Ranking the best in-game experiences for each MLB team

Milwaukee Brewers: Tailgating

Parking and firing up the grill with your family and friends goes hand-in-hand with college and professional football, but tailgating has never really caught on with baseball fans. I’m not sure why, as there are few things more closely associated with baseball than hot dogs and beer. The fact that most baseball stadiums are now in urban settings without expansive parking lots or the hot summer weather might have something to do with it.

There is one MLB city, however, where tailgating is a near-religious experience. The lots surrounding Miller Park in Milwaukee open three hours before first pitch and are typically packed with fans grilling, having a few light American lagers and tossing around a baseball. The Brewers encourage their fans to tailgate and it is taken quite seriously.

If you are going to participate in the pregame festivities, make sure to bring a few extra bratwursts to throw on the grill. Tailgating is still a simple affair in Milwaukee, so leave the fancy steaks and finger foods at home. Everyone is more than happy to share, and there is a community feeling in the lots. There will definitely be more than a few fans willing to share a local sausage or beer.

Tailgating before a football game is awesome, and it’s just as awesome before a baseball game. Milwaukee still has a blue-collar feel, especially at the ballpark. There’s just simple pleasure to be derived from talking baseball with like-minded fans, enjoying a few hot dogs and polishing off a few beers before heading into the stadium.