Brewers Opening Day sold out after Arctic Tailgate

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Brewers fans braved the cold on Saturday, March 1st in the hopes of acquiring Brewers single-game tickets -- and perhaps, a ticket for Opening Day!

For the eighth year, the Brewers Arctic Tailgate marks the beginning of single-game ticket sales for the Brewers 2014 season.

Additionally, a limited number of Opening Day tickets were available at the Arctic Tailgate -- with a limit of four per fan, based upon availability.

On a cold day in March, with snow in the forecast, the Brewers Arctic Tailgate had many fans thinking warmer thoughts -- as they gear up for the Brewers 2014 season.

"This is wonderful! We absolutely love it!" one fan told FOX6 News at Miller Park on Saturday.

"I think a lotta fans don't want to come out -- don't want to do the cold, but I think it brings people together," Tim Wilson said.

Some fans stood in line beginning at noon on Friday, February 28th.

"It was cold out there, but you know, we came prepared," Wilson said.

The extreme cold forced Artic Tailgate organizers to push back the time fans could start lining up outside Miller Park. Fans began lining up at noon on Friday.

This year's event featured a new, heated beer tent available to Artic Tailgaters for five hours on Friday night.

Some fans say the Arctic Tailgate is a special tradition.

"We get 'once-a-year friends' to visit with and hear their stories from years past," Steve Howard said.

FOX6 News even spotted some Brewers players from years past at the event -- including former Brewers outfielder Stormin' Gorman Thomas.

"I thought I saw a patch of grass the other day, but I was wrong -- but doing this and being here today is kinda like a spring board to spring," Thomas said.

Most fans we spoke with say despite the long, cold wait, this event is well worth it.

"Do you ever see this in any other stadium in the whole, entire country? A lady asked me earlier -- 'do you have to be a little crazy to do this?' No, you have to have heart. You gotta have heart," Jaime Cull said.

"You're gonna be one of the few -- one of the 45,000, probably on Opening Day -- able to come in and enjoy, hopefully, a great season for the Brewers," Eric Devens said.

The Brewers will open 2014 at home against the Atlanta Braves on Monday, March 31st.

Today’s frigid temperatures and snow were dismissed by thousands of Brewers fans today who came to Miller Park or went online to be among the first to purchase individual tickets to Brewers games for 2014.

As of 3:00 p.m. Saturday, the Brewers said they have sold a total of 91,000 tickets -- 4,000 more than last year and one of the highest numbers of total tickets sold in a single day in Brewers history.

In addition, the Brewers have announced that Opening Day is sold out -- and several additional games have very limited inventory remaining.

Fans still have the opportunity to obtain tickets to the Home Opener and all of the high demand games with the purchase of a partial or full "Season Seat plan." Information on Season Seat plans is available by calling 414-902-HITS.
 
Tickets remain on sale at the Miller Park Box Office, through brewers.com, by phone (414-902-4000) and at all tickets.com outlets.