Richard Plautz of Milton said he’s been coming to Opening Day games for the Milwaukee Brewers since 1977.
The 67-year-old has strong opinions about the day, which marks the official return of baseball to the city.
“It should be a holiday,” Plautz said. “It really should.”
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Plautz joined thousands of other passionate baseball fans who tailgated in the parking lots outside of American Family Field hours before the game began Thursday.
“This just kind of gets your juices going and just makes you feel like man, this is Wisconsin, this is MLB baseball,” Plautz said. “It’s a great day, it’s a fun day.”
Quintell Robinson of Milwaukee plates up burgers during a tailgate Thursday, March 26, 2026, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
A few rows of vehicles down was West Bend resident Jordan Pearson, who arrived at the parking lot around an hour before the lots opened Thursday morning.
“I’m always late to everything, so this is a first,” Pearson said.
While most fans grilled hot dogs or burgers, Pearson made eggs, bacon and hashbrowns. And some brats too, of course.
“It’s like just the kickoff of summer,” she said.
“What’s better than spending a day at the ballpark, honestly,” she added. “And so, it’s just kind of like our big kickoff.”
Kacy Kliment and his 4-year-old son came all the way from Columbus, Ohio to watch the Brewers take on the Chicago White Sox Thursday. Kliment, a Wisconsin native, estimated he’s been to over 20 Opening Day games in Milwaukee.
He’s now continuing the tradition with his son.
“I just love it, it’s the start of summer,” Kliment said. “I mean, it doesn’t seem like it today, it’s cold, it’s windy, but it’s the start of summer, it’s the start of baseball.”
Four-year-old Brewers fan Winston pitches to his dad during a tailgate Thursday, March 26, 2026, before the team’s season opener against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
The 2025 season was historic for the Brewers. The team set their franchise record for wins during the regular season, as they finished the season with a 97-65 record.
However, the Brewers failed to make it to the World Series, losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
Kliment said his son is estimating the team will win 100 games this year.
“We’ll see if he’s got that right this year,” Kliment said.
Milwaukee resident Alonzo Grayson has high hopes for this season.
“I’m a Brewer fan, man, we think we’re going to go all the way every year,” Grayson said before the game. “We get bounced out of the playoffs pretty quick, but you know, maybe this year we turn around.”
Brewers fans gather to tailgate on opening day Thursday, March 26, 2026, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
Rick Schlesinger, the team’s president of business operations, said fans have a lot to look forward to at the ballpark, including a renovated kids zone and new food offerings like deep-fried kringle and cream puffs.
Schlesinger said tailgating is part of the “DNA” of the fanbase.
“Fans love the communal aspects of tailgating,” Schlesinger said. “It’s fun. And even when the weather is not quite 75 and sunny, people come out and tailgate. They love to grill the brats and have fun and toss the baseball around.”
The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after winning Game 5 of baseball’s National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Milwaukee. AP Photo/Morry Gash
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