This is a special time in the history of the team, our fans, our community and our players.

We couldn't be more pleased with the support we've received from our fans. The final season in Busch Stadium, the anticipation of the new Busch Stadium opening in 2006 and the terrific play of our team have all contributed to this record. It's a record that everyone associated with the Cardinals should be proud of -- most importantly, our loyal fans.

We want to give our fans every opportunity to see the new ballpark. The open house will give people a chance to explore the stadium free of charge and, by offering two sessions, we're able to accommodate as many people as possible before the season begins two days later.

We want to have one last hurrah at Busch Stadium with the best fans in baseball. The weekend will be filled with heartfelt tributes to the most memorable athletes, coaches, broadcasters and plays that have made Cardinals baseball the tradition that it is today.

This game will serve as a 'dress rehearsal' for everyone -- the stadium operations staff, concessionaires, vendors, ushers, grounds crew, broadcasters, umpires, news media and our fans. We want our fans to have the best experience possible when we formally open on April 10 vs. Milwaukee.

I think there are some things that if you're from St. Louis you have an inferiority complex about. We don't have the great residential condominiums of downtown Chicago or we don't have the number of Fortune 500 companies as we used to have. But there are those things we think we do really, really well, like the Cardinals and KMOX and I think we take great pride in those things.