In a grand slam of Milwaukee events, the Brewers will face the St. Louis Cardinals in their home opener at 4:14 p.m. on “414 Day.” It’s just one part of the day’s festivities.
The day commemorates the city’s area code. To mark the occasion the club sold 5,000 Terrace Level tickets for $4.14.
“We are grateful for the support of our fans and wanted to come back in a big way,” said Rick Schlesinger, Brewers’ president of business operations, in a press release. “414 Day is quintessential Milwaukee. This $4.14 ticket offer is our way of welcoming fans back to American Family Field, showing our gratitude and celebrating the unofficial first day of summer in Wisconsin — the Brewers Home Opener.”
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While the sun is out, the Brewers’ home opener is expected to be extremely windy.
The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for southern and central Wisconsin that is in effect until about 7 p.m. Thursday evening. The weather service expects southwest winds gusting up to 50 mph throughout the day, making the temperature feel like it’s in the 30s.
The Brewers kicked off their season a week ago against the Chicago Cubs. They’re currently 3-3.
Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff will take the mound Thursday with the first pitch scheduled for 4:14 p.m.
Meanwhile, at an event at City Hall Thursday morning, artists shared poetry and music inspired by the city and its people. A giant 414 flag hung in the atrium of the building. Fred Gillich designed that flag.
“It’s so amazing when things come together like this,” Gillich, who owns a store named 414 Milwaukee that sells city-inspired apparel, said. “I just like to see it grow every year. It’s like this circle of inclusion that just grows and grows.”
He shared what he calls the Ode to Milwaukee.
“Milwaukeeans, we are the ultraviolet light that guides Wisconsin,” Gillich said. “Milwaukeeans are a fearless sunshine enduring loitering winters while establishing the future. We are bright, innovative, resilient stars, polka-dotting the night sky with our triumphs and our pains.”
Cavalier Johnson, who was sworn in as mayor Wednesday, said it’s a day to celebrate the city.
“Milwaukee 414 Day is an ongoing grassroots movement dedicated to increasing and commemorating the city’s vibrant and diverse cultures, the peoples and experiences that make up Milwaukee,” Johnson said, reading from a mayoral proclamation to mark the day.
Grammy award-winning artist Grace Weber was also in attendance to talk about her new song “414” featuring Mudy.
“I wrote this song as an anthem to the city that raised me and to all the people and places and things that make Milwaukee so special,” Weber said. “This city has truly helped me become the singer and artist I am today.”
Weber said her favorite thing about growing up in the city is that “you’re allowed to be yourself here.”
“Hometown love is what we’re made of,” Weber said, quoting a line from her song. “You are championed for the real true self that you wake up with every day.”
In honor of the day, VISIT Milwaukee, the city’s tourism bureau, sponsored a new video by Imagine MKE featuring the poem “Fire Light” by Milwaukee and Wisconsin poet laureate Dasha Kelly Hamilton and special events at 3rd Street Market Hall.
“Coinciding with the week of the Milwaukee Brewers’ home opener and the Milwaukee Bucks’ first playoff game, we thought this year’s Milwaukee Day calls for extra pride and celebration,” VISIT Milwaukee President & CEO Peggy Williams-Smith said in a press release. “VISIT Milwaukee ardently supports any day that honors our creative, resilient, and caring community.”
Editor’s note: Jenny Peek contributed reporting to this story. This story will be updated.
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