Article: What Fun Fan Upgrades Could the Brewers Add to American Family Field?

[Jake McKibbin]

Major League Baseball wants the Brewers to massively improve American Family Field. If that's going to happen, we might as well kick around a few ideas for how that work could serve the fans, instead of just ownership and the league.

Image courtesy of © Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Some of the best features in and around stadiums lean on that for which the state or team name is renowned. There is a fine line between a standout feature and a tacky add-on, as the Brewers found out with the overhyped X-Golf launch. Better balances were struck with the 10,000-gallon tank in Tropicana Field with the cownose rays; the “water spectacular” at Kauffman stadium; and the Houston Astrodome’s connection to Houston Union Station. All have real standout features, and while the Brewers have Bernie’s slide, they could do with something a little more fan-friendly. 

Given that the Brewers recently got a mandate from MLB about refurbishing their stadium, they could expand this to both attach themselves more to the local community and increase the quirkiness of the stadium. With that in mind, here are a few ways the organization could accomplish both of these goals:

A Pour-Your-Own Craft Beer Brewery and/or Distillery

Over in Dublin, the tour of the Guinness factory, where you learn the techniques of the perfect pour, is one of the big attractions in the city. I remember my first and only trip to American Family Field, where they had just Miller Lite, Coors Light and Bud Light, which seemed strange, given the sheer number of craft breweries in Wisconsin.

Enter a craft distillery, where people pay for a token and a glass, then top up a glass of their favorite local beer. Not only could this go a long way toward supporting local businesses during a time of economic strife, but it could add variety and a speed of service (depending on the number of stations available), as well as the more intimate touch of pouring it for yourself.

You could add little details, in the form of cards identifying certain flavors within, or background information on the beers.

A “Cheesehead” Snack Supplier

Something the Brewers have embraced so far this season is the cheesehead, a term (semi-)affectionately used by fans of the Vikings. Not only is cheese an awesome snack to go with a beer, but the team could have a fancy-looking selection, varying options of boards you can take away, to even melted cheese stations with bread for a little fondue fun. Leaning into that for which Wisconsin is best known seems like a great thing, especially for out-of-state visitors who usually go mad for the little quirks.

Again, it’s a way to support local businesses and give them some prominence, increasing the interaction between the baseball club and its community.

The X-Golf seemed to be something that Mark Attanasio was very excited about, but it didn’t resonate with the fans at all. Specialist local food and beer, however, could be a great way to bring back some of that close-knit standing. There are rumors of a potential beer district in the making for the parking lot, something I’m sure tailgaters could take good advantage of.

What would you like to see in American Family Field as a standout attraction?

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[BruisedCrew]

Some hitters to make the games entertaining so we don’t have to focus on sideshows. 

[BrewerFan]

No clue as this entire thing is absolutely ridiculous. 

Money to MAINTAIN the stadium? Sure...great. But this ridiculous threat or inferred threat that we'd better or else? I'm not sure what type of forum this is, but if I were to articulate my point how I wanted, I'm sure my post, which will be awaiting approval by a moderator-would not be approved.

The stadium is outstanding, it's in great shape, the Brewers are doing well. And again, I get we need to plan ahead, but unless this was some combined blackmail by Attanasio and MLB to get the state to actually pony up money that I think both sides are already pretty much in agreement that this is something that needs to be done, then I don't understand the point.

And not that this is of huge significance, but it's also made it sound as though we're on similar footing to the As or Rays and we've just got a trash stadium. 

[jerichoholicninja]

On 5/27/2023 at 9:53 AM, BruisedCrew said:

Some hitters to make the games entertaining so we don’t have to focus on sideshows. 

This and nothing else. I would support a couple hundred million in tax payer money going to pay for it as well.