Chuck Rowan dishes on the Cards’ new digs
By Jennifer Dulin
While Albert, Yadier and the rest of the Cardinals are learning the soft spots and hidden hops of the field at the new Busch Stadium, Chuck Rowan is busy breaking in the ballpark’s behind-the-scene spaces. Rowan, the clubhouse attendant for the Redbirds, has memories of good ol’ Busch, but now he’s ready for some new ones. “It’s been an interesting ride,” he says of his two years spent cooking and completing other chores for the Cardinals.
Although the players may be pumped about the plasma-screen TVs and the bigger and better hot tub, Rowan is more enthusiastic about his state-of-the-art kitchen (nearly double the size of the old one) and the extra cooler space it provides—no more multiple trips to Sam’s Club each week to keep the pantry stocked. He won’t reveal which specials he stocks for whom—players are generally health-conscious, sticking to chicken dishes and turkey burgers for pregame snacks—but, he admits, “I have a good healthy stock of candy bars and Twinkies, too.”
The only hiccup so far? The new sink won’t accommodate some of his bigger pans.
All things considered, though, it’s a win-win situation for Rowan and the Cardinals. He will present his culinary masterpieces in a clubhouse that’s nearly tripled in size, and the team can look forward to plentiful amenities. Instead of one batting cage, they’ll have two. In place of one Internet station, they’ll have at least six, not to mention personal electric outlets in all 43 lockers.
The Cards brought keepsakes from the old clubhouse, too, including the Golden Tee video game Matt Morris purchased a few years back, and new amusements will surely follow. Now the team just needs to give the new clubhouse that same feeling of fun and excitement Rowan has come to love: “I’m looking forward to getting back to the camaraderie and the joking around after a long period of time off.”
