St. Louis police have increased patrols downtown and are preparing for large crowds as three St. Louis sports teams play at the same time over the weekend.
ST. LOUIS — St. Louis sports fans are gearing up for a sports-filled weekend. The Cardinals will play two more games this weekend at Busch Stadium. Saturday featured a City SC game, the BattleHawks' home opener, and a sold-out Zac Brown Band concert featuring Adam Wainwright at Chaifetz Arena on Saturday.
With thousands of people gathering downtown, safety is our top priority and our biggest concern. As a result, the St. Louis Police Department announced that it will have more officers patrolling downtown areas throughout the weekend.
Off-duty officers will also be stationed at each venue.
“We now have a downtown-focused weekend detail almost as standard, and we have been working on downtown-focused weekends for several weeks in advance as we shift resources as needed given ongoing events. I'm very aware of the weekend events focused on Un. It's Saturday,'' said Capt. Christian Stamper. “We'll have a lot of police officers here to address any traffic concerns, and we'll have additional personnel to make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable time.”
Police are asking anyone driving to games this weekend to leave valuables and weapons at home. Once you've parked, you're asked to double check that your vehicle is locked and secure.
Police also recommend checking your car's alarm system and taking extra care if you have a steering wheel lock.
St. Louis police are talking with parking lot owners about ways to increase security on their premises.
“One of the things that has come up in particular in the past has been whether the site can be fenced, whether there can be some type of barrier, such as a gate or armature, to prevent vehicles from entering or exiting the parking lot. You're not necessarily paying to park in the lot, the most important thing is just making sure that that lot is staffed throughout the entire event.There's some kind of requirement, like within an hour after the event ends. “I think there's time to get to the car and there's still going to be some security,” said Sgt. Charles Wall said.
In the meantime, authorities recommend that if you're concerned about your car being broken into, use a rideshare service or use Metrolink.
“Traffic congestion is a concern, especially when several events may end at the same time. We encourage the use of ride-sharing wherever possible to limit the amount of vehicles we own. It's always beneficial. We'll do our best. We can manage traffic, but please be patient as we have multiple events going on,” Captain Stamper said.
