Tailgating at Miller Park: Cubs at Brewers

With a possible Wild Card clinching game on hand in Milwaukee I decided to drive to Miller Park yesterday for the game between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers. Some friends of mine recently moved to Milwaukee and were tailgating before the game. I met them in the Miller Park parking lot for my first Milwaukee tailgate. Of course, they served brats. Tailgating at Miller Park has a similar feel to tailgating before an NFL game – it seems everyone in the parking lot is grilling and playing games.

Obtaining Tickets
One strategy for buying tickets outside the ballpark is to ask anyone passing by your tailgate if they have extras. Generally these fans are just looking to recoup their cost or will give the ticket away for free. Yesterday, I asked the first couple I saw if they had extra tickets. They did. I offered $10 for a single but ended up paying the face value price of $15 for a seat in Bernie’s Terrace (upper deck past the left field foul pole).

The Game
Since the Mets beat the Marlins earlier in the day, I knew the Brewers could not clinch with a win against the Cubs. However, the Cubs beat the Brewers 7-3. Ted Lilly took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Ryan Braun doubled to start the bottom of the 7th inning and the no-hitter was over. It was the second time this season I witnessed a no-hitter reach the 7th inning. The first occurred on April 12 at U.S. Cellular Field.

Post Game Dining
While Milwaukee is a great city to eat in before or after the game, another option while driving back to Chicago is to stop at The Brat Stop in Kenosha, WI. The Brat Stop opened in 1961 and is right off the I-94. Yesterday the beer garden was open. I had never been to the beer garden since I am normally driving to Milwaukee when the weather is too cold or it is too late after a night game. I was not missing much. Nobody was in the beer garden and it only served brats and hot dogs. I dined in the main restaurant and did not order a brat.