The notion of "scoreboard watching" is about to take on a whole meaning for Brewers fans during the pennant race.
They'll be able to do it in person.
With Hurricane Ike wreaking havoc on the Gulf Coast, Major League Baseball has moved two games between the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs -- two of the Brewers' prime competitors for a playoffs berth -- to Miller Park.
The series will begin with a game at 7 p.m. Sunday and a game at 1 p.m. Monday.
The Astros are the home team for the games, which were scheduled to be played at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Astros players initially resisted the idea of playing in Milwaukee, because it is an easy destination for Cubs fans. With rain covering most of the country, the retractable roof at Miller Park was the determining factor.
"Major League Baseball made the decision to move these games to Miller Park and given the lack of other viable options, we will be ready to serve as hosts," said Rick Schlesinger, the Brewers executive vice president of business operations.
The Brewers have some experience hosting neutral-site games on short notice. They did it last year, when the Cleveland Indians faced off against Anaheim in two games that were moved because of a blizzard in Ohio.
Tickets for the Astros-Cubs games will be priced at marquee rates, ranging from $25 to $60. Only the field and loge levels will be sold.
Tickets are on sale now at brewers.com, and fans are urged to use the "print now" option to avoid long lines at will-call.
Parking for the games costs $10 for general and $18 for preferred vehicle. The lots open three hours before the first pitch. Ballpark gates open 90 minutes before each game.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
