Baseball is America's pastime, and Wisconsin is no exception. This state is passionate about sports and stands behind its teams, win or lose. Of course, there are a few game-day traditions that make it easy to be a Brewers fan. Next time you head to beautiful Miller Park, make sure you check off each of these Brewers game-day traditions:
1. Tailgating
Tailgating is half the fun, right? Whether it's a beautiful autumn day outside of Camp Randall, a 0-degree day outside of Lambeau Field, or a sunny summer day outside Miller Park, you're sure to find thousands of passionate Wisconsinites ready to cheer on their team. So, next time you head to Milwaukee, be sure to load up your beanbags and corn-hole boards, pack your mini grill and brats and make friends with the surrounding tailgate crews.
2. Get a picture with the Famous Racing Sausages
Brat, Polish Sausage, Italian Sausage, Hot Dog and Chorizo are known for taking center-stage during their seventh-inning stretch race around the field. If you're lucky, you might find them wandering the premises before the game, and what's cooler than a photo with a group of 8-foot-tall sausages?
3. Celebrate home runs with Bernie Brewer
If you've been to a Brewers game and were lucky enough to witness a home run (or several), you know that Bernie Brewer plunges from his dugout in the left field bleachers down a twirly slide after every home run. Get on your feet and celebrate with him.
4. Try the new concessions at Miller Park
Brewers games have always featured delicious snacks, but 2017 brought a whole new menu. With just about every type of mac and cheese you can imagine (including chorizo and pico de gallo mac and cheese, roasted mushroom and onion mac and cheese, and smoked bacon mac and cheese), as well as tacos, barbecue sandwiches, baked potatoes and, of course, Sargento fried cheese curds, you won't leave Miller Park feeling hungry.
5. Check out the Walk of Fame
It commemorates a few of the greatest and most well-known names in Milwaukee's baseball history. Start near the statues of Robin Yount and Henry Aaron (get a picture with them while you're there), and walk the plaza area outside of Miller Park.
6. Hit up Autograph Alley
Located on the Field Level of Miller Park in the "Hot Corner," Autograph Alley features baseballs autographed by baseball legends and Brewers fans. Scan through them all or look for your favorites before game time.
7. Participate in the Brewers Community Foundation 50/50 Raffle
Half the money donated goes toward the Brewers Community Foundation to help support more than 200 local nonprofit organizations, while the other half goes to one lucky winner. You never know how much money you could win. Lucky fans this season have taken home anywhere from $3,000 to $45,000.
8. Join in on the post-game celebrations
A couple nights each season feature post-game concerts, and this year it's Andy Grammer and Kip Moore. On all the other nights, make your way to 4th Base (makes sense) for a drink, Balistreri's Bluemound Inn for some pizza, DugOut54 for a selection of craft beers, Friday's Front Row Grill for an awesome post-game beer special, or Rounding Third, which offers 30-cent wings when the Brewers score more than 10 runs and win.
How do you make the most of your Brewers game-day experience? Share with us on social media using #DiscoverWisconsin.
- Kristen Finstad is a crew member of the nation's longest-running tourism TV show, "Discover Wisconsin." The column is published Tuesday on the Life page in the Times.
1. Tailgating
Tailgating is half the fun, right? Whether it's a beautiful autumn day outside of Camp Randall, a 0-degree day outside of Lambeau Field, or a sunny summer day outside Miller Park, you're sure to find thousands of passionate Wisconsinites ready to cheer on their team. So, next time you head to Milwaukee, be sure to load up your beanbags and corn-hole boards, pack your mini grill and brats and make friends with the surrounding tailgate crews.
2. Get a picture with the Famous Racing Sausages
Brat, Polish Sausage, Italian Sausage, Hot Dog and Chorizo are known for taking center-stage during their seventh-inning stretch race around the field. If you're lucky, you might find them wandering the premises before the game, and what's cooler than a photo with a group of 8-foot-tall sausages?
3. Celebrate home runs with Bernie Brewer
If you've been to a Brewers game and were lucky enough to witness a home run (or several), you know that Bernie Brewer plunges from his dugout in the left field bleachers down a twirly slide after every home run. Get on your feet and celebrate with him.
4. Try the new concessions at Miller Park
Brewers games have always featured delicious snacks, but 2017 brought a whole new menu. With just about every type of mac and cheese you can imagine (including chorizo and pico de gallo mac and cheese, roasted mushroom and onion mac and cheese, and smoked bacon mac and cheese), as well as tacos, barbecue sandwiches, baked potatoes and, of course, Sargento fried cheese curds, you won't leave Miller Park feeling hungry.
5. Check out the Walk of Fame
It commemorates a few of the greatest and most well-known names in Milwaukee's baseball history. Start near the statues of Robin Yount and Henry Aaron (get a picture with them while you're there), and walk the plaza area outside of Miller Park.
6. Hit up Autograph Alley
Located on the Field Level of Miller Park in the "Hot Corner," Autograph Alley features baseballs autographed by baseball legends and Brewers fans. Scan through them all or look for your favorites before game time.
7. Participate in the Brewers Community Foundation 50/50 Raffle
Half the money donated goes toward the Brewers Community Foundation to help support more than 200 local nonprofit organizations, while the other half goes to one lucky winner. You never know how much money you could win. Lucky fans this season have taken home anywhere from $3,000 to $45,000.
8. Join in on the post-game celebrations
A couple nights each season feature post-game concerts, and this year it's Andy Grammer and Kip Moore. On all the other nights, make your way to 4th Base (makes sense) for a drink, Balistreri's Bluemound Inn for some pizza, DugOut54 for a selection of craft beers, Friday's Front Row Grill for an awesome post-game beer special, or Rounding Third, which offers 30-cent wings when the Brewers score more than 10 runs and win.
How do you make the most of your Brewers game-day experience? Share with us on social media using #DiscoverWisconsin.
- Kristen Finstad is a crew member of the nation's longest-running tourism TV show, "Discover Wisconsin." The column is published Tuesday on the Life page in the Times.