American Family Field

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American Family Field is a retractable roof stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Located southwest of the intersection of Interstate 94 and Brewers Boulevard, it is the ballpark of Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewers. It opened in 2001 as a replacement for Milwaukee County Stadium and was called Miller Park until 2020.

American Family Field features North America's only fan-shaped convertible roof, which can open and close in less than 10 minutes. Large panes of glass allow natural grass to grow, augmented with heat lamp structures wheeled out across the field during the off-season.

The stadium opened in 2001 at a cost of $392 million. Between 1996 and 2020, taxpayers paid $609 million for the construction costs through higher sales taxes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2023, Wisconsin lawmakers entered into an agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers to spend nearly half a billion dollars of public funds on stadium renovations.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

American Family Field was one of the largest construction projects in Wisconsin history.<ref name="facts">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was built with US$290 million of public funds from a 0.1% sales tax that began January 1, 1996, and ended on March 31, 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The tax was applied on purchases in Milwaukee County and four surrounding counties: Ozaukee, Racine, Washington, and Waukesha. The tax was controversial, in part because of the notion of using public funds for a privately owned sports team. The state senator who cast the deciding vote in the funding bill, George Petak of Racine, lost a recall election based on his vote for the stadium.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>

On November 9, 1996, groundbreaking took place in a parking lot behind County Stadium. Originally scheduled to open in 2000, American Family Field's construction was delayed after three construction workers were killed in an accident on July 14, 1999. A Lampson Transi-lift crane (nicknamed "Big Blue") brought in to build the roof collapsed while lifting a 450-ton roof section during windy conditions. A camera crew was filming construction of the stadium on that day and captured the collapse on video as it occurred. Repair work and an investigation forced the Brewers to stay in County Stadium for one more year, until 2001. There was some talk of having the Brewers move to American Family Field in the middle of 2000, but it was determined that too many issues would need to be resolved for it to be a realistic possibility.<ref name=Storied>Template:Cite book</ref>

The stadium was previously called Miller Park as part of a $40 million naming rights deal with Miller Brewing Company which expired at the end of 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Madison-based American Family Insurance purchased the naming rights in a new 15-year deal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Structural challenges

The unconventional fan-shaped retractable roof has not been without complications. Major elements of the pivot system behind home plate and the outfield roof track have been replaced, even after the crane incident.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

At the end of the 2006 season, the roof's bogie system was replaced at a cost of over $13 million. The 10 new, Template:Convert, Template:Convert bogies were paid for with money from the settlement between the stadium district and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of America. Six of the bogies weigh Template:Convert, while the four others weigh Template:Convert. The work was completed by lifting sections of the roof approximately Template:Convert with Enerpac hydraulic lifts, while a Template:Convert crane replaced the bogies individually. "The bogies will last for the life of the facility," said Mike Duckett, executive director of the then named Miller Park stadium district.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The project was completed by the start of the 2007 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Additions

In time for the 2006 season there were three additions to the stadium. Two sets of LED scoreboards were added. One replaced the formerly manually operated "out of town" scoreboards along the left and right field walls with a new set of LED scoreboards along the left-field wall. The new "out of town" scoreboards show the score of every Major League game on that day. A second-tier marquee scoreboard was also added along the bottom of the 300-level of the stadium stretching from foul pole to home plate to foul pole, with the portion closest to the foul lines used to provide open captions of announcements from the public address system and advertisements. The section of the second-tier scoreboard above home plate displays statistics for those unable to see the main scoreboard above the center-field wall. The final addition to American Family Field for the 2006 season was the addition of a field-level picnic area in the corner of right-field. The picnic area has a capacity of 75 and provides a place for fans to watch the game in a leisurely setting and be within feet of the right-fielder. Known first as the Mercedes-Benz Field Haus,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the picnic area's name was changed to AirTran Airways Landing Zone in 2009,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and to the ATI Club in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2017, due to a contract dispute between ATI and the Brewers,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> it was apparently billed as the Right Field Patio until gaining its sponsorship as the Aurora Health Care Bullpen in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

In 2009, American Family Field's outfield was replaced with "Lo-Mo" Kentucky bluegrass just like the infield was the prior year. The new turf, common in other ballparks around baseball, is denser and has a sand base, instead of the sand and clay mix under the original grass. The turf yields truer hops and fewer instances in which the baseball skips under an outfielder's glove than the previous turf.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

During the off-season between 2010 and 2011, the stadium's original centerfield scoreboard (a smaller videoboard atop a larger black and amber message display board) was replaced by a full-length and full color Daktronics 1080p HD display board which was the ninth-largest screen among MLB stadiums as of 2012,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> along with a public address/sound system upgrade.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By 2023, the relative screen size had dropped to 20th among the 30 MLB teams.<ref>Template:Cite web (pictured with Daktronics screens in blue)</ref>

In late 2023, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed into effect a bill totaling $500 million of taxpayer money to allow for repairs, ensuring the team remains in Milwaukee until 2050, despite threats of relocation by MLB. Debuting in the 2024 season, American Family Field had many renovations done with the most notable changes being in center and right field, with a 12,077 square feet board in center, and a 2,840 square feet board in right. The Brewers partnered with ANC in order to provide the 8mm LED displays. The center field board ranks 3rd in the majors for overall size behind the New York Mets and Cleveland Guardians. The new center field board is over double the size of the old board at 5,940 square feet. LED displays were also added on the dugout and behind home plate. The 3rd Street Market Hall, a popular food hall and event venue in downtown Milwaukee, opened with four restaurants in the right field loge level. These vendors include: Kompali Tacos, Smokin' Jack's BBQ, Kawa (Asian fusion), and Anytime Arepa (Venezuelan). The team store in left field was also renovated.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The team also announced new parking technology in collaboration with the Interstate Parking Company, based out of Milwaukee. The goal of this partnership is to speed up the time it takes for parking at American Family Field, which can be up to an hour during the busiest times. Visitors may purchase parking in advance at a discounted rate, or may pay when they arrive via QR codes across the stadium grounds. Parking ambassadors aid in the parking process.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Plans for future improvements include a $25 million winterization of the stadium as well as improvements to the roof, elevators, suites, and other parts of the ballpark.

Sensory friendly

In June 2022 the Brewers announced the creation of a quiet area at American Family Field known as a sensory friendly area. The area is equipped with "sensory bags" to accommodate those with sensory processing disorders. The sensory bags contain noise-cancelling headphones, a fidget toy, verbal cue cards, and a weighted lap pad.<ref name="Reid">Template:Cite news</ref>

Attendance

File:View behind home plate at Miller Park.jpg
The view from behind home plate

From the year American Family Field opened in 2001, the Brewers have averaged 31,783 fans per game, or 2,574,423 per season, while placing 11th out of 30 franchises in total attendance, despite having only eight winning seasons through the 2019 season, and having won only two MLB playoff series in just five total series appearances, and having the smallest market size of any Major League city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2011, the Brewers set a franchise record of 3,071,373, and beginning in 2004 they have attracted at least two million fans—an ongoing streak of 15 consecutive years, the 12th longest in Major League history. Prior to American Family Field, the previous such consecutive streak in Milwaukee baseball history was four years, from 1954 to 1957.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since 2007, except for the required reduced attendance in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brewers have drawn at least 2.5 million fans in 13 of 15 seasons, and have only had one season (2016), where they did not average 30,000+ fans per game.

style="Template:Baseball primary style;| Home attendance at American Family Field<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
style="Template:Baseball secondary style;"|Year style="Template:Baseball secondary style;"|Total attendance style="Template:Baseball secondary style;"| Games style="Template:Baseball secondary style;"|Game average style="Template:Baseball secondary style;"|Major League rank
2001 2,811,041 81 34,704 11th
2002 1,969,153 81 24,311 19th
2003 1,700,354 81 20,992 25th
2004 2,062,382 81 25,462 20th
2005 2,211,023 81 27,297 18th
2006 2,335,643 81 28,835 17th
2007 2,869,144 81 35,422 12th
2008 3,068,458 81 37,882 9th
2009 3,037,451 81 37,499 9th
2010 2,776,531 81 34,278 11th
2011 3,071,373 81 37,918 7th
2012 2,831,385 81 34,955 11th
2013 2,531,105 81 31,248 15th
2014 2,797,384 81 34,536 8th
2015 2,542,558 81 31,390 13th
2016 2,314,614 81 28,575 16th
2017 2,627,705 84Template:Efn 31,282 10th
2018 2,850,875 81 35,196 10th
2019 2,923,333 81 36,091 7th
2020 0 29 0Template:Efn -
2021 1,824,282 81 22,522Template:Efn 10th
2022 2,412,420 80Template:Efn 30,280 14th
2023 2,551,347 81 31,498 15th
2024 2,537,202 81 31,323 16th
2025 2,650,089 81 32,717 12th
Total 61,306,852 1,975 31,041
style="Template:Baseball primary style;| Postseason home attendance at American Family Field<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
style="Template:Baseball secondary style;"|Year style="Template:Baseball secondary style;"|Total attendance style="Template:Baseball secondary style;"| Games style="Template:Baseball secondary style;"|Game average style="Template:Baseball secondary style;"|Major League rank
2008 87,926 2 43,963
2011 263,962 6 43,949
2018 263,165 6 43,861
2021 84,664 2 42,332
2023 82,058 2 41,029
2024 121,966 3 40,655
2025 211,372 5 42,274
Total 1,114,843 26 42,879
All 62,421,695 2,001 31,195

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Attractions

File:Sausage race.jpg
The sausages running along the 3rd base side
  • Bernie Brewer, the team mascot, has a club house above the left field seats. Following every Brewers home run and victory, Bernie Brewer slides into a home plate shaped platform. (The Kalahari "Splash Zone" was discontinued for the 2012 season). This is different from his old home at Milwaukee County Stadium, where Bernie slid into a giant mug of beer in center field which had been sponsored over the years by Pabst, Miller, and Sentry Foods. During the home run celebration, a short burst of fireworks is shot out from the top of the center field scoreboard, and above Bernie's club house, the call words of Brewers' radio announcer Bob Uecker are illuminated, "Get Up, Get Up, Get Outta Here, Gone!"
  • The Hank the Dog mascot made his debut on September 13, 2014. Hank the real dog was found wandering the field at the Spring training complex in Maryvale, Arizona, on February 17, 2014. He was named after former Brewer and Braves great Hank Aaron. He would soon become an international sensation.<ref name="2015 Milwaukee Brewers Media Guide">2015 Milwaukee Brewers Media Guide</ref>
  • The Barrelman mascot made his debut on April 6, 2015. The barrelman served as the team's primary logo from 1970 to 1977.<ref name="2015 Milwaukee Brewers Media Guide"/>
  • The Johnsonville<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sausage Race occurs during each game in the middle of the 6th inning; it was moved from the bottom of the 6th inning to enable the sausages to create more excitement for the fans as the Brewers prepared to bat. The current "racing sausages" are the Bratwurst, the Polish, the Italian, the Hot Dog and the Chorizo. The chorizo sausage (to salute the region's growing Latino population) was added on July 29, 2006, for one race, and became a full-time participant in 2007.
  • During the 7th inning stretch, in addition to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame", fans at American Family Field sing "Roll Out the Barrel", in salute to Milwaukee's beer-making history.
  • The Brewers have also set statues of legendary Milwaukee players Robin Yount and Hank Aaron outside the front entrance of American Family Field, as well as a statue of former team owner and MLB commissioner Bud Selig and one for Brewers longtime radio broadcaster Bob Uecker.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> An additional sculpture of Uecker was added to the highest point of seats in the ballpark, in reference to Uecker's famed Miller Lite commercial where he says, "I must be in the front row", and he is placed at the highest point of the ballpark instead.
  • Another sculpture, Teamwork by Omri Amrany, honors three Iron Workers Local 8 members killed during the construction of the stadium.<ref name=Doyle>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • Helfaer Field is a youth baseball facility located outside American Family Field. The infield is laid out upon the former footprint of the County Stadium infield, albeit in smaller Little League-compliant dimensions. The groundbreaking ceremony was held in August 2001. It was named in honor of the Evan and Marion Helfaer Foundation, which was founded in 1974. Evan Helfaer was an original investor in the Brewers.<ref name="2015 Milwaukee Brewers Media Guide"/>
  • The American Family Field Walk of Fame was created in 2001 to honor both the Milwaukee Brewers and the Milwaukee Braves. It is located outside American Family Field on the plaza near the home plate entrances.<ref name="2015 Milwaukee Brewers Media Guide"/> Its most recent additions were former Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder in 2022, starting pitcher Ben Sheets in 2023, and outfielder Ryan Braun in 2024.
  • The Brewers Wall of Honor was created in 2014 to commemorate Brewers players, coaches and executives who meet a set criteria based on service to the club or career accomplishments.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> It is located outside American Family Field on an exterior wall near the Hot Corner entrance. Brewers TV announcer Bill Schroeder became the 59th honoree on July 17, 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • The Selig Experience is an exhibit to honor former Brewers owner and retired MLB commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig.<ref name="2015 Milwaukee Brewers Media Guide"/> It opened on May 29, 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable events

Baseball

File:Miller Park, Brewers vs. Reds (August 17, 2013).JPG
Batting practice prior to a Milwaukee Brewers–Cincinnati Reds game on August 17, 2013

On opening day April 6, 2001, President George W. Bush and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig had first pitch honors for the stadium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The park hosted the 2002 MLB All-Star Game, which ended infamously in a tie.

Non-Brewer games

In April 2007, a heavy snowstorm in northern Ohio caused the Cleveland Indians to postpone their home opening series against the Seattle Mariners and forced the Indians to find a different location for their home series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Major League Baseball took advantage of American Family Field's roof and moved the Indians-Angels series to Milwaukee. All seats were sold for $10 apiece, and attendance was 52,496 for the three games. The Indians took two out of three games from the Angels.<ref name="autogenerated2007">Template:Cite web</ref> The series was a reminder to many of the 1989 film Major League, which featured scenes filmed in Milwaukee County Stadium, though the film was about a fictionalized Cleveland Indians team. The first game of the series was played on the same day that the film's "Wild Thing Edition" was released on DVD. When Joe Borowski came in to close for the Indians, the song "Wild Thing" was played over the PA system, in an homage to the film. Also, the Indians' mascot Slider slid down Bernie Brewer's slide following Indians home runs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These games were the first to be played under American League rules in Milwaukee since 1997 (the Brewers' final season in the AL). Some Milwaukee fans commemorated the occasion by making unofficial t-shirts that said, "The Cleveland Indians of Milwaukee; Established 1989, Re-established 2007."

Hurricane Ike's landfall in Houston cut a three-game series between the Chicago Cubs and the Houston Astros to a two-game series and relocated the games to American Family Field on Sunday, September 14 and Monday, September 15, 2008.<ref name="jsonline1">Template:Cite news</ref> The park became the first neutral site in Major League history to host a no-hitter when the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano threw the first no-hitter in the history of the park as the Cubs shut out the Astros, 5–0. It was also the Cubs' first no-hitter since Milt Pappas pitched one against the San Diego Padres in 1972. The next day, Zambrano's teammate, Ted Lilly, took a no-hitter into the 7th inning, as the Cubs won, 6–1, sweeping the series in Milwaukee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bowling

American Family Field hosted the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Masters finals on Sunday, October 28, 2007. The playing surface was fitted with four bowling lanes for the tournament.<ref>Milwaukee Brewers press release, "Miller Park to host 2007 USBC Masters finals", MLB.com, May 24, 2007.</ref>

Concerts

style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Date style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Artist style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Opening act(s) style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Tour / Concert name style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Attendance style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Revenue style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Notes
May 19, 2001 George Strait Alan Jackson
Lonestar
Lee Ann Womack
Brad Paisley
Sara Evans
Asleep At The Wheel
BR549		 George Strait Country Music Festival — — <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
June 26, 2001 'N Sync Eden's Crush
A*Teens
Meredith Edwards
3LW		 PopOdyssey 34,148 / 44,978 $1,956,157 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
September 27, 2003 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band — The Rising Tour 32,812 / 40,566 $2,451,588 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
July 9, 2004 Randy Travis — — — — <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August 20, 2005 Bon Jovi
Goo Goo Dolls
Robert Randolph and the Family Band		 — Miller Brewing's 150th Anniversary Celebration — — <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August 28, 2008 Kid Rock
Sugarland		 — Harley Owners Group Anniversary Rally — — <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
October 2, 2010 Dave Matthews
Willie Nelson
Neil Young
John Mellencamp and many others		 — Farm Aid's 25th Anniversary concert — — The first time the charity event was held at a major league stadium.<ref>Farm Aid on the mound Milwaukee Journal Sentinel</ref>
May 18, 2013 Kenny Chesney
Eric Church		 Eli Young Band
Kacey Musgraves		 No Shoes Nation Tour 43,314 / 43,314 $4,306,664 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 16, 2013 Paul McCartney — Out There 43,747 / 43,747 $4,114,943 Concert set an American Family Field record for largest non-baseball attendance<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August 25, 2015 One Direction Icona Pop On the Road Again Tour 37,887 / 37,887 $3,256,963 <ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
June 18, 2016 Kenny Chesney Miranda Lambert
Little Big Town
Old Dominion		 Spread the Love Tour 41,342 / 41,342 $4,812,602 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
April 28, 2018 Kenny Chesney Thomas Rhett
Old Dominion
Brandon Lay		 Trip Around the Sun Tour 43,526 / 43,526 $5,136,660 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
October 24, 2018 Ed Sheeran Snow Patrol ÷ Tour 37,288 / 37,288 $3,390,498 Originally scheduled for October 23 but was rescheduled to give more time for stage setup after the 2018 National League Championship Series ended on October 20 (it would have moved to November had the Brewers advanced to the 2018 World Series).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
April 26, 2019 Billy Joel — Billy Joel in Concert 41,237 / 41,237 $4,197,551 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
May 14, 2022 Kenny Chesney Dan + Shay
Old Dominion
Carly Pearce		 Here and Now Tour 41,138 / 41,138 $5,459,692 Event was postponed from April 25, 2020, and May 8, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> First show at the stadium as American Family Field.
May 28, 2022 Eric Church Brothers Osborne
Parker McCollum 		— — — <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 17, 2022 Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard Poison
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts		 The Stadium Tour 39,864 / 39,864 $5,175,001 The event was the fastest sellout in American Family Field history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
April 14, 2023 Morgan Wallen Ernest
Bailey Zimmerman
Hardy 		One Night at a Time World Tour — — First artist to perform twice on one tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
April 15, 2023
June 3, 2023 George Strait Chris Stapleton
Little Big Town		 2023 Stadium Shows 46,641 / 46,641 -
August 14, 2023 P!NK Grouplove
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo		 Summer Carnival 46,644 / 46,644 - First female to headline any stadium in Wisconsin. Broke American Family Field concert attendance record.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
April 12, 2024 Luke Combs Growin’ Up And Gettin’ Old Tour
April 13, 2024
June 22, 2024 Kenny Chesney
Zac Brown Band 		Megan Moroney
Uncle Kracker 		Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour
August 24, 2024 Green Day The Smashing Pumpkins
Rancid
The Linda Lindas 		The Saviors Tour

Soccer

During the 2014 All-Star break, American Family Field hosted an untelevised international friendly match between Swansea City and Chivas of Guadalajara on July 16, 2014. The soccer pitch was laid out in a first baseline-to-left field configuration, with a narrower width than a standard soccer pitch due to the constraints of the field. The teams played to a 1–1 draw in front of about 31,000 in attendance.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

During the 2015 All-Star Break, American Family Field hosted a friendly between Mexican side Club Atlas and English Premier League side Newcastle United on July 14, 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Club Atlas won the match 2–1.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After a three-year hiatus, American Family Field once again hosted a friendly match between Mexican sides C.F. Pachuca and Club León. Pachuca won the match 3–1.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

style="text-align:center; Template:Baseball primary style;"|Date style="text-align:center; Template:Baseball primary style;"|Winning Team style="text-align:center; Template:Baseball primary style;"|Result style="text-align:center; Template:Baseball primary style;"|Losing Team style="text-align:center; Template:Baseball primary style;"|Tournament style="text-align:center; Template:Baseball primary style;"|Spectators
July 16, 2014 Template:Flagicon Swansea City 1-1 Template:Flagicon Guadalajara International Friendly 31,000
July 14, 2015 Template:Flagicon Club Atlas 2-1 Template:Flagicon Newcastle United 21,256
July 11, 2018 Template:Flagicon C.F. Pachuca 3-1 Template:Flagicon Club León 18,321

Basketball

On November 11, 2022, the University of Wisconsin Badgers hosted a basketball doubleheader at American Family Field called the "Brew City Battle". The event featured the Wisconsin Badgers men's team playing against the Stanford University Cardinal and the Wisconsin Badgers women's team playing against the Kansas State Wildcats. The Badgers beat the Cardinal 60 to 50 in the men's game while they lost 63 to 77 in the women's game against the Wildcats.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Movie premiere

On August 11, 2012, American Family Field hosted an event called "Field of Honor: A Salute to the Greatest Generation". Over 30,000 tickets were sold for the event, which included the premiere showing of Honor Flight, a documentary detailing the Honor Flight movement, where veterans of World War II are flown into Washington, D.C., on commercial flights via donations and non-profit organizations in order to visit the National World War II Memorial in person.

Arctic Tailgate

The Arctic Tailgate is an annual event where fans camp outside American Family Field the day before single game tickets are sold, which is usually the last weekend of February. (It is delayed or moved into the stadium's heated concourse if the temperatures are well below Template:Convert for the safety of fans.) The tradition is said to have started as early as the 1990s where Brewers fans would try to be the first to acquire tickets for Opening Day. Since 2006, the Brewers have made it an official event, even providing the waiting fans coffee, hot chocolate, and doughnuts in the morning, discounts on tickets for the first week of games in the season, as well as a free lunch consisting of a hot dog, chips, and a soda, eaten in a heated tent afterwards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Over 101,000 tickets were sold for the 2015 Arctic Tailgate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In film

American Family Field was also a major filming location for the motion picture Mr. 3000, which centered on a fictional Brewers player played by comedian Bernie Mac.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

25th Anniversary Alumni Home Run Derby

On July 25, 2025, the Milwaukee Brewers hosted the Alumni Home Run Derby at American Family Field as part of their 25th anniversary celebration of the stadium. The event followed a game against the Miami Marlins and featured former players like Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, and Carlos Gómez. It was contested in a team format led by Braun and Gómez, followed by an individual showdown between Keon Broxton and Corey Hart. Broxton won the derby and recreated Fielder's home run celebration where teammates fell like bowling pins upon his reaching home. Nearly 42,000 people stayed after the game to watch the derby.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Climate

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See also

References

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