Spring baseball season is a big deal out here, with the Cub’s opening game celebrated across the city, and hoards of sports fans descending upon the stadiums to watch their beloved teams compete for glory.
A big part of baseball culture has to do with enjoying a beer in the stands and while there are a bunch of stunning rooftop bars and patios to choose from in the area, there’s something to be said about fan’s propensity to sit back and watch a baseball game in the stands. (Beer optional of course!)
In the past, beer sales at Milwaukee Brewers games have historically stopped at the 7th inning, and while there’s technically no set rule when it comes to beer sales at games, most teams and the stadiums cut off sales at this inning.
For Milwaukee fans, you’re now able to enjoy a beer at a home game through the 8th inning, with reports saying sales have continued despite being cut off in the past. As for why this change is being made, it generally has to do with the length of each game, which is shorter than usual this season.
As the season started, the stadium had 19,000 fans attend the opening game last week. The MLB recently instituted a pitch clock earlier this year to speed up games, with the average game time dropping to half an hour less than in previous years.
By extending beer sales into the 8th inning this year, when it comes down to timing, the Brewers president notes that it’s the same as selling through the 7th last year. Right now, they’re testing this new plan out to see if it makes sense but note that the safety of fans is their top priority.
Take the Cubs for example, the team stops selling beer in the 7th inning during night games, but extends to the 8th inning for game days, while the White Sox always cut beer sales off at the 7th inning no matter what. This is to say, there is no definitive rule in place. So get out there and enjoy the sunshine, a good game, and a cold beer!
[Featured photo via: American Family Field]