The St. Louis Cardinals historically have a very strong, loyal fan base. However, it's been a struggled in 2025 for the Cardinals to fill Busch Stadium.
In the first 15 years of the 21st century, St. Louis made the playoffs 11 times and won a World Series. Since then, the Cardinals have made the playoffs four times in the last 10 years, and haven't been back since 2022.
Two longtime Cardinals players and former All-Stars recently opened up on why they believe fans haven't been attending games in 2025.
Holliday, Lynn Give their Perspective on St. Louis' Low Attendance
Seven time All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday and two time All-Star pitcher Lance Lynn spent eight and seven years, respectively, with the Cardinals throughout their MLB careers.
St. Louis' record-low attendance this season is tough to see for the former players, but Lynn offered some reasoning behind why the numbers are so bad in 2025.
"I would tell you that it's a couple different things: non contending, kind of over it, disgusted it a little bit with the way the organization's kind of gone about this season, I would say, of not really adding or anything like that, and subtracting at the deadline and schools back in session," Lynn said. "So when you have all of those come into one at this time of year, you're not going to get fans in the stands. It doesn't matter who you are or what kind of fan base you have."
Everything Lynn listed adds up. The Cardinals haven't been to the playoffs in three years, and the team hasn't added any new stars to help get back to the postseason either.
Tonight’s paid Cardinals attendance of 17,675 was the lowest in the history of Busch Stadium III, and the first time they’ve ever sold under 20,000
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 26, 2025
(h/t @dgoold) pic.twitter.com/IkHK7XNkZ6
Holliday agreed with Lynn, and added that it's hard to watch Busch Stadium look so empty.
"I mean, you're just not used to watching highlights or watching a game in St Louis and seeing that many empty seats. It's like Lance said, I mean, I think the fan base has not dwindled or disappeared," Holliday said. "I just think that, you know, people are a little bit frustrated, you know that it's been a few years now that they don't feel like there's been a real chance, I think, to win a World Series.
"Despite, you know, the organization sort of putting it out there that there's going to be a transition period and a rebuild or reload, or whatever it is. I think people are obviously want to go to games that are meaningful, and it's just been in a struggle the last few years."
Through 73 home games this season, the Cardinals are averaging 27,834 fans per game. That is the lowest mark since 1995, except for the COVID-19 season.
It's obvious that fans are frustrated with the production on the field, and now it's affecting the Cardinals' ability to fill seats.