American Family Field Pregame Guide
Milwaukee Brewers · Milwaukee, WI
American Family Field is the most tailgate-friendly ballpark in baseball and writes the rules to match. Tailgating is permitted in every lot except the employee and rideshare lots, with one vehicle per purchased space — and you cannot buy a second space to use as tailgate ground. The fire marshal sets the cooking rule: state-approved gas or propane units with fuel-valve turn-offs, and self-contained charcoal units, with no open flames or wood fires at all. Charcoal goes in the coal bins at the base of the parking lot lights. Lots open three hours before first pitch, or 2.5 hours for weekday 6:15 and 6:40 games, and everything must be packed up 30 minutes after the game starts.
Tips & Fan Reports
Weekday 6:15 and 6:40 games open the lots 2.5 hours out rather than three.
You cannot buy a second space for the tailgate. One vehicle, one space, and the gear goes around it.
No wood, and no open flame of any kind — the fire marshal's rule. Gas or propane with a fuel-valve turn-off, or a self-contained charcoal unit.
The 30-minute rule is real: half an hour after first pitch you are either inside or off the property.
Where to Go Before the Game
The general parking lots
Every lot at the ballpark permits tailgating except the employee and rideshare lots. One vehicle per purchased space, and only ticketholders are allowed in the lots at all.
Known for Tailgating permitted · Ticketholders only · One vehicle per space
The coal bins at the light bases
Charcoal must be dumped in the coal bins provided, which sit at the base of the parking lot lights — worth locating before you light anything rather than after.
Known for At the light poles · Required for charcoal
Helfaer Field
The small ballpark on the American Family Field grounds, used for group events and youth baseball alongside the main stadium lots.
Known for On the ballpark grounds · Group events
Rules to Know
What American Family Field allows, and what it does not.
- Tailgating is permitted in all lots except employee parking lots and the rideshare lot, with all vehicles occupying a purchased space.
- Only ticketholders are permitted in the parking lots.
- Only state-approved gas or propane units with fuel-valve turn-offs, and self-contained charcoal units, are permitted. No open flames or wood fires are allowed, by order of the fire marshal.
- All charcoal must be dumped in the coal bins provided, located at the base of the parking lot lights.
- Tailgating must end 30 minutes after the game starts, at which point fans must enter the ballpark or vacate the premises.
- Parking lots open three hours before the game, or 2.5 hours before first pitch for weekday games starting at 6:15 p.m. or 6:40 p.m. Lots close within one hour after the game ends.
- One vehicle per space. Additional parking cannot be purchased for use as tailgating space.
- There is no in/out parking. A patron who leaves the lot pays the full charge again for re-entry, if space is available.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
Permitted bags are clear single-compartment bags no larger than 12 x 12 x 6 inches, non-clear bags no larger than 9 x 5 x 2 inches, or one-gallon clear resealable bags.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Each guest may bring personal-size food items and one factory-sealed non-alcoholic plastic bottle of 32 ounces or less.
- A card or a phone wallet
Concession stands, retail locations, and portable kiosks are cashless and accept credit or debit cards, Brewers Gift Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and prepaid cards.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
A mobile ticket barcode must be displayed on a mobile device and scanned for entry through the MLB Ballpark app.
- A warm layer for the pregame
April nights average 37°F outside American Family Field, whatever the roof does.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
July highs average 85°F outside American Family Field, whatever the roof does.
- A rain layer
June averages 5.0 inches of rain here, outside the roof.
Tailgate Gear
Lots open three hours before first pitch, or 2.5 for weekday 6:15 and 6:40 games.
- A state-approved gas or propane unit with a fuel-valve turn-off, or a self-contained charcoal unit
- No wood and nothing with an open flame — both are banned by the fire marshal
- A scoop or bucket for carrying charcoal to the coal bins at the light bases
- A setup that fits around one vehicle in one purchased space
- Everything packable within 30 minutes of first pitch
Milwaukee Brewers Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official Milwaukee Brewers gear for the ultimate tailgate.
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How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Pregame
Milwaukee Brewers official site: American Family Field Tailgating, Parking, and Policies and Procedures
- Venue policies
American Family Field policy, security, accessibility, parking, and mobile-ticket guides reviewed for entry, family, payment, food, and accessibility rules.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals