Gameday
So you’ve gotten to Milwaukee, checked into your hotel, and have your game tickets. Which means it’s gameday! Here’s your guide to figuring out what to do before, during, and after the game at American Family Field.
Pre-game Options
Don’t let American Family Field’s location in a sea of concrete parking spaces fool you: there are plenty of pre-game options – you just have to know where to look for them!
As we’ve mentioned in past chapters, the culture of bar shuttles has deep roots here, and those shuttles aren’t just an easy way for you to get to and from the game – they’re the key to a fun pre-game experience as well. These shuttles unlock great opportunities to pre-game farther away from the ballpark, but still be in your seat by first pitch. And the advantages to pregaming at these bars are many: cheaper food and drinks and more variety than at the stadium, not paying for parking, a dropoff right at the stadium gates, and a chance to experience the local scene.
Although we’ve recommended staying in downtown Milwaukee as our best choice for lodging, bar shuttles run from the suburbs as well. Here are a few pre-game spots around the city that we wanted to highlight.
Downtown pre-game spots
Who’s on Third and Milwaukee Brat House both reside on the same block on MLK Drive (formerly Old World Third Street), and both have shuttles to the ballpark. These bars have great atmospheres and are surrounded by even more bars and restaurants. If you’re staying downtown, then choosing any of these downtown spots is a great idea.
Brady Street pre-game options
Brady St is a popular night spot with a younger-leaning crowd that borders Downtown and the East Side. Like the bars downtown, Jack’s American Bar and WürstBar MKE have great pre and postgame atmospheres and they’ll shuttle you to the game. They also offer a prime location in one of the most popular entertainment areas in the city. Even though it’s a bit of a trek to get there from the downtown hotel zone, Brady St. is a popular spot and is worth checking out if you have the extra time.
West Side pre-game options
Bluemound Rd. is home to a variety of bars, including many with shuttles. Kelly’s Bleachers and J&B’s Blue Ribbon Taproom are popular destinations for local fans due to their proximity to the ballpark (a 15-20 minute walk, or a quick shuttle ride) and the quality of their food and beverage selection.
Bluemound Road Walking Route
Saz’s State House and Balistreri’s Bluemound Inn are on the west side and have more of a restaurant atmosphere than a bar atmosphere for those who prefer something a little more low-key. The food is high quality and the menus have plenty of options. They too will shuttle you to and from the game.
Tailgating at American Family Field
Tailgating has been a tradition since the Braves arrived at Milwaukee County Stadium in the 1950s. For many Milwaukeeans, it’s a “must do” any time they are going to a Brewers game. While all the parking lots (preferred or general parking) host tailgaters, the Uecker and Yount lots to the southeast of the stadium are usually the most active, especially on weekends. Tailgaters enjoy themselves so much that usually the Brewers gameday staff has to usher fans into the ballpark when tailgating gets cut off 30 minutes into the game.
If you are driving to the game, we recommend getting there when the lot gates open to roam through the parking lot a bit. Milwaukeeans and Midwesterners in general are commonly known to be friendly people, so you might find that people invite you to have a brat or a beer! (TSI TIP: your chances may decrease if you’re wearing a Cubs jersey when the Cubs are in town, but friendliness generally breaks down those barriers pretty quickly with most groups.) But note: there’s no official place to buy beverages in the parking lot. Either you’ll need to bring your own or have some gifted to you by other fans.
Things to see outside the stadium
Hank Aaron hit his 755th (and final) home run at Milwaukee County Stadium. You can see the home run marker in the Brewers 1 lot behind the Clock Tower Gate (3rd base side).
There are also statues to Hank Aaron, Robin Yount, announcer Bob Uecker, and Owner/Commissioner Bud Selig that line the outside of the stadium.
The bronze statue, Teamwork, by famed sports sculptor Omri Amrany, is a memorial to the workers who perished in the Big Blue crane collapse during the construction of the stadium’s roof in 1999. Behind home plate.
Helfaer Field, the little league ballpark in the parking lot behind home plate, uses County Stadium’s foul poles and marks the location of County Stadium’s home plate (on Halfaer’s 3rd base plaza). “I Love MKE” sign is nearby too.
What to see and do inside the ballpark
The Uecker Seats/Statue
At the top of the stadium, in the last row of Sec 422 (the “Uecker Seats”), is a statue of Bob Uecker, the legendary Brewers announcer who also had a feature role in Major League — and he’s perfectly positioned for a photo op. The statue is a tribute to his famous Miller Lite ad. TSI Tip: head up as soon as you get in—during the game it’s tougher to see/get to and ushers often restrict photo ops.
The Selig Experience
Located on the 200 level, directly above the Wisconsin baseball exhibit, there’s a 15-minute video saluting Bud Selig and his role in keeping Major League Baseball in Milwaukee. If you’re a fan of baseball history, it’s definitely worth checking out. In addition, there’s a mini, one-room museum inside with a standing replica of Bud’s office, as well as memorabilia from Bud’s tenure as the team’s owner.
The Sausage Race
The mascot race happens in the middle of the 6th inning. They typically walk through the main concourse behind home plate during the 3rd-4th inning, a great chance for photos if you can catch them.
Wisconsin Baseball History
On the 100 Level in the left field corner is a tribute to Wisconsin’s baseball history, highlighting locals who made the big leagues, Negro Leagues, Women’s leagues, and more.
7th Inning Stretch
Milwaukee follows “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” with … a polka! “Roll Out The Barrel” is a tradition in the city and with Brewers fans, and you should definitely be at your seat to enjoy it.
Kids/Family Zones
Also on the 100 Level is the largest kids and family area, located behind section 108. If your kids need to move around, there’s a batting cage, a chance to time your speed vs the racing sausages, a slide, pitching and batting activities, and photo opportunities. There is even a concession stand geared specifically towards kids.
Elsewhere on the 100 Level concourse is a simulated batting game, which also provides a bit of added fun as you move around the field.
Should you find yourself on the 400 level with restless children, there is also a small Kids Zone there as well towards the right field corner – though it mostly just has baseball/Brewers-themed objects for them to climb on and a couple photo opportunities.
What to eat and drink inside the ballpark
While you will find plenty of food and drink options throughout the ballpark, we wanted to highlight a few areas for you to consider.
Food options
When it comes to Wisconsin staples, it’s hard to ignore the classics – Bloody Marys (which is considered brunch here), cheese curds (the extra-delicious fried type), custard, and just about any kind of sausage (complete with sauerkraut and/or Secret Stadium Sauce, a local speciality since the County Stadium days, or Stormin’ Gorman Sauce, a mustard-based BBQ sauce made by the former Brewers hero Gorman Thomas – though it’s best served on pork or chicken).
You can find these nearly everywhere and while not the best you can find in the state, are certainly worth trying, just for the experience alone. However, American Family Field’s food options go far beyond what you might expect.
Local restaurant and catering company, Black Shoe Hospitality, has improved many of the concessions in recent years. They do an excellent job with the food at American Family Field and we recommend their hamburger as one of the better burgers you will find in the city. But any stand with the Story Hill, Blue’s Egg, or Maxie’s logos will hit the spot. (The Peppered Brandy Burger is a personal favorite.)
As of 2024, the Brewers also opened up a new concessions area called the 3rd Street Market Hall Annex (an in-stadium version of the attraction from the Lodging page) in the right field corner of the 200 Level. This new addition brings four brand new food options to the ballpark, including Venezuelan, Asian Fusion, BBQ, and another option for tacos. (Plus it has a game area with giant Jenga and even small video game bays). Given that it’s also right next to the Local Brews stand (more on this below), it makes for one of the best areas to explore some of Am Fam’s best and newest food and beer options.
The Brewers also offer their “414 Menu” at certain stands, which includes $4 sodas, hot dogs, nachos, and Cracker Jack.
Lastly, we recommend a serving of Nueske’s Bacon at the concessions behind Section 215. And yes, It is absolutely as delicious as it smells.
Beer and cocktail options
Before anything else, we should first mention that if you’re attending a game during the week (Monday – Thursday), the Brewers offer Buy One Get One beers until the end of the 1st inning at the Marketplace stands throughout all the concourses.
For those seeking beer or cocktails beyond the standard fare, two bars on the 100 Level (sections 110 and 125) offer a wide array of beers, seltzers, specialty cocktails, and wine.
If you are a true craft beer fan, you will find some of the best at the Local Brews bar in Section 207 – 24 draft beers from as many Wisconsin breweries, everything from lagers and pilsners to wheats, stouts, and sours.
Just across the concourse from there, you’ll find the 3rd Street Market Hall Annex bar that serves a wide selection of cocktails, including a popular local favorite, the Wisconsin Old Fashion – though this version is draft, not poured. However, the cocktails are pricey (at least by our standards) for what you get, and are pretty average (in our opinion). This is also where you can find the souvenir “beverage bat.”
If you prefer to enjoy the game with a cocktail we recommend The Barrel Yard by the left field foul pole on the 100 Level. They have a full bar and even sell frozen cocktails, such as a Brandy Slush among others.
For more cocktail options, Section 103 is home to the Jim Beam Bourbon Bar and has Jim Beam themed cocktails.
Other considerations for concessions and activities
X-Golf/Casamigos
Another spot to consider is X-Golf and the Casamigos Patio. As mentioned in the Seating chapter, X-Golf/Casamigos is an area with two names that operates as one.
X-Golf is a huge, enclosed, air-conditioned area with two bars that serve specialty cocktails on top of standard drinks and are open until the last out in the 8th, one inning later than all others in the park except the Club Level. It also has 12 golf simulator bays that can be reserved through the Brewers partner site or, if available, can be used by anyone on a first-come, first-serve basis. This area includes a variety of seating options, from bar and rail seating to high-tops, traditional table seating, and even large cushioned lounge chairs that face the field (also all first-come, first-serve).
The Casamigos Patio, which is accessed through X-Golf, is a three-level outdoor patio with high-top tables and chairs, as well as wait service and a good view of the field. Like X-Golf, these tables work on a first-come, first-serve basis, and the closer you are to the field (lowest level) and home plate, the better your view – so if you want the best spot, head here as soon as you enter the stadium to grab one.
Carry in policy
One last consideration for food and beverage concerns the carry in policy. Always check the Brewers website for the most current guidelines, but currently they do allow you to bring small food and drink items into the park, including fruit, a sandwich, small snacks, and closed bottles of non-alcoholic drinks (soda, water, etc., up to 1 liter). Don’t overlook that last part, because bringing in water or sodas for the family could save you $20-40, which is substantial for generic items that you can bring in yourself.
Batting Practice and Tours
Finally, gates open 90 minutes before first pitch (2 hours on Saturday), giving you the opportunity to see the visiting team take batting practice. That is your best bet for autographs as fans are allowed behind the dugouts during this time, even if their seats are located elsewhere. The Brewers finish their batting practice before gates open so a home team autograph is difficult to come by.
If a tour is normally part of your visit to a new ballpark — which you can reserve through the Brewers website — know that gameday tours are available during the day of a night game but not available at all if there is a day game (12:10-3:10 game time). While standard tours are available on non-game days and before night games, there is a unique experience available on game days. You can reserve a spot to slide down Bernie’s Slide from his chalet by contacting the Brewers Tours team. This experience includes a stadium tour, although it is a more expensive option at $150-$175 dollars.
Bottom Line
Despite being in the middle of a parking desert, there are plenty of gameday activities for you to check out when you’re visiting American Family Field, both at the ballpark and in Milwaukee. If you’re staying downtown, we think you should definitely check out one of the shuttle bars and hop a ride to the stadium. The bar shuttle thing is really unique to Milwaukee and it’s worth experiencing. As for the rest, you can fill up 90 minutes of pre-game time at the ballpark quite easily.
