SWANSEA CITY'S USA TOUR: All you need to know about Milwaukee

Chivas de Guadalajara v Swansea City
At Miller Park, Wednesday, July 16, 8pm (US time)

Address: Miller Park, 1 Brewers Way, Milwaukee, WI 53214, United States
Telephone No: 001 414 902 4400
Websites:http://mlb.mlb.com/mil/ballpark/brewersenterprises/index.jsp
http://www.chivasdecorazon.com.mx/ (in Spanish)

The opposition

Club Deportivo Guadalajara are one of the most historic and successful clubs in Mexico. They have won 11 First Division titles in Liga MX and have won two Copa México trophies.
The 108-year-old team is the only club in Mexico to exclusively field Mexican players, a concept that has made Chivas a steady contributor of players to their national team.
Manager Carlos Bustos has a number of stand-out players including Omar Bravo, Jesus Aldo DeNigris and Rafa Marquez Lugo.



What's the stadium like?

Miller Park is a baseball stadium, and as such, the playing field is in a diamond shape. The lay-out of the pitch for our game means that those in sections 101-104, 201-205 and 302-05 are quite a distance from the action.
If you want to be near the half way line, look at sections 123-127, 225-229, 341-345 or 430-434. See the stadium plan.

With a huge Mexican population in the Chicago & Milwaukee area, this game should sell out - get your match tickets (priced $25-$70) and car parking ($25 on the day, $20 in advance) as soon as possible HERE by phone on 001 414 902 4000, or in person at Miller Park.

Stadium facts
It would take 4,655,926,995 baseballs to fill Miller Park.
Miller Park weighs the equivalent of 62,500,000 16-pound bowling balls
Length of handrails at Miller Park: 8,000 baseball bats end-to-end
Size of excavation: 16,500 full dump trucks
Seating Capacity: 41,900
Undoubtedly, Miller Park's most unique feature is the roof. The only fan-shaped convertible roof in North America guarantees perfect conditions for every game. The 12,000-ton, seven-panel roof opens and closes almost silently in just 10 minutes.
Three panels move over a fixed panel on the third base side. Two more panels move over a fixed panel on the first base side.
Inside, the roof reaches 200 feet above the playing field. Outside, the highest arch towers 30 stories, the newest fixture in Milwaukee's skyline.



Visiting Milwaukee

Stadium tours are $10 adults, with senior citizens and children paying $7. At http://mlb.mlb.com/mil/ballpark/tours/index.jsp different stadium tours are available.
Milwaukee is world famous for its many breweries. It has an impressive art museum on the lakefront while beer lovers seeking some culture will want to stick nearby. The Miller Brewery is just north of Miller Park. For tours, see HERE while try the Google search link for many more sites.

The city is in the mid-east of America and 400 miles from the Canadian border by road. UK citizens don't need a visa to enter Canada or the US.

The US and Canada provide so many different environments and places. To plan your trip as best you can it's worth checking out the following links for:
Milwaukee
Chicago
Minnesota
Toronto
Canada

Sport
Milwaukee's other sporting teams include the NBA side Milwaukee Bucks, while the Milwaukee Brewers playing in the Major League. The Milwaukee Admirals participate in the American Hockey League, which is a development division for the NHL.

Pubs and Grub

Please note: Tipping in America is standard, whether it be a buying a meal or a couple of drinks.
For a sit-down, waiter-served meal 10 per cent usually means you aren't totally happy; 15 per cent usually means all was acceptable; 20 per cent for excellent; over 20 per cent for outstanding.; 15-20 per cent is considered normal.
For buying drinks at the bar, $1 per drink or 15-20 per cent of the bill is seen as the standard. If you tip well and consistently at bars and pubs, you might receive a drink on the house, known as a "buyback" or "comp".
This typically occurs after the third drink you buy, however, it's usually for regular customers.
Some bartenders will still use the "old school" signal of leaving an upside-down shot glass near your spot at the bar, especially if you are deep in conversation or if it's very noisy, but it's not that common anymore.
Turn the shot glass over when you want the free drink. Even though the drink is free, the service isn't. Don't forget to tip on the "buyback." Note that some bars don't allow this.

In America, tailgating isn't driving too close to the driver in front - it's a sports/eating/drinking experience!
Basically, park up and get the food and refreshments out of the car and have a picnic in the car park (or parking lot).
It's not a minor thing, more so a huge social event with people sharing food and drinks, even cooking food on portable barbeque units.
Parking lots will open three hours before kick off. Ganter's Gardens, which includes permanent tailgating pavilions, are across the river from the Klement's Sausage Haus. Contact the Brewers Sales Office at 001 414 902 4090 for more information.   

If partying in the car park isn't your scene, Klement's Sausage Haus offers bratwurst, sausages, beer and other food and drink.
Inside the stadium, sausages are also very popular, including Italian, Polish and Chorizo sausages, as well as hot dogs. They offer a Secret Stadium Sauce which is supposed to be worth trying.

Miller beer is obviously inside the stadium in abundance, but beer drinkers will be happy with the wide selection of imported and excellent local microbrews, too. The Sprecher and New Glarus are recommended as they are both Milwaukee favourites.

Many fans wait out the traffic with some post-game tailgating. Another good option is to head to Bluemound Road north of Miller Park just across I-94, where there are various restaurants and bars.

Try Kelly's Bleachers before and after the game - it's less than a mile from Miller Park. They operate a free mini-bus shuttle service to and from the stadium and have two 24-seat buses and one 12-seat bus using the drop-off area near the ticket office/Home Plate gate accessible via Yount Drive.
For those wanting food, their menu is extensive with many meals costing $5-$9. The "The Grand Slam Burger" food challenge will not be available on match-day, but is on any other day should you wish to try it.

A special deal has been arranged with the bar owner - any fan wearing any Swans shirt, new or old will, upon entering the bar before the game be issued with a voucher to be exchanged for a free shot.

Kelly's Bleachers will, on matchday, open at 11am, serve food from 11am-1am, with the bar closing at 2am.

Travel to Miller Stadium and Parking

By car

From North - From Green Bay: Take I-43 South to I-94 Westbound Ramp (Madison exit), continue on I-94 Westbound to Miller Park Way.
From Fond du Lac: Take Southbound 41/45 to I-94 Eastbound (Milwaukee exit). Follow I-94 Eastbound to Miller Park Way.
 
From East - From Lakefront: Starting from east of the Downtown (Marquette) Interchange on I-794 heading west, continue onto I-94 Westbound to Miller Park Way.
 
From South - From Chicago/General Mitchell Airport: Go north on I-94 Westbound to the Marquette Interchange and follow I-94 Westbound to Miller Park Way. From Beloit: Take I-43 North to I-894 Northbound. Follow this to I-94 Eastbound (Milwaukee exit). Follow I-94 Eastbound to Miller Park Way.
 
From West - From Madison: Take I-94 Eastbound to Milwaukee and continue to Miller Park Way.

Bike/On Foot - Getting to Miller Park by bicycle/on foot is easy via the Hank Aaron State Trail. An asphalt paved path follows portions of the Menomonee River from the Sixth Street Bridge to Miller Park Bicycle Parking - Bike racks are near the Klement's Sausage Haus, east of Miller Park, at Helfaer field & the Ballpark Plaza near the Clock Tower.

By Bus

Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) riders can catch the Route 90 (Miller Park) bus on Wisconsin Avenue from the Downtown Transit Centre to Miller Park.

Route 90 (Miller Park) bus stops are located at the Downtown Transit Centre and along Wisconsin Avenue from Jackson Street to 38th Street. Look for electronic destination signs that display "Miller Park" or something similar. Buses drop passengers off at the MCTS transit area on Yount Drive on the north side of Miller Park.
Buses operate every 30 minutes for two hours before kick off. Return trip bus service leaving Miller Park operate for half an hour after the end of the game. On the return trip, buses leave the ball park from the MCTS transit area and serve all eastbound bus stops.

Route 10 (Humboldt-Wisconsin), Route 23 (Fond du Lac-National) or the Metro Express BlueLine (Fond du Lac-National) stop within walking distance of Miller Park. Fares for Routes 10, 23, 90 and BlueLine are $2.25 for over-12s and $1.10 those aged 6-11, senior citizens and the disabled. Children under six travel free with an adult.

For more information call 001 414 937 0460 or visit http://ridemcts.com/

Did you know?

The Miller Brewing Company was founded in 1855 by Frederick Miller. The brewery's location in the Miller Valley in Milwaukee provided easy access to raw materials produced on nearby farms.

The Bronze Fonz is a public artwork located on the Milwaukee Riverwalk just south of Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin U.S.A. The Bronze Fonz depicts Henry Winkler as the Happy Days TV show character Arthur Fonzarelli, also known as the Fonz.



Milwaukee hosts the "world's largest music festival" from late June to early July. Summerfest attracts up to one million people each year, with 11 stages and over 700 bands performing. Previous headliners include Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Metallica, Cher, Britney Spears and Bon Jovi.

Milwaukee is twinned with Galway.



The Allen Bradley Clocktower is one of Milwaukee's most recognizable landmarks as is the largest four-faced clock in the world.

The typewriter was invented in Milwaukee in 1867 by Christopher Latham Sholes.

American motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson was founded in Milwaukee.

Former baseball player, commentator and actor Bob Uecker - best know for his comical role in the hit 1989 film Major League - was also born in Milwaukee.