ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) – Fans were in the stands at American Family Field for the Milwaukee Brewers Opening Day on Thursday. But they also lined the bar at Stadium View in Ashwaubenon.
While only a few thousand fans were allowed in to watch the Crew take on the Minnesota Twins to open the new season, those watching the game at Stadium View were readier than ever for the first pitch.
“I’m just excited for the season to get going,” Marcus said.
“Great! Baseball is back. With everything moving forward with vaccines and COVID kind of slowly but surely getting over that hump, it’s nice to feel a little more sense of normal. I’m really excited about that,” said Andrew. “Hearing some fans in the stands is really cool to hear. I know last year, it made it hard to watch without that.”
“I was like ‘I’m so hyped for the game today, it feels like we didn’t even have baseball last year.’ Granted it was a shortened season, but we have a full season coming up and I’m just hyped!” said Derek.
Everyone WTAQ spoke with was a bit disappointed that they weren’t physically at the game, but they found the next best thing.
“The only thing that could be better is being at the game,” Rebecca said. “Front and center here, with a nice table at the bar and big screens to watch it on.”
“That’s what’s going on in my head, is just when can I get out there and go to a game?” Marcus said.
“Wasn’t able to get tickets for it, and they were a little expensive for Opening Day. This is actually the first one since 2007 where I won’t be at Miller Park, with the exception of last year obviously. It’s good to just cheer on the Crew again,” Andrew said. “[I’ll be at a game] in the real near future. I’m checking out StubHub as much as I can, but it looks like they’re sold out on the website.”
As for the impact of fans on the game, local fans think it’ll provide an edge for the first season of American Family Field.
“Oh, absolutely! It’s Opening Day, it’s Milwaukee. I know there’s no tailgating, but you know the fans are fired up with a couple beers in them already. It’s going to be wild, it’s going to be good,” Derek told WTAQ News. “[Fans in the stands] will be good for the players, and just for everybody. Good for the city!”
“Hopefully a little bit of homefield advantage will help them there. We’ve got Woody [Brandon Woodruff] on the mound, so I’m excited about that,” Andrew added.
As for the season as a whole? There was a lot of optimism.
“We’re going to be a little under the radar. I think we’ll make the playoffs. I think we’ll be a pretty decent team. I like the additions we made with Kolten Wong and [Jackie] Bradley, Jr.,” Derek said.
“It’ll be interesting to see them. It’ll be more pitching and defense than offense, which I’m not used to with my Brewers teams, but I’m hoping for a good year,” Andrew said.
“I’m going for about 88 or 90 wins. Maybe a wildcard if we don’t win the division? But I’m hopeful for this season,” Marcus predicted.
The Brewers beat the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, 6-5 in extra innings. They play again at 6:10 p.m. Saturday night. Coverage starts on WTAQ at 5:35 p.m.
