A decade ago, the Rams left St. Louis and moved to Los Angeles, and it’s been nearly 60 years since professional basketball was played in the city. Nonetheless, the Blues, Cardinals, Battlehawks, and St. Louis City SC are all franchises that have remained loyal to their St. Louis fan base. The city is centered around historically successful sports teams. Over the past century, St. Louis fans have celebrated a Stanley Cup championship, a Super Bowl victory, an NBA championship, and multiple World Series wins. 

No matter which sport you like the most, St. Louis has amazing options to see professional athletes compete. Most teams offer student promotions, making it accessible for WashU students to enjoy a game with their friends without breaking the bank. If professional sports aren’t for you, WashU is home to some of the best teams in all of Division III, no matter the sport. All WashU home games are free to attend and are located right on campus. From D-III to professional sports, St. Louisans are proud of their hometown sports teams.

(Aliana Thomas | Staff Illustrator)

The St. Louis Cardinals

Since 1882, St. Louis residents have enjoyed professional baseball in their city. 44 years after the Cardinals organization was founded, the team won their first-ever World Series trophy in 1926. Over the next few decades, the Cardinals continued to win championships while also having Hall of Fame talent, such as outfielder Stan Musial, who recorded 3,630 career hits. Mark McGwire achieved a new record by hitting 70 home runs in the 1998 season. Most recently, the Cardinals won the 2011 World Series, led by David Freese, Albert Pujols, and Yadier Molina. 

This year is no different than most in the Cardinals’ recent history: they’re sitting in the middle of the National League’s Central Division with a record near .500. The Cardinals are looking to clinch the Wild Card and enter the playoffs for the first time since 2022. 

Rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt has provided a bright spot for the team, leading the Cardinals in wins above replacement (WAR). Recently, outfielder Joshua Báez made history by hitting three home runs in his first career MLB game, including a homer off the first pitch he saw. The young talent has sparked excitement among St. Louis fans, who started the “tarps off” trend. In May, the Stephen F. Austin State University club baseball team decided to go shirtless while at a Cardinals game and wave their shirts in the air. This sparked a nationwide movement: Fans of MLB teams across the country formed a section of shirtless supporters.

The Cardinals play at Busch Stadium, which was built in 2006 and is located in the middle of downtown St. Louis in Ballpark Village. The stadium is a short ride away from the WashU campus on the Metro’s Red and Blue Lines and normally has relatively cheap tickets in the upper sections, especially during College Night.

(Aliana Thomas | Staff Illustrator)

The St. Louis Blues

The Blues joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1967 when the number of teams in the league doubled from six to 12. Quickly, the team reached the Stanley Cup Finals in each of their first three seasons under head coach Scotty Bowman, yet never had the chance to win the Cup. It wasn’t until 2019 that the Blues would make it back to the finals, shocking many hockey fans as the Blues sat dead last in the standings in January of that season. It took seven games for the Blues to defeat the Boston Bruins and bring home their first Stanley Cup, thanks to stellar goaltending by rookie Jordan Binnington, who recorded a .914 save percentage in the playoffs. 

Last year, the Blues finished fifth in the Central Division, failing to make the playoffs. During this upcoming season, which starts on Oct. 2 against the Dallas Stars, the team will turn toward its young core composed of Robert Thomas, Dylan Holloway, and Jake Neighbours. Like the Cardinals, the Blues offer special promotions to college students, making expensive tickets more reasonably priced. To get to the Enterprise Center, home of the Blues, take either the Red or Blue Metro lines to Civic Center Station.

(Aliana Thomas | Staff Illustrator)

The St. Louis City SC

As the MLS 29th expansion men’s soccer team, St. Louis City SC’s inaugural season was in 2023, making them the first majority female-owned team in the MLS. Currently, the club is in sixth place in the Western Conference, putting them in a good position to reach the playoffs. Midfielder Marcel Hartel leads the team with 6 goals. In net, goaltender and captain Roman Bürki has excelled, recording 49 saves. 

St. Louis City SC plays at the brand-new, state-of-the-art Energizer Park located near Union Station and the St. Louis Aquarium. 

(Aliana Thomas | Staff Illustrator)

The St. Louis Battlehawks

The St. Louis Battlehawks were inaugural members of the XFL, a spring football league; the first season was suspended due to COVID-19 in 2020. Four years later, the XFL merged with the United States Football League (USFL) to create the United Football League (UFL). In the regular season, the Battlehawks have dominated with a 31-14 record in their six seasons. When it comes to the playoffs, the team lost in the conference championships two years ago and in the semifinals last year, meaning they’re still looking for their first championship. 

Even though there is still bitterness about the Rams leaving for Los Angeles in 2016, the Battlehawks have helped fill the void of professional football in St. Louis. Many former Rams fans have turned into passionate Battlehawks fans, watching high-level football with many former collegiate athletes at a cheap ticket price. The Battlehawks continue to play in The Dome at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis.