American Family Field is the home ballpark of Major League Baseball’s Milwaukee Brewers, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the junction of Interstate 94 and Brewers Boulevard. The stadium opened on April 6, 2001, replacing the aging Milwaukee County Stadium, and was originally named Miller Park after Miller Brewing Company held the naming rights until 2020. American Family Insurance took over the naming rights beginning with the 2021 season.
The ballpark’s signature feature is its fan-shaped convertible roof, the only one of its kind in North America, which can open or close in less than ten minutes to shield fans and the natural grass playing surface from Wisconsin’s unpredictable weather. Designed by HKS, Inc., NBBJ, and Eppstein Uhen Architects, the stadium cost roughly $400 million to build and has hosted marquee events including the 2002 MLB All-Star Game.
Stats at a Glance
- Team: Milwaukee Brewers (MLB)
- Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Opened: April 6, 2001
- Capacity: About 41,900
- Roof type: Fan-shaped retractable roof (closes in under 10 minutes)
- Original construction cost: About $400 million
- Notable fact: Renamed from Miller Park to American Family Field in 2021
The Ballpark Experience
American Family Field’s retractable roof lets the Brewers guarantee games are rarely rained out while still keeping the feel of an outdoor ballpark with natural grass. The stadium also features a giant slide in left field for Brewers home runs and a sausage-shaped mascot race, both of which have become beloved parts of the Milwaukee gameday tradition.
The venue has hosted significant baseball history, including the 2002 All-Star Game and Carlos Zambrano’s 2008 no-hitter, the first no-hitter thrown at a neutral MLB site. In late 2023, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed a bill committing more than $500 million in public and Brewers funding toward stadium repairs and upgrades, securing the team’s lease in Milwaukee through 2050. The renovations began ahead of the 2024 season with a new center field scoreboard, a right field video board, and a redesigned food hall, with further improvements to the roof, elevators, and suites still planned.
A Difficult Construction History
Construction of the stadium was marked by tragedy on July 14, 1999, when a massive crawler crane nicknamed ‘Big Blue’ collapsed while lifting a 400-ton roof panel, killing three ironworkers and injuring five others. An OSHA investigation found the crane had been operated outside its design limits amid high winds, and a bronze memorial sculpture by Omri Amrany was later installed at the stadium to honor the workers who died.
Despite the setback, construction resumed and the ballpark opened on schedule in April 2001. Between 1996 and 2020, a dedicated regional sales tax contributed roughly $609 million toward the project, making it one of the most publicly funded stadium developments in baseball history.
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American Family Field FAQs
Why was Miller Park renamed American Family Field?
The Milwaukee Brewers’ stadium was called Miller Park from 2001 to 2020 under a naming rights deal with Miller Brewing Company. When that agreement ended, American Family Insurance acquired the naming rights, and the ballpark became American Family Field starting with the 2021 season.
What makes the roof at American Family Field unique?
It is North America’s only fan-shaped convertible roof. The seven-panel roof can open or close in less than ten minutes, allowing the Brewers to play on natural grass while protecting fans from rain, wind, and Wisconsin’s cold spring and fall temperatures.
How many fans can American Family Field hold?
The stadium has a listed seating capacity of about 41,900 for Milwaukee Brewers games.
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Photo: Carol H. Highsmith / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.