With a crowd estimated at more than 15,000 in attendance,
the Brewers broke ground Saturday on $250M, convertible-roof
Miller Park, according to Drew Olson of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL
SENTINEL. The proposed 42,500-seat stadium will be built beyond
the center-field wall of County Stadium and is scheduled to open
in 2000. Brewers greats Henry Aaron and Robin Yount were the
first to dig at the site and commemorative baseballs were
distributed to fans. Brewers Owner Bud Selig called the
groundbreaking a "great day," noting, "I don't mind telling you I
... saw people waving at me and cheering and giving a thumbs up,
and I actually had tears in my eyes." Aaron: "Without Bud Selig
and his staff ... I think you would be without baseball"
(MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 11/10).
DEMOS: Miller Park will hold 75 skyboxes, costing between
$75,000-100,000 a year, according to Larry Sandler of the
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. In '93, the club announced it had
commitments for more than 60 sky boxes, but sales were put on
hold during a lengthy stadium financing debate. The facility
will also feature about 3,000 club seats (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL
SENTINEL, 11/8). In an attempt to attract fans year-round, the
stadium's left-field concourse will house a microbrewery
restaurant, a retail souvenir area and a baseball hall of fame
(Kenneth Lamke, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 11/8).
FUNDING UPDATE: The Milwaukee County Board will vote
Tuesday on a proposal to contribute $6M toward infrastructure
improvements related to Miller Park. If approved, the payment
would be a first installment toward an estimated $18M the county
is expected to contribute toward infrastructure (MILWAUKEE
JOURNAL SENTINEL, 11/9).
