Miller Park is a ballpark located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is home to the Milwaukee Brewers and was completed in 2001 as a replacement for Milwaukee County Stadium. The park is located just southwest of the intersection of I-94, US-41, and Miller Park Way (WIS-341). The title sponsor is the Miller Brewing Company. Miller's contract with the stadium was for $40 million, and runs until 2020.
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 stadium design followed the trend of retro-designed ballparks with current amenities that began in 1992 with Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland.
The original grass playing surface was installed on March 10, 2001, with County Stadium's surface infield dirt and home plate transplanted into the new stadium.
The stadium has a retractable roof, built in a unique fan-shaped style, with the roof panels opening and closing simultaneously in a sweeping manner from the first- and third-base sides toward center field.
The complex and massive roof was a significant factor in the $392 million cost of the stadium. It allows the seating area to be heated 30 degrees warmer than the outside temperature when closed, allowing games to be played in inclement weather and in more comfortable conditions than an open air stadium.
The idea of the stadium having a retractable roof had been considered right away in the initial design, as to help counter the unpredictable Wisconsin weather in the early spring and late autumn.
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. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
On the suite level, images of heroes of Milwaukee baseball adorn the walls. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
Behind the left wall is a service tunnel housing the concessions area where a wall of beer is stored for that night's game. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
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. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
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. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
Banners of former Brewer greats hang from the fathers under the upper level and can be seen through the windows surrounding the ballpark. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
Waffle fries with hot cheese in a Brewers helmet and brat. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
Fans stand in line for the hearty food that Miller Park offers - no salad bars at this ballpark. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
In 2009, Miller Park's outfield was replaced with "Lo-Mo" Kentucky bluegrass just like the infield was the prior year. The new turf, common in other ballparks around baseball, is denser and has a sand base, instead of the sand and clay mix under the original grass. The turf yields truer hops and fewer instances in which the baseball skips under an outfielder's glove than the previous turf. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
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. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
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). (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
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. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
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. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
The right field slide for Brewers mascot Bernie the Brewer is seen from left field as Brewer players stretch out prior to the game against the New York Mets. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
This sign was posted in left field. They must have known the Mets were planning on pitching Oliver Perez tonight. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
The Brewers honor the Braves outside the ballpark where County Stadium once stood. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
A marker in the parking lot at Miller Park honoring Hank Aaron's last home run in the bleachers at old Milwaukee County Stadium. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
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 the bullpen. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
The tour took us on the field and into the dugout as well in the Brewers bullpen. The tour leader was quite knowledgeable about the team, ballpark and the baseball in Milwaukee. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
View from the Brewers bullpen of the field and retractable roof. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
Seats next to the visitors dugout. These babies go for $100 a seat. This is not New York. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
The Brewers offer tours of the ballpark three times a day that showcase the luxury boxes, press box and visitor's clubhouse. You can also go on the field and take shots of yourself in the visitor's dugout. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
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Cup holder at Miller Park. If you have 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. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
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. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)
Ballpark: A - Great tour and baseball environment. Retractable was open on a beautiful night under the stars, the way baseball is suppose to be played.
Fans & Atmosphere: B - 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 Brewers fan asked if I enjoyed game and city, then apologized for the Cubs fan.
Food: A - Bratwurst, waffle fries with melted cheese, large lemonade for $14.25 dollars!Mascot: B - Bernie the Brewer, not much action except a trip down the slide.
Staff: B - Team store and tour leader were very nice. Some security guards were a little unfriendly.
Team Tradition: A - Good; they recognize the Milwaukee Braves and birth of American League there. Small market team can't compete with other teams in larger markets. This game they honored teams and players of the Negro Leagues.
Location: B - Five 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!
Photos taken May 28, 2009 using a Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR with a EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Standard Zoom Lens and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens.