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Replace Ivy at Miller Park with Hops

After watching a Brewers game at Miller Park recently, some friends and I discussed what could possibly make the experience a more enjoyable and a more holistically Milwaukee experience. In honesty, we struggled, because by most measures, the experience that the Brewers provide at Miller Park is exemplary as ticket, parking, and food/beverage prices are all quite reasonable. What the game and park experience lacks, however, is a signature feature, such as the warehouse behind Camden Yards, the Green Monster at Fenway Park, or the hill in centerfield of Minute Maid Park. To achieve this, we believe that the Brewers organization and Miller Park should replace the ivy behind the wall in centerfield with hops bines.

I give the organization a lot of credit for embracing the brewing heritage of the city as much as it does already in naming the team “Brewers” and by having the largest brewery in the state sponsor the naming rights to the stadium. To extend the embrace the organization shows to Milwaukee’s long and proud brewing heritage further, adding hops bines makes a lot of sense. Hops, of course, are one of the four ingredients used to brew beer according to the German Purity Law. The bines grow in a vine-like manner and could easily achieve the same aesthetic appeal that the ivy provides. Additionally, the hops bines would provide a pleasant aroma for the fans standing or sitting in the centerfield area.

Furthermore, it pains me each time I overhear a visiting Chicago Cubs fan mention that Miller Park is their “Wrigley North.” While I recognize that the Cubs have many fans and that they are the Brewers closest geographical rival, it hurts that they can regard Miler Park as a home-away-from-home. The ivy at Wrigley Field has long been a prominent feature there and, let’s face it, it is not going away. By removing the imagery that the two stadiums share, it may help to curb this belief from the Cubs fans. The ivy vines in Miller Park, meanwhile, are not nearly as established as those in Wrigley Field and, besides, ivy does not pertain to beer brewing in any manner, right?

As committed and responsible home brewers, we have hops bines that we are willing to donate to the Brewers gladly in an effort to fulfill this noble cause. My friends and I love the Brewers and the entire game day experience. Adding the bines to the stadium will only enhance this experience for us and all Wisconsinites who embrace the city’s team and, most importantly, its brewing heritage.

Please reply to me with your interest in acquiring the hops bines. As mentioned before, adding the hops bines to the stadium will enhance the connection the team shares with the city’s brewing heritage, will remove the similarities Miller Park shares with Wrigley Field, and will give the stadium a signature feature that it currently lacks.