Taking Your Child to a St. Louis Blues Game
Like any true St. Louisian, my toddlers have already mastered the important chant – Let’s Go Blues! As a big hockey household, we’ve been counting down the days until we could take our kids to their first NHL game. This year our 3.5 year old really started showing an interest in watching hockey and we knew it was time. Let me just tell you, it was worth it all to see the joy on his face and my husband’s (even if there were some hiccups along the way).
Baby’s first St. Louis Blues Game!
Here’s everything you need to know about taking your child to a St. Louis Blues game at Enterprise Center in Downtown St. Louis.
Choose the right game: The St. Louis Blues season typically runs from early October through April (then playoffs, if we can make it!). For young kids I think it’s best if you can find an afternoon game or an early evening game. We chose a 5:00pm Sunday game. Choose what works best for nap and bedtime schedules.
Arrive Early: There are some fun pre-game activities and when you have little kids you want to plan for plenty of extra time! Our goal was to arrive an hour before puck drop. There are multiple parking lots around the stadium. Personally when bringing kids, it’s worth it to pay more and walk a shorter distance. (Find nearby parking here).
Pre Game Activities: Gates usually open an hour and a half before puck drop. There is live music near the Ford Entrance. You can often find the Blues cheerleaders near there. You definitely want to arrive early for the pre-game skate. You are allowed to go down by the glass. The ushers will tell you where you can and can’t stand. This is so fun for kids to see the players up close and they might even get a puck!
Don’t forget to arrive early for the pre-game skate.
Things to do:
Join Rink Rookies and get your first game gift! It’s free to sign up (do it before you arrive if you can) and you’ll find the spot at Portal 14. When we went our toddler got a lanyard and we got to take a fun picture.
Find Louie: Unfortunately Louie doesn’t have a designated spot and it’s not always easy to find him (this was a problem for us and led to a disappointed toddler). He is usually on the ice during intermission. But if you want to get up during a period and go searching for the blue bear mascot, here’s what I suggest. Check near the elevator by the team store on the first level, he uses that to go up and down between floors. There is also a large fake Louie you can take a picture with.
Join the Blue Note Kids Club: You can sign up for free and get a free Louie sticker and get a few small perks. For $39 your child can get either a jersey or a Louie stuffed animal, plus a free ticket to select games and more.
EAT: We all know kids are entertained by food. There are a lot of options for kids. Some of our favorites include Hi Pointe, Chicken Out, Steve’s Hot Dogs, Rosalita’s, Freddy’s and Sugarfire. Plus don’t forget Dip N Dots!
Sensory Room: I love how inclusive stadiums have become! You can pick up a sensory bag at Guest Services which include headphones and fidget tools. There is a sensory room located near Portal 19 (this is also where First Aid can be found). It’s a quiet place, with bean bags and light displays.
Breastfeeding at Enterprise Center: There are two breastfeeding pods for moms to use. I haven’t used these before but love that there is an option. They are located at Portal 18 and Portal 55. You will need to download the Mamava app to access the pods.
Diaper Bags and Strollers: You are allowed to bring a diaper bag into Enterprise but just be aware it will need to go through the x-ray machine. You can bring milk, juice or water for your child. You can also bring an empty water bottle to fill up. I’d recommend a few toys or books if you want to keep kids entertained longer in their seats. Strollers are allowed and if it's small you can fold it under your seat. Otherwise large ones need to be stored at Guest Services. (Find more FAQ here)
Tips: Remember it can be cold inside the rink so dress your child in layers. It doesn’t hurt to bring a pair of gloves! Kids under 3 are free and can sit on your lap. But only ticketed guests can receive the free Rink Rookie gift. We didn’t bring ear protection but if you think your child might be sensitive to noise, I would bring some!
Anytime you bring children along, I think it’s always important to manage expectations. A toddler is likely not going to be able to sit through an entire hockey game. We walked around a lot, ate snacks and got to actually watch maybe only one period of hockey. But all and all it was so worth it! The next day my son promptly asked, when are we going back?
