County Stadium was demolished in 2001
County Stadium was demolished in 2001
Milwaukee County Stadium is the home of the Milwaukee Brewers of the American League.
County Stadium is an enigma. It was built between the building boom of the early 20th century and the 60's/70's rush to erect multi-purpose disasters. Appropriately, it straddles both eras, not entirely successfully.
It looks and feels like an old park in that the upper deck is fairly close to the field and support girders block views. The seats under the upper deck feel like they are in a dark cavern. It's like the parks that were to follow in that it is away from the city, basically surrounded by parking lots. It also feels big, managing not to capture any of the intimacy that you would expect from a stadium of it's general design.
Despite these things, I kind of liked it. Maybe just because it's old and soon to be demolished, but it had a nice feel to it on a chilly July night with a small crowd of disinterested fans in attendance. Maybe I felt sorry for it because the new stadium, Miller Park, loomed over the outfield fence like the Grim Reaper come to claim it's soul. Maybe I just liked the fish fry I got at the little fast food joint in the parking lot.
Move the cursor over the weiners for a shot of Bernie Brewer
Regardless, the place did have some character, personified by the Weiner races and Bernie Brewer sliding into the beer mug beyond center field. I will give it a sentimental three hot dogs and bid the old yard farewell.
