Milwaukee Brewers, National League
9/10
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| The brick facade pre-game in 2017. |
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| The Blue Jays celebrate a getaway day win |
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| The interior looking in towards home, also in 2017. |
I swung through Milwaukee for the first time in 2012 after driving from Indiana, back through Chicago(and it`s total gridlock) and up in time for a Saturday night game against the Washington Nationals. The gates opened pretty early, which gave me time to have a look around. The stadium is one of the few newer parks with a retractable roof, similar to Seattle`s Safeco Field or Marlins Park in Miami. I've heard complaints that it is somewhat cavernous, but I honestly enjoyed my visit.
I was looking forward most of all based off my multiple visits to Maryvale Ballpark, the Brewers' spring home. Maryvale has some of the best food and atmosphere you'll find anywhere and the Brewers home field is much the same. People were tailgating on a hot Saturday afternoon in the nearby parking lots and had clearly driven from all over the state to take in the game (as evidenced by stadium cups lying around at a rest stop a few hours away after the game).
The food at Miller was pretty good I have to say and by food, I mean Brats. You must have a Bratwurst at either Miller Park or Maryvale, they're easily the best at any ballpark anywhere. People also enjoyed their beer at Miller, I can't remember if I had one here, but Leinenkugel's is a favourite of mine from Spring Training that's popular in Wisconsin.
The game itself was Negro League night, with the Brewers taking on the colours of the Milwaukee Bears and the Nationals the Homestead Grays. I enjoyed it pretty thoroughly, people were into it and just seemed to really enjoy being there. I thought Miller did a relatively decent job of being an outdoor park with the roof open. Now, Safeco Field is still the best in that regard and I think Phoenix does better too, but Milwaukee is ahead of Toronto in this category for sure.
The only real drawback to my trip to Miller Park was the Parking. Getting in was easy. Getting out was almost an hour. Showing up early punishes you in the end. Also, leaving the game, Milwaukee had to be the most intoxicated crowd I've ever been around. Even getting out of the parking lot was an adventure, as a drunk thought he'd assist me in getting out by standing in front of me and giving me hand signals(not that hand signal, but still). Overall, I'd say Miller Park is slightly above average, the Brewer fans are some of the most fun to watch a game with anywhere and combining that with the food, I would absolutely go back to Miller Park. I likely will if I go back to Wrigley again in the near future.
Update 2016: This place could maybe factor into my summer travel plans. Looking back on it almost 4 years after the fact, the question is, if the atmosphere and food were both good points, why isn't Miller Park a 9 under the new rating system? I have no good answer for this. I have upgraded the rating here from 8 to 9.
Update 2026: This is now American Family Field as of 2020. I did make it back here in 2017, which means I finally have pictures to upload after my Camera ran away in 2012. It was a getaway day versus the Toronto Blue Jays, with a drive south to Beloit for a minor league doubleheader immediately after. Jose Bautista hit one off the underside of the scoreboard and Ryan Goins hit a grand slam as the Jays took it 8-4. This stadium is very enclosed with the high glass, but I do like this park. The Brewers recently agreed with the state government to upgrade the stadium, to keep the team here. Milwaukee's already lost big league baseball once and thankfully, it won't be happening again anytime soon.
Linescore
2012-07-28
123 456 789 R H E
Washington 000 310 000 4 11 0
Milwaukee 000 100 000 1 6 0
Temp: 76F Time: 2:41 Att: 41,890
Linescore
2012-07-28
123 456 789 R H E
Washington 000 310 000 4 11 0
Milwaukee 000 100 000 1 6 0
Temp: 76F Time: 2:41 Att: 41,890
2017-05-24
123 456 789 R H E
Toronto 000 215 000 8 10 0
Milwaukee 001 003 000 4 5 0
Temp: 65F Time: 2:51 Att: 26,607
