Miller Park (Milwaukee) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references (ideally, using inline citations). Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008) Miller Park Location 1 Brewers Way Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53214 Coordinates 43°01′41″N 87°58′16″W / 43.02806°N 87.97111°W / 43.02806; -87.97111 Broke ground November 9, 1996 Opened April 6, 2001 Owner Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball District, Milwaukee Brewers Surface Grass Construction cost $400 million Architect HKS, Inc., NBBJ, Eppstein Uhen Architects Capacity 41,900[1] Field dimensions Left Field: 344 ft / 105 m Left-Center: 371 ft / 113 m Center Field: 400 ft / 122 m Right-Center: 374 ft / 114 m Right Field: 337 ft / 102.72 m Tenants Milwaukee Brewers (MLB) (2001–present) Miller Park is a ballpark located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is home to the Milwaukee Brewers and was built as a replacement for Milwaukee County Stadium. Miller Park is one of the largest construction projects in Wisconsin History. Completed in 2001, the park features North America's only fan shaped convertable roof, which can open and close in less than 10 minutes. It promises good conditions no matter the weather. The title sponsor is MillerCoors. Miller's contract with the stadium was for $40 million, and runs until the year 2020. [2] The park is most notable for its fan-shaped retractable roof, and the large panes of glass included in its design to allow natural grass to grow. The park is located just southwest of the intersection of I-94, US-41, and Miller Park Way (WIS-341). Contents [hide] 1 Construction 1.1 Structural Challenges 1.2 Recent additions 2 Atmosphere 3 Attractions 4 Events 4.1 Concerts 5 References 6 External links [edit] Construction Miller Park was built with $310 million of public funds from a .1% sales tax for purchases over $10 applied in Milwaukee County and the surrounding four suburban counties, which was controversial, due to the unpopular notion of using public funds for a privately owned sports team. The state senator who cast the deciding vote in the funding bill, George Petak of Racine, lost a recall election based on his vote for the stadium [3][4]. Construction was subject to numerous delays. Groundbreaking took place on November 9, 1996, in a parking lot behind County Stadium. Construction had already been slowed, and the originally planned opening date of Opening Day 1999 had already been pushed back, until it was delayed even further after three construction workers were killed in an accident. The massive Lampson Transi-lift crane 3 (nicknamed "Big Blue"), brought in to build the roof, collapsed while lifting a 400 ton roof section on July 14, 1999. The stadium did not open until Opening Day 2001. The stadium has a retractable roof, built in a unique convertible style, with the roof panels opening and closing simultaneously in a sweeping manner from the first base and third base sides towards center field. The huge roof explained a large part of the $400 million cost of the stadium. The stadium heats 30 degrees above the current outside temperature if the roof is closed on a cold weather day. The design team was appointed after a design competition in the mid 1990s. The architectural concept for the stadium was developed by the Los Angeles based Sports and Entertainment team of NBBJ who worked closely with an LA based team from engineers Arup, who were responsible for all stages the structural and building services engineering design for the stadium with the exception of the mechanical mechanisms that move the roof structure. The original versions of these mechanisms were designed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America as part of a design and build contract, but they have now been replaced by new designs after their failure. Executive architect responsible for the delivery of the final stadium design was a Dallas based team of HKS, Inc.. In addition to these major players there were a significant contributions from more local teams including FLAD, engineer and Eppstein Uhen, architects. 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. It consisted mostly of sod transplanted from the old County Stadium. [edit] Structural Challenges The unconventional fan-shaped roof has not been without complications. Because of its height and size, the fixed roof panel on the stadium's west (first-base) grandstand casts a shadow on the infield during most of the day. This has resulted in problems with the maintenance of the grass playing field on the first base side. As recently as April 2008, the Brewers have publicly broached the possibility of having to replace the natural grass surface with an artificial surface, such as FieldTurf.[5] The Brewers, in response to critics, have claimed that the roof was never intended to be water tight. Major elements of the pivot system behind home plate and the outfield roof track have had to be repaired or even replaced. [6] On September 25, 2006, one day after the final Brewers home game of the season, the roof failed while opening and was stuck partially open. A shattered lower guide roller was the cause of the failure.[7] At the end of the 2006 season, the roof's bogie system was replaced at a cost of over $13 million. The ten new, 24-feet-(7.3 m)-long, 60 horsepower (45 kW) bogies were paid for with money from the settlement between the stadium district and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of America. Six of the bogies weigh 66 tons apiece, while the four others weigh 49 tons. The work was completed by lifting sections of the roof approximately six inches with hydraulic lifts, while a 300-ton crane replaces the bogies individually. "We're saying the bogies will last for the life of the facility," said Mike Duckett, executive director of the Miller Park stadium district.[8] While the majority of the project was completed by the start of the 2007 season, final calibrations were not complete until the 2007 midseason.[9] [edit] Recent additions Miller Park panorama from August 4, 2005.In time for the 2006 season there were three noticeable additions to the stadium. Two different sets of LED scoreboards were added. One replacing the formerly manually-operated "out of town" scoreboards located along the left and right field walls with a new set of LED scoreboards along the left-field wall. The new "out of town" scoreboards show continually updated information about other Major League games including the score, hits, errors, outs, and an image of the field displaying the runners on base. A second-tier marquee scoreboard was also added along the bottom of the 300-level of the stadium stretching from foul pole to home plate to foul pole. The section of the second-tier scoreboard above home plate displays statistics for those unable to see the main scoreboard above the center-field wall. The final addition to Miller Park for the 2006 season was the addition of a field-level picnic-area in the corner of right-field. The picnic-area has a capacity of 75 and provides a place for fans to watch the game in a leisurely setting and be within feet of the right-fielder. During the 2007 season, as the Brewers got closer and closer to the team record of home runs in a season, a home run counter was added to the right of the center field scoreboard. In the shape of a gas pump, the counter is sponsored by Citgo Gas, whose name can be seen as a play on words for a home run (C-It-Go). The counter keeps track of the home runs hit by the Brewers during the season and when a home run is hit, the player's name is shown on the display as well as the distance of the home run. Early into the 2008 season, the Brewers also added a strikeout counter to the tier of the second deck of the right field bleachers, which illuminates a K when a Brewers' pitcher notches a strikeout and also keeps track of how many strikeouts as a team the Brewers have. [edit] Atmosphere In 2005, Sports Illustrated conducted fan surveys and rated Miller Park as the best ballpark based on value per dollar spent.[citation needed] The Brewers new ownership currently has plans to add newer amenities to further enhance the ballpark experience.[citation needed] A new upscale lounge, the "Gehl Club", located next to the existing "Metavante Club," opened for the 2007 season. Although attendance dropped after the 2001 opening season to a low of 20,993 per game in 2003, numbers have rebounded. In 2008 the Brewers set a new franchise high mark for attendance with over 3,000,000 for the season. This ranks them 12th in the majors despite being the smallest market in baseball.[10] ESPN Page 2 writer Bill Simmons described Brewers fans as being like "over-protective Little League parents" in a 2006 visit to Miller Park.[11] When the Chicago Cubs play at Miller Park, many Cubs fans drive from Chicago to watch the game, giving the Cubs a home-field advantage feel, and earning Miller Park the satirical nickname, "Wrigley Field North". [1]. This was demonstrated by a game between the Cubs and Houston Astros at Miller Park, moved due to Hurricane Ike that shut down the city of Houston, when the stadium was mostly filled with Cubs fans, even though they were the "road" team [2]. [edit] Attractions The Klement's Sausage Race occurs during each game in the middle of the 6th inning; it was moved from the bottom of the 6th inning to enable the sausages to create more excitement for the fans as the Brewers prepare to bat. The current "racing sausages" are the Bratwurst, the Italian, the Chorizo, the Polish, and the Hot Dog. The Chorizo sausage (to salute the region's growing Latino population) was added on July 29, 2006 for one race, and became a full-time participant in 2007. Bernie Brewer, the team mascot, has a club house above the left field seats. When a home run is hit, he slides down a yellow plastic slide to a lower level of that club house. This is different from his old home at Milwaukee County Stadium, where Bernie would slide into a giant mug of beer in center field. During the home run celebration, a short burst of fireworks is shot out from the top of the center field scoreboard, and above Bernie's club house, the call words of Brewers' radio announcer Bob Uecker are illuminated, "Get Up, Get Up, Get Outta Here, Gone!" During the seventh inning stretch, in addition to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame", fans at Miller Park also sing the "Beer Barrel Polka", which also known as "Roll Out the Barrel" in salute to Milwaukee's beer making history. [edit] Events On opening day in April 2001, President George W. Bush, a friend of Bud Selig, did the first pitch honors for the stadium. However, before the President would throw out the historic pitch, Selig threw out the first pitch (making the President's pitch the second). It was the site of the infamous tie at the 2002 MLB All-Star Game. The stadium was a major filming location for the motion picture Mr. 3000, which centered around a fictional Brewers' player. In April 2007, snow storms in northern Ohio caused the Cleveland Indians to postpone their home opening series against the Seattle Mariners and forced the Indians to find a different location for their subsequent home series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Major League Baseball took advantage of Miller Park's roof and moved the Indians-Angels series to Milwaukee. All seats were sold for $10 apiece, and attendance was reported at 52,496 for the three games.[12] While this series was being played, Milwaukee was also plagued by snow storms, making the arrival and parking a challenge for fans. This was the first "home series" by "Cleveland" staged in Milwaukee since the fictional 1989 film Major League. When Joe Borowski came on in the ninth innings of the games the Indians won in Milwaukee, the song "Wild Thing" would blare from the PA system, in a nod to Major League. Also, the Indians' mascot Slider slid down Bernie Brewer's slide several times following Indians home runs.[13] Miller Park hosted the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Masters finals on Sunday, October 28, 2007. The playing surface was fitted with four bowling lanes for the tournament.[14] Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs threw the first no-hitter in the history of Miller Park against the Houston Astros, on Sunday, September 14, 2008. Hurricane Ike's landfall in Houston forced the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros to play a 2 game series at Miller Park on Sunday, September 14 and Monday, September 15, 2008. Miller Park became the first neutral site in major league history to witness a no-hitter.[3] Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly flirted with duplicating Zambrano's feat, carrying a no-hitter into the 7th inning on the 15th. [edit] Concerts Concerts held at Miller Park include the following: 'NSYNC - June 26, 2001 Bruce Springsteen - September 27, 2003 Bon Jovi - August 20, 2005 Aerosmith, Joan Jett, Sugarland, and Kid Rock - August 28, 2008 [edit] References ^ The Official Site of The Milwaukee Brewers: Ballpark: Facts, Figures, & Ground Rules, MLB.com. ^ ESPN.com: SPORTSBUSINESS - Stadium naming rights ^ http://www2.jsonline.com/sports/brew/mpark/mar01/fan31033001.asp ^ http://greg-bromberg.blogs.sportsline.com/mcc/blogs/view/5814658?tag=George%20Petak ^ Walker, Don, "Miller Park's turf", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 5, 2008. ^ Walker, Don, "Design flaws noted in Miller Park roof", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 17, 2002. ^ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Miller Park roof part shatters", September 26, 2006. ^ Walker, Don, "As baseball season ends, stadium roof repair begins", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 21, 2006. ^ Walker, Don, "Miller Park roof is back at full speed", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 13, 2007. ^ "MLB Attendance Report - 2007", ESPN.com, October 1, 2007. ^ Simmons, Bill, "Time for beer, brats and Favre", ESPN.com, August 25, 2006. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (2007-04-09). "Angels-Indians series moved". written at Cleveland. MLB.com. http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070409&content_id=1888109. Retrieved on 2009-02-15. ^ Drehs, Wayne (2007-04-10). "Indians feel right at home in Milwaukee". written at Milwaukee. ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2832830. Retrieved on 2009-02-15. "Even Slider, the team's mascot, got into the act, making the trip to Milwaukee so he could twist his way down Bernie Brewer's slide after Kelly Shoppach and Casey Blake hit Indians home runs. In the top of the ninth, when Borowski came in to close out the game, the Miller Park sound system blasted "Wild Thing," a tribute to the baseball classic "Major League," which was filmed in Milwaukee." ^ Milwaukee Brewers press release, "Miller Park to host 2007 USBC Masters finals", MLB.com, May 24, 2007. [edit] External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Miller Park Miller Park Overview (at MilwaukeeBrewers.com) Brief History of Miller Park Quick Facts on Miller Park from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Information on Miller Park, including what to do if you visit USGS aerial of old park and new construction Miller Park photos on Flickr Preceded by Milwaukee County Stadium Home of the Milwaukee Brewers 2001 – present Succeeded by Current Preceded by Safeco Field Host of the All-Star Game 2002 Succeeded by U.S. Cellular Field Preceded by Jacobs Field Home of the Cleveland Indians April 10 - 12, 2007 Succeeded by Jacobs Field Preceded by Minute Maid Park Home of the Houston Astros September 14 - 15, 2008 Succeeded by Minute Maid Park Coordinates: 43°1′42.06″N 87°58′17.25″W / 43.02835°N 87.9714583°W / 43.02835; -87.9714583 [show]v • d • eMilwaukee Brewers Formerly the Seattle Pilots • Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin The Franchise History • Expansion Draft • Seasons • Records • Walk of Fame • Awards and All Stars • Players • Management • Opening Day starters • Broadcasters • All articles Ballparks Sick's Stadium • Milwaukee County Stadium • Miller Park Spring Training: Maryvale Baseball Park Culture Bernie Brewer • Sausage Race • Brewers–Cubs rivalry Important Figures Robin Yount • Cecil Cooper • Jim Gantner • Gorman Thomas • Dave Nilsson • Geoff Jenkins • Ben Sheets • Paul Molitor • Hank Aaron • Rollie Fingers • Bud Selig • Bob Uecker • Prince Fielder • Ryan Braun • Harvey Kuenn Retired Numbers 4 • 19 • 34 • 42 • 44 Key Personnel Owner: Mark Attanasio • General Manager: Doug Melvin • Manager: Ken Macha Minors Player overview • AAA: Nashville Sounds • AA: Huntsville Stars • A: Brevard County Manatees • Wisconsin Timber Rattlers • Rookie: Helena Brewers • AZL Brewers League Pennants American League: 1982 • National League: none Division Titles AL East: 1981 (second half) • 1982 • NL Central: none • Wild Card: 2008 [show] Seasons (41) 1960s 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 1970s 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 1980s 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 1990s 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 2000s 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 [show]v • d • eCurrent ballparks in Major League Baseball American League Angel Stadium of Anaheim · Comerica Park · Fenway Park · Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome · Kauffman Stadium · Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum · Oriole Park at Camden Yards · Progressive Field · Rangers Ballpark in Arlington · Rogers Centre · Safeco Field · Tropicana Field · U.S. Cellular Field · Yankee Stadium National League AT&T Park · Busch Stadium · Chase Field · Citi Field · Citizens Bank Park · Coors Field · Dodger Stadium · Dolphin Stadium · Great American Ball Park · Miller Park · Minute Maid Park · Nationals Park · Petco Park · PNC Park · Turner Field · Wrigley Field Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller_Park_(Milwaukee)" Categories: 2001 establishments | Major League Baseball venues | Milwaukee Brewers | Retractable-roof stadiums | Sports venues in Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Major League Baseball All-Star Game venues | NBBJ buildings | Stadiums using QuesTec