Much of the conversation around the St. Louis Cardinals’ rebuild has centered on the roster, but two other major elements could significantly shape the franchise’s direction: renovations to Busch Stadium and the team’s unsettled television rights agreement.
While the roster overhaul has drawn most of the attention, comments from Bill DeWitt Jr. and Bill DeWitt III at the recent Winter Warmup highlighted broader structural issues. They pointed to the growing need for upgrades at Busch Stadium and ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Cardinals’ TV deal both of which could become increasingly important in the coming years.
Addressing the broadcast situation, DeWitt Jr. explained that the unresolved TV contract has created internal business challenges. The organization is currently weighing whether to renew a similar arrangement with FanDuel Sports or transition to MLB Media, as some other franchises have done. He noted that both paths remain possible and said the club has been managing the issue for some time. From the fan perspective, however, he expects minimal disruption in access to games. He also suggested that whichever route is chosen, the Cardinals could expand their presence onto streaming platforms such as YouTube TV and Amazon. Still, industry estimates indicate that teams leaving traditional regional sports network deals for MLB Media agreements have typically seen payouts drop to about half of their previous cable revenues.
DeWitt Jr. also discussed stadium plans, noting that Busch Stadium, now around two decades old, has performed well but will require substantial, multi-part improvements in the near future. He said renovation timing is driven more by the facility’s physical needs than by the team’s competitive cycle, though aligning upgrades with a strong playoff window would be ideal. When asked about scheduling, he indicated the work would likely begin sooner rather than later. He added that the organization is monitoring how Missouri officials are handling stadium matters involving the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals before finalizing its own approach. At this stage, the Cardinals are not pushing for a replacement ballpark, but rather enhancements to their current home.
From a big-picture standpoint, the Cardinals are juggling several uncertainties at once roster development, stadium modernization, and a potentially less lucrative media deal. Ownership says it remains committed to smart baseball decisions and increased investment when the team is positioned for a deep postseason run. The challenge will be balancing possible declines in TV revenue with the cost of stadium improvements. The ideal outcome would pair successful renovations and a stronger broadcast arrangement with the rise of a new competitive core, but reaching that point will require careful planning and execution.
