Brewers Attracting More African-American Fans

Players Like Rickie Weeks Resonating With Brewers Fans

The Brewers appear "to be making strides in [their] ability to attract African-American fans to Miller Park,” according to Don Walker of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL.  Brewers Exec VP/Business Operations Rick Schlesinger indicated that the team has “no hard numbers but believes there are more African-American fans coming to the ballpark this season.”  Schlesinger: "We haven't done any kind of scientific analysis to check the demographic makeup.  But we will."   With 1B Prince Fielder, 2B Rickie Weeks and CF Bill Hall all everyday starters, Schlesinger added, “There's no substitute to having three prominent African-American players on your team.”  Walker notes the Brewers have an ongoing arrangement with WMCS-AM, a “predominantly African-American radio station,” which has Brewers programming on the station.  And for the second-straight year, the Brewers held a Negro League tribute game at Miller Park.  The team is also “going into city neighborhoods for Brewers-sponsored block parties” and is involved with MLB’s Reviving Baseball in Inner City neighborhoods program and the Boys & Girls Club of Milwaukee "to appeal to minority youth" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 7/6).