Ballpark Roadtrip: Miller Park

Miller Park 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. The original grass playing surface was installed on March 10, 2001. It consisted mostly of sod transplanted from the old County Stadium.

Closeup of a statue of Milwaukee Braves outfielder Henry Aaron outside Miller Park. The Brewers honor their predecessors outside where Milwaukee County Stadium once stood.

A marker in the parking lot at Miller Park honoring Hank Aaron's last home run in the bleachers at old Milwaukee County Stadium.

The Brewers honor the Braves outside the ballpark where County Stadium once stood.

In 1901, the Brewers played in Milwaukee before moving to St. Louis in 1902. Later, they would become the Baltimore Orioles.

Cup holder at Miller Park. If you the time, they have plenty of beer. The title sponsor is the Miller Brewing Company. Miller's contract with the stadium tallies $40 million, and runs until 2020.

Behind the left wall is a service tunnel housing the concessions area where a wall of beer is stored for that night's game.

One of the glass doors of the executive clubs is named after longtime Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker. Uecker has been broadcasting Brewer games since 1971.

View from press box at Miller Field while the ground crew prepares the field for the Brewers game against the New York Mets.

A foul ball hit by the Brewers Ryan Braun is marked in the press box above the second level in Miller Park. The press box is decorated with many holes in the walls.

Seats next to the visitors dugout. These babies go for $100 a seat. This is not New York.

The Brewers clock sponsored by Klement's Sausage of Milwaukee featuring the five sausages: The Bratwurst, Polish Sausage, Italian Sausage, Hot Dog and Chorizo.

The Brewers offer tours of the ballpark three times a day that showcase the luxury boxes, press box and visitor's club house. You can also go on the field where and take shots of yourself in the visitor's dugout.

View from the Brewers bullpen of the field and retractable roof.

Here's a 2008 Milwaukee Brewers schedule with the signatures of Brewers' relief pitchers. Each season the doors and walls of the Brewers bullpen are autographed by the players who sat in bullpen.

The main entrance leading to the team store just before game time at Miller Park. Besides Hank Aaron's statue, Brewers Hall of Famer Robin Yount is honored with a statue.

Fans stand in line for the hearty food that Miller Park offers - no salad bars at this ballpark.

Waffle fries with hot cheese in a Brewers helmet and brat.

View of the right field foul pole and the outfield wall. There's a Friday's restaurant open year round with outdoor seating.

Bernie Brewer stands in his dugout above the left field bleachers. Bernie slides down a plastic yellow slide onto a platform in the shape of home plate after every Brewers home run and victory.

The Brewers (Bears) Prince Fielders stands up at the plate to face the Mets (Cubans) pitcher Fernando Nieve. The catcher is Rod Barrajas and umpire Jeff Kellogg. Both teams wore Negro League throwback uniforms representing the Milwaukee Bears (1923) and the New York Cubans (1935-36, 1939-50).

This sign was posted in left field. They must have known the Mets were planning on pitching Oliver Perez tonight.

Corey Hart is congratulated by his Brewers teammates after hitting a grand slam off the Mets Fernando Nieve in the first inning. Hart would later hit a two-run homer off the Mets' Oliver Perez.

Mets' third baseman David Wright stands in the on-deck circle. Wright is staring at his bat and wondering where all the hits are these days.

The sausage race is on. The Polish is in the lead with the Polish Sausage, Italian Sausage, Hot Dog and Chorizo behind. The Bratwurst is nowhere to be found and has not won a race this season. The Polish Sausage held his lead to win.

The Mets (Cubans) Jason Bay and Brewers (Bears) Prince Fielder enjoy a laugh at first base during baseball action at Miller Park. The Brewers defeated the Mets 8-6.

Ballpark - A -, Great tour and baseball environment.
Fans & Atmosphere - Baseball, beer and bratwurst, sausage races you can't go wrong. Fans arrived early to tail gate and make a day of it. Only bad one was a Cubs fan who was at the wrong game and city. One fan asked if I enjoyed game and city, then apologized for the Cubs fan.
Food - Bratwurst, waffle fries with melted cheese, large lemonade for $14.25 dollars!
Mascot - Bernie Brewer.
Staff - Team store and tour leader were very nice. Some security guards were a little unfriendly.
Team Tradition - Good; they recognize the Milwaukee Braves and birth of American League there. Small market team can't compete with other teams in larger markets.
Location: 5 miles west of downtown Milwaukee, Wis. Need to take cab from downtown, no trains, bus system is from the 20th century. You need a car!