The smell of freshly cut grass or concession stand popcorn in the air. The sound of the ball hitting the mitt or the clacking of a ball being crushed into the outfield. The thrill of a strikeout or a home run resounding throughout the stadium. Baseball is considered America’s National Pastime. It has been around since the mid-1800s. There is so much history and excitement with the sport that you cannot go wrong with attending a game in order to experience it all with your family on a warm summer evening.
We are very fortunate to have a High-A Milwaukee Brewers affiliate team right in our backyard. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers play at the Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium, which is located right off of the highway in Appleton, WI. The players on the team are in the minor league system for the Brewers, so they are either working their way up the ranks to make it into the big leagues or they are major leaguers who may be coming back from injury, so they are rehabbing in Appleton.
The games are such a good time from start to finish. It starts with tailgating in the parking lot. You can do this just as if you were at a Packers or Brewers game. You can bring your chairs, grill, coolers, etc. It’s a nice way to start out the day or evening at the ballpark. Parking is $5 per vehicle, and it is usually pretty ample on weeknights.
Throughout the game, there is a ton of fan interaction, such as between inning entertainment, theme nights, and weekly specials. Some of the entertainment between innings includes giveaways, go-kart racing on the warning track, relay races, and of course, the Bratzooka. Yes, you read that correctly. The Bratzooka is a cannon that shoots packaged brats into the crowd! On theme nights, there are things going on throughout the stadium that are related to the theme night. One of the highlights in regards to the giveaway games is the various bobbleheads. Fans receive a bobblehead of a current or former Wisconsin Timber Rattlers player. My family has collected MANY from over the years.
There are various seating options throughout the ballpark. You can purchase grass seats, which are the cheapest and they are just that, seats in their grass sections near the outfield. They have reserved bleacher seats, box seats (an actual seat, not bleacher), patio tables that have waiter service, all-you-can-eat areas, and suites. Each seat has its pros and cons depending on how much you would like to spend and what amenities are important to you. If you just want to get into the ballpark, then I would recommend grass seats because you have a place to relax, but you can also walk around and explore. We recently attended a game where we sat at a patio table, and it was a very nice experience. There is room to stretch out, especially with children, and someone is there to assist with your food and drink orders. We have also sat in the all-you-can-eat areas, and those are fun as well! There isn’t a bad seat in the place though, so honestly, any option is good.
Speaking of food and drink, the options are endless at the ballpark! They have some really great options no matter what you’re hungry or thirsty for. Some main course options include brats, Fang’s Venom burger, ribeye sandwich, hamburgers, pulled pork sandwich, and more. To go with the main course options, you can enjoy sides of Bavarian Pretzels, cotton candy, ice cream, mac & cheese, nachos, peanuts, and much more! If you’re in the mood for an alcoholic beverage, they have many various craft beers and cocktails. They also have many non-alcoholic beverages. Going into the 2021 season, on Tuesdays, it is Bang for your Buck night, where they have $1 hot dogs and sodas, as well as domestic drafts for $2. On Thursday evenings, they offer 12oz craft beer and brats for $2 each. You cannot go wrong with that kind of pricing, especially when you’re at the ballpark.
On the first base side, they have a kid’s area, which can be great if your child needs a break from baseball. There is a playground, a giant sandpit area with toys, and room to run around. My 1.5-year-old son had a blast playing in the sand the last time we were there.
All in all, going to a Wisconsin Timber Rattlers game is a great time. There are lots of things to do and see, and the baseball team is very exciting to watch. It can be fun as a big group outing or just a night out with your kids. The next time you’re in the mood for some fresh popcorn or cotton candy, head to see the Timber Rattlers and you won’t be disappointed! For further information or questions, please check out their website at https://www.milb.com/wisconsin.
