We were lucky enough to visit American Family Field (formerly Miller Park) twice during our trip – once with the roof open and once closed – and definitely preferred it open for the beautiful skies and natural lighting. Despite limited crowds due to the pandemic, Brewers fans brought great energy, and quirky traditions like the Sausage Race kept things fun. The concessions were uniquely Wisconsin, featuring fried cheese curds, Johnsonville sausages (even on nachos!), Miller Lite, and an excellent lineup of craft brews. While many extras like the kids’ areas and Selig Experience were closed or required special access, they seemed worth a future visit. Though the stadium sits a bit outside downtown Milwaukee, we took a leisurely walk along the Hank Aaron State Trail, which offered a scenic and relaxing approach. Overall, it was a memorable outing, and we loved taking in everything the Brew Crew had to offer!

Design

The stadium features a fan-shaped retractable roof with light green arches that rise high into the skyline – easily visible whether open or closed. Glass panels above the upper decks let in natural light and offer partial views, including the clock tower beyond home plate. We were lucky to see the stadium both open and closed, and it was definitely cooler (literally and figuratively) with the roof open. HVAC vents above each upper-level section kept things comfortable when closed, and LED field lights framed the base of the massive roof structure. The stadium has four levels, giving it a towering, vertical feel, with green seats and navy outfield walls – though we were surprised the seats didn’t match the team’s blue branding. The design leans retro-industrial, with exposed metal beams and brick-fronted concession stands. Unfortunately, there’s little to no skyline view from the seats, though you can spot Milwaukee’s skyline in the far distance from the outfield.

A scenic pedestrian bridge connects the parking lots and Hank Aaron Trail, offering a beautiful view of the stadium’s iconic roof arches. The exterior design features red brick and majestic arched windows, blending seamlessly with Milwaukee’s architectural style. A clock tower stands tall near the home plate entrance, and each main gate is marked by a statue of a Milwaukee legend, including Robin Yount, Hank Aaron, Bud Selig (former owner and MLB commissioner), and Bob Uecker (longtime radio voice of the Brewers). A poignant sculpture titled “Teamwork” honors the three workers who died during construction. Around the stadium, fans can also explore the Walk of Fame, showcasing stars for legendary players, and the Brewers and Braves Wall of Honor, recognizing key players, coaches, and executives from both of Milwaukee’s historic teams.

The concourse is fairly enclosed, especially in the outfield, limiting views of the field while walking around. Most TVs only display the score, not live video, so you can’t easily follow the game from the walkways. The outfield seating is minimal, making it harder to snag balls during batting practice – though I still managed to get one from Genesis Cabrera and Giovanny Gallegos along the left field foul line. On the plus side, there are great sightlines into the visiting bullpen from the outfield and a clear view of the visiting dugout from the upper right field levels.

A large, high-quality scoreboard sits above center field, but the display layout leaves much to be desired – with small fonts, less relevant info, and slow updates compared to other parks. The scoreboard juts out over center field, which can cause confusion about home run ground rules. While the view from the upper (terrace) level is solid, it’s partially obstructed from the bleachers, limiting its usefulness for fans seated there.

Location

The stadium sits in a very industrial area with no restaurants or activities within walking distance, but it’s surrounded by large parking lots where Milwaukee fans love to tailgate. While we didn’t drive, parking appeared plentiful and straightforward in the official lots. The surrounding area felt safe, and we enjoyed walking to the stadium via the Hank Aaron State Trail from the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory. The trail is nicely paved, running alongside the railroad and river, though it offers little shade. It’s also bike-friendly, with bike racks available at the stadium. After the game, we easily caught a Lyft from the Gantner Lot for the return to our hotel.

Concessions

Wisconsin is famous for its cheese – especially fried cheese curds – so naturally, that was the first ballpark snack we tried. Unfortunately, they were a bit mushy and greasy, likely due to being served in a sealed bag, which caused moisture condensation. Scott enjoyed them, but I prefer mine crispy, and we both agreed the cheese curds at Milwaukee Brat House earlier that day were far superior. At the stadium, curds were available on their own, mixed with fries, or loaded up as the “Wisconsin Ultimate Cheese Fry” with nacho cheese and bacon for $12, but we kept it classic and stuck with the original.

Johnsonville sausages and brats are a signature ballpark staple, typically served with warm sauerkraut and the beloved Secret Stadium Sauce – a tangy blend of barbecue and ketchup. Unfortunately, the sauce wasn’t available during our visit, so we opted for the Bratchos instead – nachos loaded with chopped brats, jalapeños, sour cream, and nacho cheese. They turned out to be a delicious surprise, with the ground bratwurst delivering great flavor and a better-than-expected texture, especially since there was no casing to deal with.

Scott tried the Street-za “Lou” pizza, an STL-inspired slice topped with burnt ends, BBQ sauce, green onions, pickled red onion, and Wisconsin cheddar. While it sounded promising and was certainly unique, it ended up being light on toppings and overloaded with cornmeal on the crust. The overall flavor was underwhelming, especially compared to some of the other local bites.

For dessert, we went with candied pecans from Heavenly Roasted Nuts, drawn in by their irresistible smell wafting through the concourse – and they didn’t disappoint. They were perfectly crunchy and delicious. As for the custard stand, the options were pretty basic – vanilla, chocolate, and twist – so we decided to skip it.

Other tasty looking food options we didn’t get to try included loaded fries, pretzels, popcorn, and the Restaurant *To Be Named Later (a pun on the “Player to be Named Later” as part of MLB trades). They also offered mobile ordering.

The Miller Lite Beerpen offers a solid $6 happy hour deal on Miller Lite and Coors Light, making it one of the more affordable drink spots in the stadium. For something local, we tried the Hinterland Cherry Wheat from the Local Brews tap wall – but at $15, it was underwhelming and not worth the price. The stadium also had a few basic cocktail options, including margaritas, Bloody Marys, and Jim Beam mixed drinks, offering some variety beyond beer.

We sat in both Section 411 (terrace box) and Section 202 (right field bleachers) – each just $13 per ticket, which was cheaper than the $15 beer we bought! The tickets were such a great deal, we couldn’t resist going to two games during our trip.

Amenities

The stadium features several all-inclusive sections and suites, including the Johnsonville Party Deck, Leinie Lodge, and PNC Club Level suites. We passed through the Club Level hallway, which is ticketed-access only and leads to areas like the three Party Suites and an Executive Suite. These premium spots offer a more exclusive experience for fans looking to upgrade their game day.

All the kids’ areas were closed due to the pandemic, but normally the US Cellular Power Playground offers fun features like a Jr. Bernie’s Slide, pitching stations, and sausage statues. There’s also a smaller Kids Zone located on the upper levels, providing additional entertainment for younger fans.

There were a sufficient number of restrooms, and we appreciated that they were unidirectional, which helped maintain social distancing during the pandemic. One downside was the lack of cup holders in both the upper level seats and bleachers, which made juggling drinks a bit inconvenient. On the plus side, there was plenty of legroom, especially with socially distanced pod seating, which allowed us to stretch out comfortably.

The stadium also featured multiple large team stores, including a small Authentics shop with game-used memorabilia, like items from the previous night’s Cardinals game – a fun bonus for collectors.

The “Selig Experience” was unfortunately closed, but is typically free and features former MLB Commissioner Bud Selig’s prestigious accomplishments.

Culture

We loved the fun sound effects and entertainment touches throughout the game. After a strikeout, they played the Super Mario Bros. “death” sound, and after the third out, the familiar “end of level” jingle. Following a walk, the scoreboard cleverly flashed “MilWALKee”. There were also playful extras like the High Five Cam, a challenging cap shuffle (with five caps instead of three), and a Family Feud-style game on the big screen.

The Johnsonville Sausage Race took place after the top of the 6th inning – short, silly, and crowd-pleasing. During the 7th inning stretch, fans sang not only “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” but also “Roll Out the Barrel” – a nod to Milwaukee’s beer-making heritage. The lyrics were even displayed at the main drink stand, with “Zing” and “Boom” lit up for extra flair.

While the game day experience integrated a lot of Wisconsin pride, especially with sausages and the barrel song, we noticed very little focus on franchise player history. We were hoping for more Hank Aaron tributes or storytelling moments woven into the game.

Despite limited attendance due to COVID, Brewers fans were lively and vocal. There were plenty of boos for Yadier Molina and some grumbling when the pitcher stalled, along with occasional “Let’s Go Brewers” chants. The crowd showed real appreciation, giving ovations for standout moments like Woodruff exiting the game and Corbin Burnes breaking an MLB record for most strikeouts without a walk to start a season. Things got heated during a Carlson at-bat, where manager Craig Counsell was ejected, prompting loud heckling of the umps – one fan was even shushed by an usher for using profanity.

Still, the staff was incredibly friendly, offering photo tips and calling us “love birds,” which was a sweet touch.

Bernie Brewer, the team mascot, spent the game hanging out in his clubhouse above left field, known as “Bernie’s Chalet.” After a home run, Bernie slides down a big white slide as fireworks erupt from the center field scoreboard, and the legendary words of Bob Uecker light up: “Get Up, Get Up, Get Outta Here, Gone!” We were a little sad to see the giant beer mug at the end of the slide was no longer part of the celebration.

Summary & Scoring

Date Visited: May 12, 2021; May 13, 2021
Game Played:
Cards 1, Brewers 4 – O’Neill HR only Cards run, Garcia HR for Brewers. Gant started with 5 innings and Cabrera (who threw Sarah ball) threw 2 shutout innings. Boxscore;
Cards 2, Brewers 0 – Flaherty pitched 6 shutout innings. Gallegos, Cabrera, and Reyes all pitched a shutout inning. Arenado only player with an RBI. Second run scored on error. Boxscore
Design: – Fan-shaped, retractable roof with arches that rise high in the skyline (viewable from afar when closed or open). Red brick exterior matches well with Milwaukee architecture. Wonderful statues and walls of honor strategically placed near main entrances.
Location: – Very industrial surrounding area and large parking lots for tailgating. Not easily walkable from downtown Milwaukee, but can be reached via unique Hank Aaron State Trail by walking or biking.
Concessions: – Unique local options like cheese curds, Johnsonville sausages (even on nachos), Miller Lite, and craft brews. Took advantage of “Miller Time” $6 happy hour.
Amenities: – Large Playground for kids, Selig Experience, and many all-inclusive suites (didn’t get to experience any due many being closed or requiring special tickets).
Culture: – Fun Mario-themed sounds, very boisterous fans, and Wisconsin themed activities like the sausage race made for an entertaining experience.
Overall: – The culture at American Family Field was our favorite part of the experience – energetic fans, a heated Cardinals-Brewers rivalry, and the thoughtful integration of Wisconsin traditions throughout the game. We especially loved sampling the unique local food, with standouts like the loaded Bratchos and fried cheese curds. Getting to experience the stadium with the roof open was a highlight, offering a much more vibrant and enjoyable atmosphere. We were thrilled to have the chance to soak in everything the Brew Crew had to offer – and it definitely left a lasting impression.

Other Pictures

Wainwright waved to us during batting practice in the first game and also played a prank on us (pretending to catch a ball when there wasn’t a ball in the air). Sarah got a ball from both Genesis Cabrera and Giovanny Gallegos in the two different batting practices we watched. We got to watch Flaherty warm up both days and enjoyed his arm stretches (raise the roof).