Milwaukee Brewers fans brought high energy and excitement to welcome postseason baseball back to American Family Field Tuesday night.
A crowd of 40,892 people packed the stadium on an 80-degree night for Game 1 of the the National League Wild Card Series, which ultimately saw the Brew Crew fall 3-6 to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The teams will meet again Wednesday night for Game 2 of the best-of-three series.
The MLB playoffs are taking place as the political theater surrounding the future of the Brewers’ stadium continues to play out at the state level. Last month, Republican lawmakers unveiled a plan that would use $600 million in state and local funds — including $400 from the state and $200 from the city and county — for upgrades to American Family Field. Under this plan, the Brewers would chip in $100 million and extend their lease to 2050 from its current 2030 expiration. It counters the plan Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proposed earlier this year to use $290 million of the state’s budget surplus to fund future stadium improvements and keep the Brewers here through 2043.
Local officials are now pushing back on their funding share, which would be about $5 million a year for the county and $2.5 million a year for the city. The deal will ultimately be determined by the Legislature and Evers, and will likely need bipartisan support.
-
- Fans head into the game.
-
- Fans cheer and wave rally towels after a home run.
-
- Christian Yelich makes a run toward second base.
-
- Brewers dugout.
-
- Brewers president of business operations Rick Schlesinger watches nervously from his suite.
-
- Post-season apparel at the Brewers team store.
-
- Game staff throwing out free t-shirts to fans.
-
- Concession employees show their Brew Crew spirit.
-
- Corbin Burnes throws a pitch.
-
- Leinenkugel’s Barrel Yard was a new food and beverage addition at the stadium this season.
-
- Fans watch the game and order beer at the Barrel Yard.
-
- The Brewers Barrelman dances to “Roll Our the Barrel.”
-
- Sal Frelick at bat.
-
- A fan grabs a beer from the self-serve coolers.
-
- Fans in line for Ian’s Pizza.
-
- William Contreras makes is safe at first base.
-
- Fans watch the game from the Miller Lite landing.
-
- A fan orders a beer at the Miller Lite Landing.
-
- View from the Miller Lite Landing.
-
- Fans high five after an exciting play.
-
- A mom guides her young fans out of the stadium.
-
- A family poses for a photo.
-
- Fans wave their rally towels during Game 1 of the MLB Wild Card Series at American Family Field.
