Biography/History

In 1946 a resolution was passed by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors to conduct a study in support of a municipal stadium to be dedicated to Milwaukee veterans of WWII. The resulting County Stadium was originally designed as a home for the minor league American Association team Milwaukee Brewers, replacing their then-current venue, Borchert Field. Milwaukee County Municipal Stadium opened with the 1953 season. The Brewers never played on the field, ironically, as the major league Boston Braves relocated to Milwaukee in 1953 to become the Milwaukee Braves. The stadium was intended to be multi-use from the start, with facilities for both baseball and football.

The stadium was expanded the following year, and several times more before a study was commissioned in the 1980s to compare renovating the existing stadium and building a new stadium. Eventually it was decided to build a new stadium in the existing center field parking lot. Ground was broken for the new stadium on November 9, 1996. The new stadium, Miller Park (naming sponsor MillerCoors holds the license until 2020), was scheduled to open for the 2000 baseball season, but the collapse of the 'Big Blue' crane on July 14, 1999 set the project back. Miller Park opened on March 30, 2001 for an exhibition game between the Brewers and the Chicago White Sox.

1924	Land agreement between Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers and The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company (TMERLC), approved by General George Wood, for land that eventually became the site of Milwaukee County Stadium.
1925	Milwaukee County deeds a portion of Bluff Park land to TMERLC; again, the land eventually became part of the Milwaukee County Stadium site.
1946	Resolution #8830 by Supervisor Busby of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors authorizes a study in support of a municipal stadium, dedicated to Milwaukee veterans of WWII. “Proposed Stadium: Committee Report to Milwaukee City Park Commission” is delivered. Story Stone quarry is transferred to Milwaukee County for stadium. Story Quarry is at that time being used as a city dump. This will lead to the eventual methane issue on the property.
1947	“Report on Selection of a Stadium Site for County of Milwaukee, Wisconsin” is delivered by Osborn Engineering Company of Cleveland, Ohio, and evaluates seven potential sites. Keefe Avenue site is recommended, but the Story Stone Quarry site is selected.
1949	Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors selects Story Quarry site for new stadium. Request for land for Stadium presented to Veterans Affairs (VA), stressing the “therapeutic value” of the close proximity of the stadium for the patients of the VA. The VA files a quitclaim deed for the requested portion of land including water depot, clearing the way for the county to purchase the land.
1950	Osborn submits revised estimate of costs for stadium construction based on substantial reductions to scope of project. New revised estimate is $3.2 million. Eventual cost is $5 million.
1951	Land acquired from Wisconsin Electric Power Company. Story Stone Quarry transferred to Milwaukee County.
1953	Milwaukee County Municipal Stadium opens April 6, with an exhibition game between the Milwaukee Braves and the Boston Red Sox. Green Bay Packers play several home games each season at County stadium every year until 1994. Seating capacity is 36,011.
1954-1955	The VA executed a quitclaim on additional adjacent land. An addition is constructed increasing the seating capacity to 43,394. Many of the original suggestions by Osborn are included in the expansion of the facility.
1956	Additional land transferred from county to city for water booster station.
1966	Milwaukee Braves move to Atlanta.
1968	Stadium hosts nine Chicago White Sox home games, arranged by local businessman and president of Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club, Inc. Bud Selig, in order to demonstrate that Milwaukee was a viable market for major league baseball.
1969	Stadium hosts 11 Chicago White Sox home games. Additional land acquired for stadium from VA and city.
1970	Bud Selig buys Seattle Pilots team and relocates them to Milwaukee as the Milwaukee Brewers.
1975	Seating capacity increased to 53,192.
1982	Study of toilet room facilities is conducted, possibly in line with 'restroom facility parity' issue that was beginning to gain momentum.
1984	Five-year pavement and parking repair plan is issued.
1986	A feasibility study for renovation of existing County Stadium and new proposed baseball stadium is done.
1987	Greater Milwaukee Committee Brewers Task Force established to look into stadium requirements and financing strategies.
1989	Report summarizing findings of Milwaukee County Stadium Options study comparing renovation of county Stadium vs. construction of new stadium issued.
1991	Roof blows off Upper Grandstand.
1993	Additional monitoring of methane gas under property is conducted. Americans with Disability Act accessibility study done.
1994	“Remedial Alternatives Analysis for the Proposed Brewers Stadium Infrastructure Project” is prepared by RMT, Inc. and delivered to The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Howard, Needles, Tammen, and Bergendoff (HNTB). It includes plans for methane abatement of chosen site. December 18 is last Green Bay Packers game played at County Stadium.
1995	The Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District is created by 1995 Wisconsin Act 56. It is a public corporation that may acquire, construct, maintain, improve, operate and manage baseball park facilities. The district has the authority to impose a sales tax and use tax within the district.
1996	October 28: design for new stadium is selected. November 9: ground is broken for new stadium in center field parking lot of existing stadium. Miller Park scheduled to open with 2000 baseball season.
1999	July 14: fatal accident. Collapse of 'Big Blue' crane and portion of roof kills three ironworkers. Opening of Miller Park is delayed until 2001 season.
2000	September 28: final Brewers game at County Stadium.
2001	February 21: Milwaukee County Municipal Stadium demolished. March 30: exhibition game between Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox. April 6: Opening Day. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig throws first pitch and President George W. Bush throws out second ball.