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Over the past year, construction crews have been working diligently to complete renovations at the Spring Training home of the Milwaukee Brewers in Maryvale, Arizona. Work was completed in advance of today’s date for pitchers and catchers to report, with the ribbon cutting ceremony being held yesterday afternoon. Players, reporters, and fans were then able to get their first look at the upgraded $60 mil facility, and here are some photos, videos, and quotes from the renamed “American Family Fields of Phoenix”:
Today we’re unveiling our new Spring Training & development complex: American Family Fields of Phoenix! pic.twitter.com/ePTDXbdN90
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 12, 2019
Brewers Fields of Phoenix is open for business. Most players used one word to describe the makeover: “Wow.” pic.twitter.com/e6B9xbP38v
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) February 12, 2019
The stadium itself looks the same but has wider concourses with upgraded concessions and restrooms. And one big upgrade in left field: A video board. (R.I.P. always-broken matrix board.) pic.twitter.com/03TC2svE9s
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) February 12, 2019
One of the biggest differences between old Maryvale and the new place is a nod to the history of the franchise. Outside the clubhouse is an installation with every player to wear each uniform number. pic.twitter.com/6fLyMgZJ7b
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) February 12, 2019
More behind the scenes at American Family Fields of Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/c9idXlEbjW
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) February 12, 2019
#Brewers fans going to love improvements to actual ballpark here. Benches are gone. Individual seats now. Wider, much improved concourses. Great new scoreboard. New field looks great.
— Tom (@Haudricourt) February 12, 2019
The #Brewers new spring training clubhouse might be better than any MLB clubhouse. Players are flabbergasted. Eric Thames said "I was in disbelief when I first saw it."
— Tom (@Haudricourt) February 12, 2019
To a man, Brewers players are blown away by the improvements here in Maryvale. This is Jimmy Nelson's take on the incredible major-league clubhouse: "This is definitely above expectations. We’ve got 85 TVs in here. You just want to bring a blow-up mattress and hang out."
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) February 12, 2019
It's going to take people a lot of time to figure out the new layout here in Maryvale. "It’s a maze. It needs a directory on the front door," Eric Thames said. "I’m in disbelief. It’s an awesome place. They did a great job building it, and whoever planned this did a great job."
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) February 12, 2019
Amazing thing is renovated and renamed American Family Fields of Phoenic are on same 60-acre footprint as Maryvale Baseball Park. Yet, somehow, it seems twice the size. They have squeezed a lot of cool new stuff into it.
— Tom (@Haudricourt) February 12, 2019
#Brewers fans will be happy to hear what David Stearns said about their access at the newly renovated spring facility: "Fans are going to have a tremendous amount of access. When we're on the back fields, access doesn't there change. Fans can get up close to our agility field."
— Tom (@Haudricourt) February 12, 2019
More Stearns: "The fan experience is going to be as intimate, if not more intimate, with modern amenities. On game days, (the back practice fields are) part of the way fans will get into the ballpark."
— Tom (@Haudricourt) February 12, 2019