ST. LOUIS – Cardinals fans celebrating Opening Day in St. Louis may notice something different at the concession stand. Six Major League Baseball stadiums are updating beer menus and signs to replace the word “domestic” with “American.” The change, driven by Anheuser-Busch, comes after CEO Brendan Whitworth urged the industry to embrace the term in a February letter.
Ten MLB teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, and Cincinnati Reds, will debut the updated terminology on March 27. More teams are expected to adopt the change this season.
Whitworth’s letter criticized the use of “domestic” to describe American-made beer, arguing that it fails to capture the industry’s deep ties to American workers, farmers, and traditions. He called on bars, restaurants, retailers, and industry partners to adopt the new wording.
“For many fans, enjoying a beer with friends or family while watching a game is part of what makes baseball America’s pastime,” states Bill DeWitt III, president of the St. Louis Cardinals. “We are proud of our partnership with Anheuser-Busch, which has been a quintessential part of the Cardinals game-day experience for years.”
Anheuser-Busch, which sponsors 17 of the 29 U.S.-based MLB teams is pushing the industry shift in the term. However, some platforms, including the Cardinals’ own website, still list American beer under the “domestic” category.