By now, you’ve heard that Miller Park is changing its name. Yes, it’s very sad. Miller Park is no longer going to be the stadium’s name by 2021. It will go by a new name sponsored by American Family Insurance. Reports were out that American Family Insurance proactively made an offer to the Brewers that went well and beyond what Miller paid for the stadium name. People reacted like Miller Park carried the same weight as Fenway Park or Wrigley Field, even though, it’s been around for 20 years. Over 30,000 people petitioned to keep the name versus changing it. Brewers fans need to face some facts, why the Brewers PR and media teams completely bungled this move and how has Miller avoided any blame?

Brewers fans would like it if the team was the Kansas City Royals. I ranted about this on today’s podcast, but the Royals did win a World Series yet they’re back to being an average baseball team. Royals have never sold out from a corporate interest for their stadium name. Same goes with the Chiefs. It must be a Kansas City thing. That said, the Royals lose that revenue stream. That’s not a money earner for one of the smallest markets in baseball. Brewers are contending for a World Series, and they would like it to not be a flash in the pan. This is going to make them money per year in the three or four million dollar range. That’s a boost of income to help advance the team. That’s a great thing! Brewers need that type of money to come in for them.

Even though my support is behind the idea of making more money, Brewers could not have handled this announcement worse on Tuesday. They should have been more proactive about why Miller Park is changing the name. How it helps the Brewers for the future. American Family Insurance received all of the ricochet shots which isn’t exactly fair. They’re a Wisconsin-based company who employ over 8,000 people in the state. Insurance can be an icky business, but they’re keeping people employed in the state of Wisconsin. This didn’t go for FoxConn or someone like that from a corporation standpoint.

MillerCoors should be on more comments about them getting out of the stadium naming game. People aren’t mad at them which is odd. People are ignoring the fact MillerCoors decided to pull back money on sponsorships. All of the anger is on AmFam when Miller should be receiving some of the smoke. Someone said ‘Would St. Louis ever change Busch Stadium?’ Yes, if Anheuser-Busch stopped paying to own the stadium rights. It all comes down to money.

Everyone take a deep breath, enjoy the snow and realize change has to happen sometimes.

Charlie.