Cardinals Dedicate 1 Busch Stadium Section to Shirtless Fans as 'Tarps Off' Crowd Grows
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 21
Cardinals Dedicate 1 Busch Stadium Section to Shirtless Fans as 'Tarps Off' Crowd Grows
7 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 21
The Cardinals said the upper right-field bleachers at Busch Stadium will become a dedicated high-energy section starting Thursday night, with shirts optional for any fan in the ballpark.
About 100 fans launched the 'Tarps Off' movement during a 5-4, 11-inning win over the Royals last Friday, filling an empty section and drawing praise for the atmosphere they created.
Manager Oli Marmol embraced the group after that game, saying he wanted them back every night, then bought tickets for the weekend and brought them into the clubhouse after Saturday's win.
Players have already turned the section into a team-wide celebration: Ivan Herrera mimed swinging a shirt after his walk-off homer Tuesday, and teammates began stripping off his jersey at home plate.
The Cardinals, 28-20, now hope the shirtless section becomes a season-long home-game fixture as they close their series against the Pirates on Wednesday.
How will the 'Tarps Off' trend, now spreading across MLB, reshape official stadium policies and fan experiences?
What challenges might arise from balancing this new fan energy with a family-friendly stadium atmosphere?
Can a fan-led shirtless movement actually fuel a young team's unexpected success through an entire MLB season?