LuminoMagazine.com - Miller Park, Milwaukee

Miller Park, Milwaukee

Written by JON SINGER

Tuesday, 03 May 2005

I have to admit it. When I first entered Miller Park, it looked fake. I thought I was in a video game.

I was seated in the upper deck, and it was a cold spring day. It was all kind of surreal. And being from Chicago, a city as baseball-traditional as you can get, it didn’t feel like baseball.

In most cases, winning takes care of that. People will go to a cornfield in Iowa if good baseball is being played.

Problem is, the Brewers suck. And little hope is on the horizon.

Miller Park

One Brewers Way
Milwaukee, WI 53214
(414) 902-4400
www.millerpark.com

Tickets:
The Brewers Box office is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

For information, call (414) 902-4000 or 1-800-933-7890.

But the wonderful thing about baseball is that, through all the issues (a strike, steroids, skyrocketing salaries) everyone can get lost in a ballpark. And despite it’s plastic fell, Miller Park has plenty to love for Milwaukee.

First, the obvious: Miller park is a retractable dome, so rain is never a factor. It’s porches are shallow, so homeruns flying out are common. Food is phenomenal. Milwaukee is known for its German and Polish palate treasures, and Miller Park jumps into the scene. Fans even sing "Roll Out the Barrel" during the seventh inning stretch rather than the now-traditional "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."

Touristy features at Miller Park include Autograph Alley in left field, a showcase of Brewer signatures from throughout the team's history; the Brewers Walk of fame, which has plaques of Brewer greats outside the stadium (Hank Aaron, Rollie Fingers, Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, and soon to be Cecil Cooper, and – no, I'm not kidding – Bud Selig.

Another already classic happening at the park is Klement's Racing Sausages. Yes, these are the same racing sausages that found an enemy in (then) Pirates first baseman Randall Simon, who knocked either a hot dog, bratwurst, Italian sausage or Polish sausage over with his bat. The races happen each game during the sixth inning.

Then there's one of the most famous mascots in all of baseball, Bernie Brewer. He hangs out during games high up on scaffolding in left field, just waiting for a Brewer home run. At that wondrous moment, he slides down his chute and the crowd goes nuts. FYI, Bernie's available for appearances by calling (414) 902-4420. Hmmm…Lumino is planning a party in Milwaukee…

Then there are the famous "Uecker Seats," named after the Brewers announcer, who of course, starred in a popular series of beer ads in the 1980s, one in which Uecker, as an ex-big leaguer, expects VIP treatment, but ends up in the absolute farthest seat from the action possible: the upper deck outfield corner. You see fans warm these seats in all ball parks from time to time, just for a laugh. But in Milwaukee, they have a special: $1 on the day of game. The seats are behind home plate, which is not quite like the Uecker commercial; but it has a partially obstructed view for further authenticity.

Miller Park offers tours of the dugout, suites, clubhouse, press box and other hard-to-reach areas. Tickets are available only in the Brewers Fan Zone store down the left field line and are good only on the day of the tour. Tours last just over an hour. During the season, there are several times each day – except day games. Call the (414) 902-4005 for exact times. Tours cost $6 for adults and $3 for children younger than 14 and seniors older than 60.

Miller Park has its share of fun quirks and gimmicks, and certainly is fan friendly. The team really maintains and promotes its history, a nice touch for a team entering only its 35th season. Now all that’s needed is a good team.

Photos courtesy of Miller Park

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