Chivas de Guadalajara Wednesday 16th July 2014 20:00 (US time)
Address: Miller Park, 1 Brewers Way, Milwaukee, WI 53214, United States
Telephone No: 001 414 902 4400
Web-sites: http://mlb.mlb.com/mil/ballpark/brewersenterprises/index.jsp
http://www.chivasdecorazon.com.mx/ (in Spanish)
What’s It Like
With a huge Mexican population in the Chicago & Milwaukee area, this game WILL sell out – get your match tickets ($25 – $70) and car parking tickets ($25 on the day, $20 in advance) as soon as possible at http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/mil/ticketing/soccer.jsp by phone on 001 414 902 4000, or in person at Miller Park.
Miller Park is a baseball stadium, and as such, the playing field is in a diamond shape. The lay-out of the pitch for our game means that those in sections 101-104, 201-205 and 302-05 are quite a distance from the action. If you want to be near the half way line, look at sections 123-127, 225-229, 341-345 or 430-434.
Club Deportivo Guadalajara — One of the most historic and successful clubs in Mexico, they have won 11 First Division titles in Liga MX and has won 2 Copa México trophies. The 108-year-old team is the only club in Mexico to exclusively field Mexican players, a concept that has made Chivas a steady contributor of players to the Mexican National Team. Standout players include Omar Bravo, Jesus Aldo DeNigris and Rafa Marquez Lugo. The team is managed by Carlos Bustos.
Visiting Milwaukee
Stadium tours are (typically) $10, with senior citizens and children paying $7. At http://mlb.mlb.com/mil/ballpark/tours/index.jsp different stadium tours are available.
Milwaukee is world famous for its many breweries; Milwaukee may have an impressive art museum on the lakefront, but beer lovers seeking some culture will want to stick nearby. The Miller Brewery is just north of Miller Park. There are many web sites where tours can be arranged, one of which is http://milwaukeebrewerytours.com/ The Google search link for many more sites is https://www.google.co.uk/#q=milwaukee+brewery
The city is in the mid-east of America, and 400 miles from the Canadian border by road. Realistically you’re looking at flying to Toronto (430 miles by air, 485 miles by car). UK citizens don’t need a visa to enter Canada or the US.
The US and Canada provide so many different environments and places; to plan your trip as best you can it’s worth checking out the following links for:
Milwaukee http://www.visitmilwaukee.org/
Chicago http://www.discoverillinois.org/?gclid=CIz5yu6y774CFUfLtAodBlsAeg
Minnesota http://www.exploreminnesota.com/index.aspx
Toronto http://www.toronto.ca/
Canada http://www.cic.gc.ca/englisH/visit/index.asp
Pubs and Grub
Please note – Tipping in America is standard, whether it be a buying a meal or a couple of drinks. Serving staff are on extremely low wages and rely on tips to make ends meet. For a sit-down, waiter served meal 10% usually means you aren’t totally happy, 15% usually means all was acceptable, 20% for excellent, over 20% for outstanding. 15-20% is considered normal. For buying drinks at the bar, $1 per drink or 15-20% of the bill is seen as the standard. If you tip well and consistently at bars and pubs, you might receive a drink on the house, known as a “buyback” or “comp”. This typically occurs after the 3rd drink you buy, however, it’s usually for regular customers. Some bartenders will still use the “old school” signal of leaving an upside-down shot glass near your spot at the bar, especially if you are deep in conversation or if it’s very noisy, but it’s not that common anymore. Turn the shot glass over when you want the free drink. Even though the drink is free, the service isn’t. Don’t forget to tip on the “buyback.” Note that some bars don’t allow this.
In America, tailgating isn’t driving too close to the driver in front. It’s a sports/eating/drinking experience. Basically, park up and get the food and beers out of the car and have a picnic in the car park (or parking lot). It’s not a minor thing, but a huge social event with people sharing food and drinks, even cooking food on portable barbeque units. Parking lots will open 3 hours before kick off. Ganter’s Gardens, which includes permanent tailgating pavilions, are across the river from the Klement’s Sausage Haus. Contact the Brewers Sales Office at 001 414 902 4090 for more information.
If partying in the car park isn’t your scene, Klement’s Sausage Haus offers bratwurst, sausages, beer and other food and drink. Inside the stadium, sausages are also very popular, including Italian, Polish and Chorizo sausages, as well as hot dogs. They offer a Secret Stadium Sauce which is supposed to be worth trying.
Miller beer is obviously inside the stadium in abundance, but beer drinkers will be happy with the wide selection of imported and excellent local microbrews, too. The Sprecher and New Glarus, are recommended, both Milwaukee favourites.
Many fans wait out the traffic with some post-game tailgating. Another good option is to head to Bluemound Road north of Miller Park just across I-94, where there are various restaurants and bars.
Try Kelly’s Bleachers http://www.kellysbleachers1.com/ before and after the game, less than a mile from Miller Park. They operate a free mini-bus shuttle service to and from the stadium – they have two 24 seat buses and one 12 seat bus using the drop-off area near the ticket office/Home Plate gate accessible via Yount Drive. For those wanting food, their menu is extensive with many meals $5 – $9. The food challenge (The Grand Slam Burger) will not be available on match-day, but on any other day should you wish to try it.
A special deal has been arranged with the bar owner; any fan wearing any Swans shirt, new or old will, upon entering the bar before the game be issued with a voucher to be exchanged for a free shot.
Kelly’s Bleachers will, on matchday, open at 11am, serve food from 11am to 1am, with the bar closing at 2am.
Travel to Miller Stadium and Parking
By Car
From North – From Green Bay: Take I-43 South to I-94 Westbound Ramp (Madison exit), continue on I-94 Westbound to Miller Park Way. From Fond du Lac: Take Southbound 41/45 to I-94 Eastbound (Milwaukee exit). Follow I-94 Eastbound to Miller Park Way.
From East – From Lakefront: Starting from east of the Downtown (Marquette) Interchange on I-794 heading west, continue onto I-94 Westbound to Miller Park Way.
From South – From Chicago/General Mitchell Airport: Go north on I-94 Westbound to the Marquette Interchange and follow I-94 Westbound to Miller Park Way. From Beloit: Take I-43 North to I-894 Northbound. Follow this to I-94 Eastbound (Milwaukee exit). Follow I-94 Eastbound to Miller Park Way.
From West – From Madison: Take I-94 Eastbound to Milwaukee and continue to Miller Park Way.
Bike/On Foot – Getting to Miller Park by bicycle/on foot is easy via the Hank Aaron State Trail. An asphalt paved path follows portions of the Menomonee River from the Sixth Street Bridge to Miller Park Bicycle Parking – Bike racks are near the Klement’s Sausage Haus, east of Miller Park, at Helfaer field & the Ballpark Plaza near the Clock Tower.
By Bus:
Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) riders can catch the Route 90 (Miller Park) bus on Wisconsin Avenue from the Downtown Transit Centre to Miller Park.
Route 90 (Miller Park) bus stops are located at the Downtown Transit Centre and along Wisconsin Avenue from Jackson Street to 38th Street. Look for electronic destination signs that display “Miller Park” or something similar. Buses drop passengers off at the MCTS transit area on Yount Drive on the north side of Miller Park. Buses operate every 30 minutes for 2 hours before kick off. Return trip bus service leaving Miller Park operate for a half-hour after the end of the game. On the return trip, buses leave the ball park from the MCTS transit area and serve all eastbound bus stops.
Route 10 (Humboldt-Wisconsin), Route 23 (Fond du Lac-National) or the MetroEXpress BlueLine (Fond du Lac-National) that stop within walking distance of Miller Park. Fares for Routes 10, 23, 90 and BlueLine are $2.25 for over 12’s and $1.10 those aged 6 -11, senior citizens and the disabled. Children under 6 travel free with an adult.
For more information call 001 414 937 0460 or visit http://ridemcts.com/