A New Year and New Ideas for Miller Park

[rickh150]

I usually enjoy the February or March news articles that show some of the new offerings or projects at Miller Park. Whether it's a new group area or new furnishings on the Club level, it is fun to see the new ideas and plans for the home Park.

 

Being a new year, it got me thinking about new things I'd like to see at Miller Park. I wrote previously about a Brewers village ala Cardinals or just even a hotel in the parking lot. I don't know how feasible or sustainable these are, but it would be fun to have more to see and do right around the park.

 

I also like what they did in Cleveland and other parks with more shared standing room areas. The Toyota Territory has some shared nights where anyone can view games from there so that is a start.

 

Roof tours would be cool.... not sure if that could ever happen though for safety reasons.

 

Rotating Brewers films (82,87, 08, 11) would be fun to view in the Selig space before a game or on a tour. I think the 88 and 89 Brewers for some reason even have highlight film.

 

I'd like to see the whole left field bleacher area and Friday's reconfigurated. It feels minor leaguish to me to see random restaurant tables by a guard rail as people stroll past you. How many nice seats could be added where the bullpen is? Go the Cubs route and put the bullpens under the stands.

 

Any others?

[Mr Southpaw]

I usually enjoy the February or March news articles that show some of the new offerings or projects at Miller Park. Whether it's a new group area or new furnishings on the Club level, it is fun to see the new ideas and plans for the home Park.

 

Being a new year, it got me thinking about new things I'd like to see at Miller Park. I wrote previously about a Brewers village ala Cardinals or just even a hotel in the parking lot. I don't know how feasible or sustainable these are, but it would be fun to have more to see and do right around the park.

 

I also like what they did in Cleveland and other parks with more shared standing room areas. The Toyota Territory has some shared nights where anyone can view games from there so that is a start.

 

Roof tours would be cool.... not sure if that could ever happen though for safety reasons.

 

Rotating Brewers films (82,87, 08, 11) would be fun to view in the Selig space before a game or on a tour. I think the 88 and 89 Brewers for some reason even have highlight film.

 

I'd like to see the whole left field bleacher area and Friday's reconfigurated. It feels minor leaguish to me to see random restaurant tables by a guard rail as people stroll past you. How many nice seats could be added where the bullpen is? Go the Cubs route and put the bullpens under the stands.

 

Any others?

The new park in Atlanta is an example of how to make the ballpark a community. A hotel or two with an indoor mall with restaurants and shops would be cool.

[BuckyBrewer61]

The new park in Atlanta is an example of how to make the ballpark a community. A hotel or two with an indoor mall with restaurants and shops would be cool.

 

Considering malls everywhere are dying - including Grand Avenue years ago and fairly recently-renovated Bayshore actively losing multiple stores - a mall in Miller Park, in a non-residential area, would almost certainly follow that path.

 

And as someone who attends Brewers road series yearly, when looking for hotels proximity to the stadium isn’t #1 on the priority list. Being near entertainment, restaurants, etc is most important. Uber can get you to the game easy no matter where you stay. I wouldn’t stay in a hotel at the stadium if there’s nothing else to do around there. And for all but 81 days a year, there would be little reason to stay at that hotel.

 

If they wanted an entertainment center, they should’ve built it downtown. They instead opted for parking lots/tailgating. And there’s nothing wrong with that, Miller Park is great for what it is - an area to go tailgate and watch a game.

[Mr Southpaw]

The new park in Atlanta is an example of how to make the ballpark a community. A hotel or two with an indoor mall with restaurants and shops would be cool.

 

Considering malls everywhere are dying - including Grand Avenue years ago and fairly recently-renovated Bayshore actively losing multiple stores - a mall in Miller Park, in a non-residential area, would almost certainly follow that path.

 

And as someone who attends Brewers road series yearly, when looking for hotels proximity to the stadium isn’t #1 on the priority list. Being near entertainment, restaurants, etc is most important. Uber can get you to the game easy no matter where you stay. I wouldn’t stay in a hotel at the stadium if there’s nothing else to do around there. And for all but 81 days a year, there would be little reason to stay at that hotel.

 

If they wanted an entertainment center, they should’ve built it downtown. They instead opted for parking lots/tailgating. And there’s nothing wrong with that, Miller Park is great for what it is - an area to go tailgate and watch a game.

 

You have never been to the new Braves complex then. The "mall" is not your ordinary mall. It is full of night life much the same as Bourbon Street in New Orleans, just not as big. It also has many shops and has its own population with apartments and condos. You can tailgate there too! If it was done right in Milwaukee, it would be cool.

[clancyphile]

I think some sort of set-up to help the Brewers generate more revenue would be a good thing.

 

A few places where Brewers fans could congregate to watch the Crew on the road, maybe even opening the lots to let them tailgate - especially in a day and age where we have MLB.com's TV and radio feeds - on away games could be a way to pick up some more activity.

 

Even opening up some more condos and apartments would be a good idea.

[Bombers]

I like the idea of a higher end apartment unit. With the expanse of the apartments going on, it's surprising a luxury apartment hasn't opened near miller park. I am sure room is an issue of where specifically would it go

 

As for inside of Miller Park, I am sure this would be difficult but anything to expand the back wall for more standing room / lounge area's would be appreciated. Other parks (like Comerica) have really nice lounge area's. We just don't have anything. I am thinking it would be an area filled with out door type furniture, a nice long bar, TV's, etc. The challenge they would have is they don't have room for it. They would have to lose the Toyota Tundra territory to fit it in.

 

I also think they need to improve the first 10 rows in the 100 level. Most parks have padded seats up front. It doesn't take any more room, just adds a cushion. I always find it odd that you get the same type of chair in row 1 or the nose bleeds. Other parks have changed this.

 

I hope they continue to expand the tailgate zone they are creating on the north side of the park (3rd base wall). That is long over due and I hope they continue to expand it with food offerings.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I like MP a lot. But if I could change one thing, it would be making that main restaurant something a lot better than a TGI Fridays. I have to wonder if they often regret that, or if at some point the lease expires and you can get something cooler in there. Something like a Maxie's or that quality of place would give a much more local and unique flair.

[pacopete4]

I like MP a lot. But if I could change one thing, it would be making that main restaurant something a lot better than a TGI Fridays. I have to wonder if they often regret that, or if at some point the lease expires and you can get something cooler in there. Something like a Maxie's or that quality of place would give a much more local and unique flair.

 

Not that I am a huge fan but I thought something like a Dave and Busters would've gone well in there. Something for the adults and the kids.

[jerichoholicninja]

I'll be the cranky old guy and say it. There needs to be sections for people who are there specifically to watch baseball. When I go to a game I'll only get up to go to the bathroom or in the extremely rare circumstance that I'll actually buy stadium food, so once or twice a game. There's nothing more annoying than sitting around people who are constantly getting up during an inning, college kids downing 6 large beers and getting belligerently drunk by the 5th inning, or who have kids that have to go to the bathroom or go somewhere else every other inning.

[RobDeer 45]

Do people still go to TGI Fridays during the offseason? Just curious if it gets good business when there aren't games. Also, for game day, is it a good place for a family with young kids, so they have more room to move around?

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'll be the cranky old guy and say it. There needs to be sections for people who are there specifically to watch baseball. When I go to a game I'll only get up to go to the bathroom or in the extremely rare circumstance that I'll actually buy stadium food, so once or twice a game. There's nothing more annoying than sitting around people who are constantly getting up during an inning, college kids downing 6 large beers and getting belligerently drunk by the 5th inning, or who have kids that have to go to the bathroom or go somewhere else every other inning.

 

You're not wrong, but that's just not who they market to and a place like Milwaukee can't afford to. They need soccer moms showing up in hordes to turn profits and buying overpriced plastic junk for their kids.

 

D & B would do well there too, but I've always wished they had a restaurant unique to Milwaukee in place of the TGIF. I get why it's a TGIF, because it is much easier to scale and plop a chain type place in there, but the stadium is now 20 years old and an obvious success, so if they ever get the chance I just think it would be cool. Bombers has a big presence there now, but I've always thought they're overrated and I think the stuff they serve at MP is pretty lame.

[KeithStone53151]

Do people still go to TGI Fridays during the offseason? Just curious if it gets good business when there aren't games. Also, for game day, is it a good place for a family with young kids, so they have more room to move around?

 

I'm not sure it's best for young kids. Getting a table is generally tough, there's usually a line and I believe they limit you to an hour. Otherwise there's a bar area that's roped off, though I'm not sure they would let kids hang out in that area and it can get pretty crowded. If I had kids I definitely wouldn't consider hanging in that area to watch the game.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I've never actually gone in but I don't eat at those kinds of places. Whenever I have to walk by it, it seems like it's full of sloppy drunks and all the people I don't want to be near when I'm with kids or watching baseball.

[trwi7]

Do people still go to TGI Fridays during the offseason? Just curious if it gets good business when there aren't games. Also, for game day, is it a good place for a family with young kids, so they have more room to move around?

 

Not a good place for young kids on game day.

[owbc]

I have too many questions to speculate on what is possible. I wonder if any developers have approached the Brewers about the parking lots. It's not clear to me what is economically feasible or what is allowed by various permits/contracts the Brewers have. Do the Brewers want to reduce their parking capacity, especially the more valuable spots near the ballpark? Could they build a restaurant in the parking lots or could Friday's block that?

[TURBO]

All the crap in the stadium would go to waste on me... I go to the games to actually watch the games.

 

Nice to do things before the game starts, but once the first pitch is thrown, I'm in my seat for the long haul.

 

Why do the ushers still allow people to go back to their seats during an inning? I remember when if you got up during the game, you were only allowed to go back to your seat at the half inning so you didn't have to disrupt entire rows of people from watching the game. Man, I find that annoying.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

98% of people are ignorant of that etiquette. MP has been an overwhelming success. Largely because it is a place to gather and party while a baseball game goes on in the background. It was deliberate and it's "worked" as far as they're concerned.

 

I mean, seriously, there are large sections of the field level where you can't even see massive chunks of outfield. All the numerous giveaways, the pennies on the dollar ticket promos, all share the same goal of increasing in-game spend. They couldn't care less who's there, and in fact probably would prefer it not to be the purists as those people are far more likely sit down with their own water bottle and peanuts and actually watch baseball.

 

What's always made me laugh are the people (mostly 20s and early 30s) that buy a ticket to get in and spend the ENTIRE game on the patio outside drinking. It's not just at cheap games either.

[RobDeer 45]

I've always thought it would be great to have some restaurant/bars near the stadium. I just don't think it's an area anyone would go when there isn't a game. Maybe the Brewers could just open a big open air sports bar near the stadium. It could also have a gift shop type deal as well. They could maybe do their own thing or lease out the bar restaurant to a local place. I always enjoy when I can go to a place pre or post game to sit down and have a bite to eat and a drink.

 

Thanks for the info on TGI too! Ya I was picturing an open restaurant area and not a crowded mess full of drunks. Should have known!

[KeithStone53151]

All the crap in the stadium would go to waste on me... I go to the games to actually watch the games.

 

Nice to do things before the game starts, but once the first pitch is thrown, I'm in my seat for the long haul.

 

Why do the ushers still allow people to go back to their seats during an inning? I remember when if you got up during the game, you were only allowed to go back to your seat at the half inning so you didn't have to disrupt entire rows of people from watching the game. Man, I find that annoying.

 

You forgot the part about while the rude guy is going back to his seat, he stands and pauses in the middle of the aisle for 10-15 seconds to have a conversation with the guy next to him.

[FVBrewerFan]

It really is a joke Fridays is the restaurant they chose. I thought it was lame when it opened, even worse now. But stuck with it I guess.

 

My idea would be to get rid of beer vendors. There's enough drunks, don't make it even easier for them. Yes, I realize this will never happen. But aren't the Brewers concerned about the liability involved with over-serving? I enjoy beer, but I'm getting to be an old fart so all the drunken language and actions going on around me has become the worst part of attending games by far.

[jerichoholicninja]

What's always made me laugh are the people (mostly 20s and early 30s) that buy a ticket to get in and spend the ENTIRE game on the patio outside drinking. It's not just at cheap games either.

 

Ya, see this all the time and I just don't get it. On the rare chance I actually go to a game I'm going to get decent seats, usually around the Brewers dugout, and there's always some group of 20 somethings that show up in the third inning double fisting beers and bloody mary's who watch for an inning and then leave only to come back around the 7th with more beer and bloody mary's and then leave for good after the stretch. You spent like $80 on a seat (plus probably another hundred on alcohol) to sit in it for 20 minutes. But I'm just a 30 year guy with the temperament of a 70 year old man so what do I know.

[owbc]

If they could get average the time of game back to ~2:30 it would mitigate many of these problems. Hard to blame people for being bored with the current state of baseball.

[DuWayne Steurer]

If they could get average the time of game back to ~2:30 it would mitigate many of these problems. Hard to blame people for being bored with the current state of baseball.

 

I used to be in the camp of "I love 3 hour baseball games", but not so much anymore. I just feel like there's so much dead time, that even though I want to say 3 hours of entertainment is worth the money I spend, I'm not really being entertained for 3 hours.

 

I went to a Badger basketball game back in November, and it was over in an hour 45, and it just seemed like it flew by. Didn't feel like by the end I was sitting there like "come on, can we just get this over with?"

[long ball]

The area to wait for shuttles is such a cluster for weekend games. If there was a way to organize it better that would be great.

 

Other than that, I sit in my seat when I’m at Miller park and don’t go wondering around. So I’m easy and find Miller park sufficient in that way.

 

Maybe they can buy the home run statue from the Marlins

[pacopete4]

The area to wait for shuttles is such a cluster for weekend games. If there was a way to organize it better that would be great.

 

Other than that, I sit in my seat when I’m at Miller park and don’t go wondering around. So I’m easy and find Miller park sufficient in that way.

 

Maybe they can buy the home run statue from the Marlins

 

They need to widen out that road so the shuttles can get in and out more efficiently.