The Milwaukee Milkmen, an independent minor league baseball organization recently started playing in their new stadium called Routine Field located at “The Rock Complex at Ballpark Commons” located at 76th St & Rawson Ave. in Franklin, WI. (slideshow below)
I recently attended a game and came up with a quick & spotty review of the facility, our second such review*. For one, and yes we are naturally bias on this, but there are no in-seat beer vendors. In fact, there are no in-seat vendors period. I was told by an executive at this new park that in addition to the concession stand, bar, club and beer garden drink service they have now, they do plan on adding some portable beer stands but didn’t sound in favor of including in-seat beer vending. To get this off of our chests now, this park needs beer vending! After all, we are Drinks In The Seats!
The capacity of this park is 4,000 and about 1,000 people were in attendance when I was there. It is not near a freeway though it is adjacent to Loomis Road (Hwy 36), where it’s location is beneficial for the south half of Milwaukee County as well as western Racine County to endure some rather cheap entertainment.
Staying on the subject of “cheap”, this is an affordable way of taking in a professional baseball game in a new & clean ballpark without the big league prices! On site parking is free, a seat up front is less than $15 and obviously less if you prefer a “back” seat (and THAT’S even close). The concession stand there will make you think the place is being ran by Kopp’s Frozen Custard (located up the road) because of the workers’ white drive-in style uniforms, but it’s not. In fact, that’s the theme there, Milk Men. It’s impossible not to notice the old fashioned milk theme by looking at almost any stadium personnel. Even their hats are authentic. The only thing missing are in-seat vendors selling milk in glass bottles, oh ok we’re done!
The concession stand did involve nice workers, you could get a hamburger the size between that of McDonald’s & Kopp’s (closer to Kopp’s in size) with a large quantity of fries and a large soda for $11. One concern of that stand though, is that more points of sale could be needed in the event of larger crowds. They did have a nice looking & well stocked liquor bar built in to the wall just behind the home plate stands. During the game itself, less gimmicks appeared between innings which keeps fans from saying to themselves “uh, isn’t there supposed to be a game?”. The production of the game kept in rhythm with bumper music being inserted in between pauses in action. The ballpark also had other sections for parties and such as well as a merchandise store located just inside the left field entrance. So with the exception of what was mentioned up above, Routine Field is a hit! See picture slide show below.
Other phases of this complex including more entertainment and residential space will soon be added. *Fiserv.Forum “quick & spotty”review on our Drinks In The Seats Facebook page.
Ryan Strnad- Managing Member/Lobbyist for Drinks In The Seats®
Was there last night and the single food stand was overwhelmed all night, like 20 minutes to get a hot dog. Crowd under 1000. No beer or concession in the outfield except for ice cream meant 200 yard walk and wait 20 minutes for those in bleachers.
Marty, later this week I’ll forward your comment to the COO of the team without your name (unless you want me to). They should have something in the outfield. I WAS concerned that what all they had behind the home plate seats like that would not be sufficient. The COO, Dan Kuenzi when I spoke to him when I was there did seem like he wanted to add some more points of sale as he would continue to assess his crowd sizes. More revenue naturally would make him more money. I’m going to continue to twist his arm to add some in-seat vending as well.
Thanks for your’ point!
Ryan Strnad – Drinks In The Seats
Me and my husband attended a game tonight. So needed beer and drink vending. The line was brutal. Sorry. Either get faster at food and drink or offer at seat service. The stadium and game experience was awesome. Didn’t try the food due to the line to wait. Again sorry. Went elsewhere to eat. Family oriented place but. Kids cant wait to 6th inning to eat. Didn’t bring grandbabies tonight but food service needs to be faster.
During this week, I’ll forward your’ comment without your name (unless you want me to) to Dan Kuenzi the COO of the team (he knows me, I worked under him in another capacity some 15 years ago). He was the executive I talked to in my review where he told me that he wanted to add more portable stands but was resisting agreeing to add in-seat beer vendors. It did sound like he was still assessing the concession situation with just a limited number of home games there so far. I am going to continue to twist his arm to include in-seat vending as well. He’ll realize real fast what incoming concession money will do for revenue.
Thanks for your’ feedback!
Ryan Strnad – Drinks In The Seats