By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – Workers dropped a 5-ton wrecking ball on top of Busch Stadium Monday.
That began the final demolition phase of the 39-year-old ballpark.
The Cardinals originally planned to use explosives. But team owners later opted for the wrecking ball method.
Hundreds of people gathered to watch and take photos, including Larry Arnowitz of South St. Louis.
"I've been taking pictures of the new stadium since it's been going up every two weeks," Arnowitz said. "I work downtown, and I wanted to get it as it progressed along. I wanted to come down and get it before they take the wrecking ball to it today."
It will take 60 days to bring down the southern part of the building.
Then construction workers will finish building the new ballpark, which is about 70 percent complete.
Cardinals officials say demolition of the old stadium will be finished in June.