Recently, I took a trip to Milwaukee to visit my brother. Being the consumate baseball fan I was, I had to get tickets to a baseball game in advance; and also planned on touring the famous Miller Park, site of the infamous ‘Tiegate’ or ‘Seliggate’. After purchasing some very affordable tickets thanks to Miller High Life Mondays($6 a ticket!), I was set.

The tour was great, about an hour and a half with a guide that was typical, but not too overwhelmingly enthusiastic. The most striking part of the park, either from outside on the highway, or standing on the warning track has got to be the roof. It’s a modern marvel of sorts, and a very fascinating piece of architecture. The unfortunate side of the fan shaped 7 panel roof is the lack of air conditioning throughout most of the park, which made for a rough night in early August. If not for the Lake Michigan breeze coming in from the outfield every so often, I may have passed out. Another striking piece of fan pleasing grandiousity is the new hi-def scoreboard in straightaway center. The 4th largest in the MLB, it seems even bigger due to the fact that it nearly hangs over the centerfield fence.

A few other highlights of the tour were the pleasantly air conditioned club level, which was a beautifully decorated haven, espeically the huge northwoodsesque Gehl suite; but unlike Minneapolis’ prized Target Field, you could not see the game unless you were in your seats, due to the suites being on the same level. Another baseball fan dream moment of the tour was spending 3 minutes in Bob Uecker’s radio booth, and although he obviously wasn’t there yet, you could almost hear the witty serenade of the Brewers legend.

A feature that I really enjoyed, but is rarely talked about is Halfaer Field, a little league sized park just beyond the gates of Miller Park, built on the old hallowed grounds of Milwaukee County Stadium. The Guide boasted it as ‘the finest little league park this side of Williamsport, PA’, and from all indictations, he was right. Overlooking the field from the club level of Miller Park, I couldn’t help but envy the thrilled kids who have an opportunity to play at this palace in the shadow of their hometown team’s prized ballpark.

All in all, Miller Park is a great place to catch a game, from the TGI Friday’s in left field(delightfully open all day long), to Bernie Brewer’s slide, to the sliding glass panels behind the outfield keeping out the cold Milwaukee weather in spring and fall. I don’t know that it’s a must-see for baseball nuts, but if you have the opportunity, it’s definitely worth the trip. Especially on Miller High Life Mondays.