The good news is that this season, the Milwaukee Brewers will allow fans back in to watch games at the newly renamed American Family Field for the first time in 18 months.
But along with that comes some new rules to help ensure safety of everyone concerned.
Those rules include things like cashless payments, mobile concession ordering, (mostly) paperless tickets, masks and more.
Here are all the new rules, in text provided by the Milwaukee Brewers (mostly) and developed in collaboration with Major League Baseball and the City of Milwaukee:
No cash payments will be accepted in the ballpark. Should fans have cash, there will be kiosks around the ballpark where they can exchange cash for a prepaid card – if not fully used at American Family Field, these cards can be used outside the ballpark where credit cards are accepted. There are no fees for this service.
Mobile concession ordering through MLB Ballpark App is strongly encouraged for safety and convenience. Mobile concession ordering is also available via texting the word ‘food’ to 41835 or via QR code.
All ticketing will be digital and accessed through the MLB Ballpark App with option for pre-paid parking pass for fan convenience and no-touch entry, except for tickets purchased at the stadium box office (for now).
No bags will be permitted in the ballpark other than purses or wristlets not exceeding 9” x 5” x 2” and ADA/medical bags, manufactured diaper bags. This is expected to expedite entrance and minimize touch points between security and fans.
All fans, ages 2 and older, must always wear a facial covering over nose and mouth – except while actively eating and drinking in their designated seating pods. No exceptions will be made to the mask requirement.
Fans must socially distance themselves at all times, and as such, are encouraged to enjoy the game from their seating pod with the exception of visiting concessions, one of the Team Stores, or the restroom.
Tailgating is permitted. (NOTE: After initially banning tailgating, the Brewers again allowed it beginning in mid-April.)
Fans feeling ill, who have had close contact with a COVID-19 positive person or are awaiting test results will not be permitted to enter the stadium.
To start the season, the ballpark’s new dining experience, Restaurant To Be Named Later, will be open only to ticketed fans and not allow walk-up guests.
No cheering for the Cubs. (OK, I made that up.)
Information and regulations surrounding safety protocols at American Family Field are evolving. The most up-to-date information can be found on brewers.com/COVID.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
