Results tagged ‘ John Steinmiller ’
Early Entry for Brewers Mini Ends Tonight!
Are you planning to join John and me by running in the Brewers Mini-Marathon on Saturday, September 22? Then don’t forget to register by midnight tonight (Monday, April 30) to save $10 with the Early Entry fee of just $65. [After tonight, the price increases to $75 until July 31.]
Register now and you’ll get:
- To race on a scenic and unique course past, around and through many Milwaukee landmarks. The course will begin and end at Miller Park, including an opportunity to run inside, along the playing field warning track.
- terrific on-course support with 10 Aid Stations serving water & Gatorade, Misting Stations, and entertainment along the route.
- A free Brewers ticket voucher for any remaining 2012 regular season game or a game in April/May of 2013.
- A swag bag including a tech shirt, plus a medal and awards for top performers in each male and female age category.
- Access to a fantastic post-race tailgate party at Miller Park with live music, free beer and great food!
- Fundraising opportunities to support the MACC Fund and amazing prizes for top individual and group fundraisers.
Don’t forget to follow us here all season long as we train for the race and raise money to support the MACC Fund! We’ll have tips on getting the proper gear, what to eat to compete, training logs and more! After you register, make sure you join Team John & Cait!
For more information on the Brewers Mini, visit www.brewersmini.com.
Hope to see you there!
-CAIT
Timber Rattlers Make Annual Visit to Miller Park Friday
The Brewers will kick off a road trip in St. Louis on Friday, but there will still be some action at Miller Park that night. The Brewers’ Class-A affiliate, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Dayton Dragons, an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, will square off in a Midwest League Matchup set for a 7:05 p.m. start.
Every ticket will sell for just $10 (all seats reserved) and are on sale at Brewers.com, the Miller Park Box Office or by calling the Brewers Ticket Office at (414) 902-4000 or 1-800-933-7890. Parking for all lots is $9. Did I mention $1 hot dogs and sodas as well?!
The Timber Rattlers play just up the road from Miller Park in Appleton, Wis. at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Wisconsin is 10-9 and tied for second place in the division. The Timber Rattlers are led by Appleton native Matt Erickson who played 11 professional seasons and made his Major League debut with the Brewers in 2004.
The scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin on Friday is RHP Drew Gagnon (gan-yo), who owns a 0.89 ERA (20.1ip, 2er)–the second lowest ERA in the Brewers Minor League system this season. Gagnon was the Brewers third round draft pick last summer from Long Beach State University. He pitched with Rookie Helena last season.
Ken Spindler, Brewers Media Relations Coordinator and my neighbor in the Media Relations Press Box offices, is our “Minor League Guru.” Spindler puts together a daily Minor League Report for media and the front office. In preparation of Friday’s game, I am posting today’s edition here for you all to enjoy.
Minor League Report – April 25
I will post the Minor League Report for you to all read here on a weekly basis. it is full of Minor League stats and notes from every Brewers affiliate. Until then, enjoy watching the future members of the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday at the current home of the Milwaukee Brewers.
–JOHN
johnandcait@brewers.com
Chef’s Table Feature for the Astros Series
Last week, we told you about the new Chef’s Table options and the new concession options that will change based on the opponent we’re playing.
This week’s featured rivalry fare is Texas Style Chili Pie in honor of the series vs. the Astros!
Here’s the menu:
Here is what it looks like when completed. Looks great!
The Chef’s Table is located outside Section 215 on the Loge Level.
- John & Cait
Chef’s Table Feature for the Weekend Series vs. Colorado: Buffalo Burgers
Earlier in the week, we told you about the new Chef’s Table options and the new concession options that will change based on the opponent we’re playing.
Tonight’s featured rivarly fare is: Colorado Style Buffalo Burgers in honor of the series vs. the Rockies! Here’s the menu:
The Chef’s Table is located outside Section 215 on the Loge Level.
- John
Johnandcain@brewers.com
What John and Cait Ate: New Food Network Favorites for 2012 & Rivalry Fare
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
-Yogi Berra
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it…and try these concessions!”
-John & Cait
Hello readers!
We’re really excited to bring back the food review series that we started in 2011: What John and Cait Ate.
During each homestand, we will be meeting with John DiMartini, Executive Chef at Delaware North Sportservice/Miller Park to sample some of the latest and greatest Miller Park fare.
Sportservice provides the food and drink concessions for 25 major league sports clients at 23 venues, including 10 Major League Baseball stadiums. As the exclusive food, beverage and retail provider for Miller Park, Sportservice offers so many concession stands and such a wide variety of food options that fans dashing out of their seats for a quick snack between innings may be missing out on some of the best ballpark bites.
Don’t worry. We’re here to help.
When most fans think of ballpark fare, the first things that come to mind are—thanks to the song—peanuts and Crackerjack, as well as hot dogs, brats, maybe popcorn, etc.
Well no offense to the classics, but while baseball is still America’s favorite pastime, America’s palette has evolved.
“Our taste buds have evolved,” Chef John told us ”With Food Network and things like that, people see unique foods and want to try them. The ballpark is not just a hot dog place anymore.”
Don't worry, Hot Dog, you'll still be a top-seller. Fans just appreciate more options!
Indeed. What John and Cait Ate will continue to prove that, so read on and feel free to chime in with comments of your own or questions you may have!
New Food Network Favorites for 2012
This year, Food Network is introducing at least two new items into each of the DNC Sportservice stadiums-the Buffalo Chicken Mac N’ Cheese and the Bacon Sloppy Joes. Intrigued? Read on.
Buffalo Chicken Mac N’ Cheese- $7.50
A new twist on an old favorite, the Food Network’s buffalo chicken mac n’ cheese is a baked macaroni and cheese tossed with spicy buffalo chicken and topped with bleu cheese bread crumbs.
John: I felt very American when eating this. Baseball game. Mac n’ cheese. Buffalo chicken. It was great. I have been wanting to try this ever since I first saw it on Opening Day. I didn’t feel cheated on the amount of chicken mixed in, I thought it was the perfect amount. Very easy to eat and a portion that left me satisfied, but able to enjoy some other snacks throughout the game.
Cait: The is not the mac n’ cheese that your mom used to make. Even if hers was pretty good, this is better, guaranteed. The buffalo chicken has just the right amount of “kick” to it; that, combined with its texture, meshes very well with the cheese and the bleu cheese bread crumbs.
Rating (out of 5):
Bacon Sloppy Joes-$7.50
Starting with a Fritos base, lay down a potato roll, slather it with ground beef and bacon that has been slow-cooked with tomatoes. Top that with pepperjack cheese and jerky fried onions and you’ve got Food Network’s Bacon Sloppy Joe.
John: Again, another true American meal with a twist. Who doesn’t love bacon?! And bacon mixed with Sloppy Joe?! I’m in. The cheese and fried onions added to the taste while the chips completed the meal. The only problem I had with this is that it was, well, kind of sloppy. Make sure to grab a fork when enjoying this ballpark snack.
Cait: The Bacon Sloppy Joe was very good, but since we tasted it at the same time as the Buffalo Mac N’ Cheese, I’m afraid it didn’t get a fair shake. I’d say the Buffalo Mac just about blows a lot of food choices out of the water, hence the somewhat average rating here. However, the addition of the bacon, pepperjack cheese and fried onions definitely take this from a summer camp lunch to a gourmet sandwich–and a filling one at that!
Rating (out of 5):
Where To Satisfy Your Craving: You can find both of these items at the Food Network stand, located on the Loge Level, just down the third-base line.
Chef’s Table
When we met with Chef John, we learned that this season, DNC Sportservice is trying something new for each series by featuring a menu item inspired by the opposing team’s city available at the Chef’s Table stand. Chef John seemed pretty excited about this area and it was definitely intriguing to us as well. We didn’t get to try tonight’s L.A.-style sliders, inspired by the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, but they sure look great! Rumor has it that Bison Burger sliders would be on the menu for the weekend series against the Colorado Rockies.
We’re going to do our best to keep you posted about this new rivalry-inspired fare during each homestand at Miller Park, so make sure you check back here often.
Rating:
Not Yet Rated
Where To Satisfy Your Craving: The Chef’s Table stand is located on the Loge Level, down the first-base line, at the top of the stairs next to the press box.
Well, that concludes our first food critique of 2012. We hope you enjoyed reading it half as much as we enjoyed tasting these new items. We also hope we’ve inspired you to step outside of your brat and beer routine (not that there’s anything wrong with that) next time you’re at Miller Park to check out the wide variety of concession offerings.
We’ll be back with another edition of What John and Cait Ate in May, during the Reds-Cubs homestand, May 7-13.
In the meantime, whet your appetite by reading some of last year’s food reviews (please note, some menu items and prices may have changed for 2012):
Smoked Turkey, Beef Brisket and the Famous BBQ Pulled Pork Parfait
What about you? Do you have a favorite ballpark snack? A question about concessions? Something you’d like to see featured here? Post your comments below!
Bon Appetit!
-John and Cait
John and Cait Present…Social Media in Sports Night!
It’s John and Cait here and we’re excited to tell you about a really cool event we’re hosting on Monday, May 7 prior to the Brewers vs. Reds game: John and Cait present…Social Media in Sports Night!
For just $59, you have the chance to purchase individual tickets in the ATI Club and the tickets will include a special pre-game panel/roundtable discussion featuring people from the sports industry as well as local sports media who use have had success with social media and use it in their everyday lives.
You’ll hear from:
- Joe Block ( @Joe_Block ) Brewers Radio Broadcaster
- Jon Greenberg ( @JonAdmirals ) President of the Milwaukee Admirals
- Nick Monroe ( @NMonroe )Senior Sales & Retention Executive for the Milwaukee Bucks
- Tina Wagner ( @Tina_J_Wagner ) Social Media Lead at UW-Milwaukee
- …and more!
Plus- enjoy a special visit from Brewers players who are active in social media!
We’ll be your hosts for the event and it will take place in our Media Interview Room, so you’ll also get to go behind-the-scenes at Miller Park.
Tickets for the ATI Club are typically only available for group purchase, but through Social Media in Sports Night, we’re giving fans this special opportunity to purchase them individually. The tickets also include a pre-game buffet that begins when the Miller Park gates open and ends one hour after the first pitch, plus unlimited soft drinks and two beers per adult.
Fans will have the opportunity to ask questions at the event, but if there are any questions you’d like to submit ahead of time, please e-mail us at johnandcait@brewers.com. You’ll want to purchase your tickets early since the event will be limited to approximately 50 fans. To purchase your ticket now, click here.
We’re very excited about this event and we hope to see you there! Stay tuned to the blog to see updates to the panel and other announcements.
-John ( @JStein1981 ) & Cait ( @Cmoyer )
Happy Opening Day!
Well, the day that we’ve all been waiting for is finally upon us–Opening Day! (Or #MillerParkOpener if you’re following along on Twitter!)
John and I look forward to another fun-filled season and hope you’ll follow along with us here on John and Cait…Plus 9.
Cheers to a great 2012….Now let’s PLAY BALL!
-Cait
Go Brrrr-ewers! Cait Set to Join Arctic Tailgate-rs this Weekend
Pitchers and catchers (and John!) reported to camp in Arizona this weekend, position players are scheduled to report on Friday, and this Saturday, it’s YOUR turn to report to Miller Park for the Brewers Arctic Tailgate as individual tickets go on sale at 9am!
This is the sixth year that the “Arctic Tailgate” party will mark the start of individual ticket sales and over the years, in spite of February usually being a cold, cruel month here, it’s become quite the Milwaukee tradition with some fans camping out days in advance (Note: For rules and guidelines, please see safety regulations below).
The Klement’s Famous Racing Sausages, Bernie Brewer and Brewers alumni players are always on hand to greet the fans and the first 2,000 fans in line receive a hot dog and soda, compliments of Klement’s, Pepsi and Sportservice, as well as an Arctic Tailgate t-shirt.
The hearty crowd, recalling past Opening Days that have been snowed out, or perhaps used to tailgating before Packers games at the Frozen Tundra, is not at all fazed by temperatures in single digits, snow, or swirling winds.
Indeed. Like the USPS quote, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays” these faithful fans from getting their hands on the hottest tickets before anyone else.
Many fans do it for the tradition and fun—it’s just like your typical pregame tailgate in the middle of July, with games of bags, brats on the grill, and cold beer (okay, maybe a little colder than normal)— but many also do it for the limited number of tickets for Opening Day that will be available at this event.
That’s right. The Miller Park Box Office will be the only place where fans will be able to purchase individual Opening Day tickets on February 25; no phone or online orders will be accepted. Each fan will be limited to a maximum of four tickets for Opening Day, based on availability.
Over the years, when I haven’t been down in Arizona during the event, I’ve been to Arctic Tailgate and I’ve talked with and interviewed fans, but I’ve always been there in the daytime, the day before the event; stopping by briefly the evening before; or working during the event on Saturday morning.
This year, I’ve decided to do something just a bit outside my comfort zone—I’m going to spend the night at Miller Park!
Now there have certainly been many late nights here at the office after games and I’ve camped out on the field before for our Field of Sweet Dreams event, but never in February. To be honest, I’m kind of a wimp when it comes to the cold, but I want to get the true experience that I’m helping promote to fans (plus it’s been the warmest February on record, so I figure now is the best time to do this!).
It's been warmer than average here in Milwaukee so far this month; however, this forecast still looks pretty Arctic to me!
So, with that being said—if you’re at the event, look for me! I will be roaming around, taking photos, interviewing fans and live blogging from Arctic Tailgate. I might even have some surprises for fans as well!
Of course, if you don’t want to brave the cold, you can always live vicariously through me by following along here online and then get your tickets and parking at brewers.com or by phone at (414) 902-4000 beginning at 9am on Saturday.
The Miller Park Box Office will be open until 5 pm that day. Normal Box Office hours are 9 am – 7 pm Monday – Friday (beginning Monday, February 27), 9 am – 5 pm on Saturday and 11 am – 5 pm on Sunday.
For full details on the Arctic Tailgate event, click here.
Who should I look for on Friday night/Saturday morning?
-CAIT
Please note the following safety regulations for the Arctic Tailgate. Participants will not be permitted to set camp prior to noon on Thursday, February 23. No hand-made or hand-built shelters shall be permitted. No shelters made of cardboard or wood shall be permitted. Shelters with a footprint greater than 100 square feet are not permitted unless otherwise approved by the Brewers. Miller Park power sources are not available for public use and gas generators are not permitted on the property. Only State-Approved gas/propane heating/grilling units with fuel-valve turn-offs and self-contained charcoal/wood units are permitted; provided, however, that they must be a minimum distance of 25 feet from the building or shelters. Activity and items permitted on the premises are subject to the approval of the Brewers. The Brewers reserve the right to remove any shelter, items, or individuals from the property.
John and Cait’s Top Ten Brewers Moments of 2011
It’s the time of year where everyone posts and comments on “End of the Year Lists.” From the top movies, music, and books of the year to the top restaurants, people and cars–it seems like there is a list for everything. Well, John and Cait will not let you down, as we have compiled a list of our Top Ten Brewers Moments from what was a very memorable and historic season.
We worked together on this list. Some comments are from Cait and other are from John. Some moments were John’s and others were Cait’s. You might agree with some and disagree with others, as all ten moments will surely be up for debate. You can share with us your top ten Brewers moments from 2011 through the comments section at the bottom of this post.
#10 – Late Night at Miller Park, Brewers vs. Rockies, May 20
Were you one of the 33,361 on hand to witness the Brewers vs. Rockies game as it kicked off at 7:10pm on a warm Friday evening in May at Miller Park? Maybe the better question is: were you still remaining 4 hours and 35 minutes later when Prince Fielder hit his 2-run walk-off blast in the bottom of the 14th? This memorable game featured a volley of scoring. Brewers led 1-0 after 1. Rockies led 2-1 after 3. Brewers tied it 2-2 in the 4th. Colorado took the lead 3-2 in the 5th and tacked on another run in the 6th, before the Brewers brought it back to 4-3 in the bottom of that inning. A homer by Casey McGehee tied the game 4-4 in the 8th. The game went into extras and there was no more scoring until the Rockies took the lead in the 13th, 5-4. The Crew answered with a towering blast by Yuniesky Betancourt and it was back to even. The Rockies scratched their way back on top, 6-5 in the 14th, but then Fielder hit his booming 2-run, 422-footer to right and rewarded those Brewers fans who had stuck it out to the end by sending them home happy.
Prince watches his game winning home run at Miller Park against Colorado on May 20 (photo courtesy of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mark Hoffman)
#9 – Brewers Fans Rock the Vote; Fielder Blast Rocks the AL in 2011 All-Star Game at Chase Field
For the first time in our 43-year history, three players, a homegrown trio–Ryan Braun (first-round Draft pick in 2005), Prince Fielder (first-round Draft pick in 2002) and Rickie Weeks (first-round Draft pick in 2003)–were elected to start the All-Star Game, making the Crew the only NL team with multiple starters.
Braun was elected for his fourth straight All-Star start, leading NL outfielders in balloting for the fourth straight season, and this time leading all NL players in votes. Fielder, a three-time All-Star, was elected to his second start and Weeks was elected to his very first All-Star Game.
Although Braun did not end up playing in the 2011 All-Star Game due to a calf strain, this was still a memorable achievement for the Crew and the Brewers fans whose voting paid off!
More memories and history were also made at the actual game itself as Fielder’s three-run home run in the fourth inning at Chase Field gave the National League the lead in the game and contributed in a big way to its 5-1 victory over the American League.
With that blast, Fielder became the first player in Brewers history to hit a home run in the All-Star Game and after the game, he was named the Most Valuable Player in the All-Star Game, another first for our franchise.
#8 – Crew Turns Triple Play, Brewers vs. Dodgers, August 15
On Monday, August 15, four Brewers defenders combined on the sixth triple play in franchise history, a sensational play that bailed starter Randy Wolf out of a two-on, no-out jam in the second inning and aided in their 3-0 win over the Dodgers at Miller Park. The 4-6-3-2 triple play went like this: With Dodgers at first and second and nobody out in a scoreless game, James Loney hit a grounder up the middle. Josh Wilson ranged to his right, gobbled up the baseball and flipped it with his glove to shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt for the first out. Betancourt threw to Prince Fielder at first for out No. 2, and Fielder, seeing Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp trying to sneak home, fired to catcher George Kottaras for the inning-ending tag.
In other news, the Crew also turned four double plays in this defensive clinic of a game.
Yuniesky Betancourt turns a triple play in the 2nd inning on August 15. (Photo courtesy Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Benny Sieu)
#7 – Doug Melvin Named Baseball America’s Executive of the Year
Brewers Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin was awarded the Baseball America Executive of the Year award for 2011. Melvin and his staff worked hard to put a winner on the field and the bold moves that were made helped the Brewers to a National League Central Division Championship.
As anyone who works for Melvin would say, he is a treat. Very knowledgeable about the game and its many intricacies, Melvin is also a very kind and caring person. His success is well-deserved!
#6 – Ryan Braun Signs Contract Extension, April 21
On Thursday, April 21, Ryan Braun signed a $105 million, five-year contract extension adding to a seven-year deal he signed in May 2008, meaning that Braun will be a part of the Brewers franchise through 2020.
“I’m proud to be a Milwaukee Brewer, I really am,” Braun said on that historic day. “I’m going to be for the next 10 years. It’s an exciting day for me, my family, the organization. It’s like being part of a family.
“It’s truly special to me to come to work here every day, and I’m excited about being able to do that for the next 10 years. Thanks to the fans – that was the single biggest reason I wanted to stay here. To be in one of the smallest media markets in baseball and to have 3 million people to come watch us every year is incredibly special.
“The more time we spend in other cities, the more we recognize how special it is here. The fans are the single biggest factor. I’m excited, man, truly excited to be able to say I’m a Milwaukee Brewer from this point forward.”
Having Braun want to be the cornerstone of the Brewers franchise is a treat for Brewers fans. He truly enjoys playing here in Milwaukee and the fans will look forward to his play for many years to come.
#5 – Muhammad Ali Visits Brewers Spring Training Camp
This was a very special moment for the team at Spring Training. It was so neat to see the look in the eyes of Brewers players when Muhammad Ali entered the clubhouse. Being in the presence of such a powerful figure was inspiring to many of the players and staff members on hand that day. Although his health isn’t 100%, it was still amazing to see Ali in person, making for one of the most memorable days of 2011.
Ali with the Brewers team at Spring Training.
#4 – John Visits Fenway Park and Cait Presents/Club Wins SAMMY at the 2011 National Sports Forum
Since each fan has his or her own personal memories of 2011, we figured we should pick a moment that was unique to each of us this year, so here you have them: John’s visit to Fenway and Cait bringing home the SAMMY Award.
John: Prior to June, I had never been to Fenway Park in Boston. I made the weekend trip with the team and it definitely lived up to the hype. I enjoyed how they were able to transform a historic ballpark into the modern era while still keeping much of the historical foundation. I have heard many great stories about Fenway and I certainly was not disappointed. I try to visit one park I have never been to each year and was happy to cross this one off this list. I already have my new park picked out for 2012–Citi Field in New York!
John at Fenway Park
The Green Monster
Cait: I knew it was going to be a great year when the winning started in January at the National Sports Forum in Louisville, KY. As a Club, we were a finalist for the SAMMY Award (Sales, Advertising, Marketing or Management Idea of the Year) for a Season Seat Holder renewal campaign that had been particularly successful for us in 2010. Although we had been a finalist for the award for another campaign the previous year but had not won, and although I am not particularly fond of speaking in front of large groups of strangers, I was tasked with presenting our campaign at the conference and this time, we were triumphant. I was very proud to help bring home this award for our talented team.
With the SAMMY Award at the 2011 National Sports Forum (L-R: Senior Director of Marketing, Kathy Schwab; Senior Director of Ticket Sales, Billy Friess; Senior Manager of Advertising & Marketing, Caitlin Moyer)
#3 – Opening Day vs. Atlanta, April 4
Even though the Brewers fell to the Braves on this day, there is always something special about Opening Day. Everyone is excited, optimistic and energetic. Everything around the ballpark is fresh, clean and sparkling. From a working standpoint, there is a lot to get done. The rush up to Opening Day can be quite stressful filling in last minute details, but once the first pitch is thrown, we can relax and enjoy the game!
John with Ken Spindler and Mike Vassallo--the Media Relations crew--for our traditional Opening Day photo.
The Marketing Team on Opening Day (Back Row, L-R: Kathy Schwab, Jeff Harding, Kelly Candotti, Thad McGrew, Jim Bathey; Front Row, L-R: Molly Arndt, Diny Hurwitz, Caitlin Moyer)
#2 – Brewers Clinch the NL Central Division, September 23
The Brewers entered the game against the Marlins with a “Magic Number” of 2, meaning they not only needed to win, but also needed St. Louis to lose in order to clinch the division at Miller Park. The game was tied at 1 for much of the game, until Ryan Braun stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Cait: I was on-hand that night to help with a potential streamer launch if we were to win the game and St. Louis was to lose. I remember loading the cannons with the game still tied and making my way to my post, hoping against all hope that I’d get to shoot them that night. But the score of our game was tied and so was the Cubs-Cardinals game. The air was a little tense, and I will never forget leaning over to one of my co-workers and jokingly stage whispering, “Here’s where he hits the home run,” alluding to Ryan Braun’s heroic home run against the Cubs on the last day of the season in 2008 which sent us to the Postseason for then the first time in 26 years. And then he did it. Chills. I still get chills just thinking about it.
John: There was a special feeling in the ballpark that night. You just felt like it was our time to finish this off. Great crowd, Friday night, Yovani on the mound–it was all aligned for things to go our way. The game itself was kind of a blur. I know everyone remembers Braun’s home run, but remember Braun’s diving catch and laser-perfect throw to get Emilio Bonifacio out at first? To me that was the play of the game. It was a fantastic night and one I will never forget.
Nyjer Morgan, John, Zack Minasian and Cory Melvin after the Brewers clinched the NL Central Division.
The Crew went on to win 4-1 on that go-ahead, 3-run home run. Then, as if Braun’s blast wasn’t enough of a sense of déjà vu for the crowd of 44, 584, fans and players had to wait for the Cubs-Cardinals game to end in order to find out if they would clinch the division that night. In an ironic twist of fate, the packed house cheered loudly for the rival Cubs who had hit their own 3-run home run in the 8th and went on to prevail over the Cardinals 5-1 as confetti and streamers finally rained down from the rafters at Miller Park.
#1 – Game 5 of the NLDS, October 7
For those of you who were at Miller Park that Friday evening, you definitely understand why this would be #1. The excitement in the building was more than electric. The crowd was deafening. The sigh of relief let out by Brewers fans could be felt across the nation as Nyjer Morgan drove in Carlos Gomez for the game-winning run, sending the Crew to its first-ever National League Championship Series.
Here we are celebrating after Game 5 of the NLDS!
And…there you have it, our favorite moments of 2011. What are yours? Please feel free to debate in the comment field below.
Here’s to many more memorable moments in 2012!
- John and Cait
johnandcait@brewers.com
There’s No Offseason For…Caitlin Moyer
Earlier this month, John gave you a glimpse into his offseason life and now it’s my turn to give you one into mine.
First of all, I would argue that the offseason is actually a busier time than during the season in my world.
Yes, that’s right—offseason, schmoffseason!
In my role as Senior Manager of Advertising & Marketing, my job responsibilities include: leading and initiating all general market advertising and marketing projects; serving as the internal lead for social media strategy sessions; initiating brainstorming sessions to discuss concepts for upcoming and current Consumer Marketing projects; evaluating and researching new Club opportunities, promotions and marketing initiatives; preparing proposals, drafting contracts and writing sales, marketing and evaluation reports; and of, course, co-authoring this blog!
Our Consumer Marketing Department, headed up by Vice President of Consumer Marketing, Jim Bathey, is comprised of Ticket Sales (Season Tickets, Group Tickets, Suite Sales, and Ticket Operations) and Marketing/Advertising. Under that umbrella, we have an internal creative team, led by my boss, Kathy Schwab, Senior Director of Marketing, that works to produce all of the advertisements and collateral. In sum, the easiest way to tell you what we do is to say that basically anything that you, the consumer, sees has most likely passed our desks in some way, shape, or form.
While I don’t physically design the look (we’ve got Sr. Graphic Designer Jeff Harding and Graphic Designer Molly Arndt to thank for that!), I have a hand in most projects from a creative concepting and copywriting standpoint to scheduling the workflow and making sure our deadlines are met.
Here are just a few of the things that help keep us out of trouble from November through March:
NOVEMBER
DEPARTMENTAL MEETINGS: Our internal creative team operates like its own creative agency, serving our “clients,” or the other departments within our organization. At the end of the season, we like to sit down with each department individually to discuss their creative needs for the upcoming year so we can begin to think about new ideas, get their projects on a calendar and budget our time accordingly. We meet with everyone from Brewers Enterprises and Community Relations to Accounting and Stadium Operations to make sure that we are ready to help them produce any materials that they might need.
SEASON SEAT HOLDER RENEWAL PACKET: Our first big offseason project is always the Season Seat Holder Renewal Packet. After the season ends, our Season Seat Holders have the first priority to renew their seats for the following season. Putting this packet together means reflecting on the previous season, gathering the new schedule and pricing charts for the upcoming season and updating any new benefit information. Coming off of such a special 2011 Season, we wanted to do something extra special for our Season Seat Holders, so they each received this commemorative 8×10 collage as part of their packet this year:
HOLIDAY 4-PACKS: When the baseball season lasts until nearly Halloween, it’s easy for the rest of the holiday season to sneak up on you. That’s why we have to work ahead in order to be ready to launch our campaign for our ever-popular Holiday 4-Packs. Typically, these packages go on sale about two weeks before Thanksgiving. This year they are available until December 20. Our marketing team works hard to develop a fully-integrated campaign that includes direct mail and print, online, outdoor, radio and TV advertising.
CLUBHOUSE SALE: We’re also charged with advertising our Brewers Clubhouse Sale, which, coincidentally, takes place this Friday and Saturday in the Visitors’ Clubhouse here at Miller Park. You’ll definitely want to check back on Thursday, as John and I are planning on posting our annual Clubhouse Sale Preview!
DECEMBER/JANUARY
NEW SEASON TICKET PACKAGES: After renewals and the holiday season, we shift our focus to selling our new season ticket packages. Again, we create advertising campaigns and sales collateral to support these efforts.
BREWERS ON DECK: In January, we’ve got our annual winter fan fest, Brewers On Deck to look forward to. This year, Brewers On Deck takes place on Sunday, January 29 from 10am to 5pm at the Frontier Airlines Center in downtown Milwaukee. Typically, our department will work on the advertising for this event and our outside agency, 2-Story Creative, steps in to assist with all of the banners, signage and decor for the event itself.
FEBRUARY
SPRING TRAINING & TV COMMERCIALS: Just when the weather in Wisconsin is at its nastiest, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to hop on a plane to Arizona where we work with the players to gather most of what we’ll need for our 2012 in-season advertising efforts. We try to limit our asks of the players once the season begins so that they can focus their efforts on the field; that means that we capture a lot of images—and shoot our TV commercials (with the help of 2-Story Creative)—before our Spring Training games even begin.
INDIVIDUAL ON-SALE (ARCTIC TAILGATE): We return from sunny Arizona to the Arctic…Tailgate, that is. As you know, the Arctic Tailgate, the date our individual tickets go on sale to the public, usually takes place in February. What does that mean for marketing? We have to produce the advertising around the event and create collateral pieces—the most important being the much-anticipated pocket schedule. Usually by that time of year, we’ll have most of our promotions set in place and then we can print our pocket schedules and get them in the hands, wallets and purses of eagerly-awaiting Brewers fans. For the next six months, that pocket schedule will also inadvertently serve as my day planner. 
MARCH
YOUR TICKETS, PARKING PASSES, ETC.: If you’re a Season Seat Holder, you know that the day your tickets arrive in the mail is a very special day. [I always think of this scene in the movie Fever Pitch and imagine many of our Brewers fans react the same way.] Well, did you ever think of the people behind those tickets? The ones who design them, print them, and make sure that your precise number of tickets with your exact seat location get delivered to you—along with your parking books and/or NYCE Club membership? All of those items in your packet have to be produced and that’s what we spend a lot of time on in February and March, making sure everyone is set for Opening Day.
Which brings us to… the start of the new season!
Eek! We’ve got a ton to accomplish in just 129 days! I better wrap this up.
Cheers!
-CAIT
johnandcait@brewers.com
John and Cait
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