborhood, but St. Louis was great!

They used to do it at Minute Maid.  I did this a bunch in the mid 2000s.  Pound cheaper beers near the park then walk over if it was a good game and walk in for the last 2 innings.