MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Work is moving forward on plans that will allow for year-round events at American Family Field.
And coming soon, Milwaukee Brewers fans may also be able to test their mini golf skills before the game.
The process of “winterization” of the ballpark, as well as plans for a pair of new social gathering spaces, were part of a group of stadium improvement projects included in a 2026 spending resolution approved by the Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District at their meeting September 29.
While plans for winterization work have been approved, facilities manager for the ballpark district Brian Dworak says things are still in the design phase.
“We’ve got some more design work to do before we really are ready to start building it out” Dworak tells WTMJ.
Winterization is definined in the ballpark district’s 2026 segregated reserve account projects resolution as the ability to “maintain a Seating Bowl temperature of 68 degrees for winter events inside American Family Field when the outdoor temperature is -10 degrees”.
Maintaining that 68 degree mark is the biggest sticking point still being worked on, according to Dworak.
The resolution lists a cost estimate of $25 million for winterization efforts, which dates back to the original 2022 estimation of what the full process would cost to implement. But Dworak notes that final cost is subject to change.
“That will drive what the estimated cost is” says Dworak.
Milwaukee Brewers President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger has previously said those efforts could begin following the conclusion of the 2025 season. “Whether it takes one offseason or two offseasons, I’m not sure about that,” Schelesinger told WTMJ in December of 2024.
While much of the roughly $36 million budgeted for so-called segregated reserve account projects will target behind-the-scenes maintenance intended to keep the ballpark infrastructre operational for the next several decades, the list includes $20 million set aside for a pair of “social gathering places”. These are defined as projects “intended to enhance the ballpark experience and to field a competitive product, including social gathering, season seat-holder, and other environments appealing to the Wisconsin fanbase”. Within the ballpark, those spaces include locations like the 3rd Street Market Hall Annex which first opened at the start of the 2024 season in right field.
Two outdoor spaces are being planned. One near the pedestrian bridge crossing Brewers Boulevard/Highway 175 could include both a beer garden and mini golf course. The space would also include interactive areas for fans of all ages, and is being designed for those less interested in the traditional tailgating experience before games, according to Dworak.
The other located near the home plate entrance would be used primarily as a club event space for season ticket holders, but that could be rented out on non-game days as well.
Both gathering space projects are still in the design phase.
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