This past weekend I was afforded the opportunity to travel to Milwaukee to attend the Baseball Prospectus event in conjunction with the Milwaukee Brewers. This was my first time visiting the state of Wisconsin, let alone Miller Park, so I was quite enthusiastic to attend a game as a fan at a “new to me” stadium.
Unfortunately I have reached the point in my life where I am slightly uncomfortable going to a baseball game without a work agenda, so I decided rather than scouting players, I would scout Miller Park and the overall fan experience. Instead of using the five scouting tools typically associated with a hitter, I have broken down a stadium into five categories, namely Accessibility, Aesthetics, Affordability, Concessions and Fan Experience.
Accessibility – 3.5 Out of 4 Radar Guns
The stadium is not downtown which ruffles some fans’ feathers but the park is located just off the highway, with a plethora of parking. Getting into the stadium was rather easy, likely due to the large number of fans that tailgate before the games. They have plenty of taxis waiting postgame to take the overly-intoxicated fans home and they do a strong job of moving the flow of traffic to the highway. Still, leaving the stadium was slightly adventurous due to the volume of cars and the need to avoid various postgame tailgates.
Aesthetics – 2 Out of 4 Radar Guns
Easily the biggest weakness of Miller Park, as the structure of the mechanical roof gives the stadium an industrial feel, which is further boosted because it resides in an industrial area of the city. Quite frankly, the roof is ugly. However, once inside the doors the park is much better, as it has a cozy feel throughout the stadium. The scoreboard in center field is impressive and the Bernie the Brewer slide in left field gives the stadium something unique, but in general, the abundance of metal hurts the overall beauty of the place.
Affordability – 3.5 Out of 4 Radar Guns
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Furthermore, while I shudder to pay $8 for a Miller product, they give you a large beer for your money and the food and beverage prices are cheaper than any other major league stadium I have been to previously. Overall, Miller Park is extremely cost-friendly compared to the many other entertainment options available today.
Concessions – 2.75 Out of 4 Radar Guns
In terms of beer, you REALLY better like Miller products or else you are not going to have a rather dry evening. I happen to not be a Miller fan, so I was struggling like Joe Namath to find a microbrew option. While the lack of beer options was disappointing, conversely the food quality and choices were tremendous, highlighted by the numerous bratwursts and sausage stands throughout the stadium.
Fan Experience – 3.75 Out of 4 Radar Guns
This is definitely the strength of the park – from the individuals tailgating before the game and feeling well lubricated, to the plentiful amount of restrooms, and seemingly each fan wearing home team gear, I was extremely impressed with Miller Park and the overall experience of attending a game. If they wouldn’t charge $8 for a Miller Lite and added a few options like Lakefront Brewery and Spotted Cow, this could be a 4.
Overall Rating -> 14.5 out of 20, Solid B
Overall I leave Milwaukee with an overwhelmingly positive experience watching a weekend of baseball games at Miller Park. Certainly the outside could look a bit more pleasant to the eyes, but once you enter the stadium, the experience is one of the very best in baseball. I highly encourage all baseball fans to make a trip to Miller Park and I am certain I will make a return visit in the future.