Franklin Field (Wisconsin)

Franklin Field (formerly known as Routine Field and briefly as Milkmen Stadium) is a baseball park in Franklin, Wisconsin, which is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The ballpark was built on the site of a former landfill.[5] It is the home of the Milwaukee Milkmen, an independent professional baseball team playing in the American Association of Professional Baseball, and it will be the home of the NCAA Division I University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers baseball team.[6][7] The ballpark opened with the Milkmen losing 3–2 loss in 11 innings to the Gary SouthShore RailCats on June 24, 2019,[4] a month after the first home game for the Milkmen was played at Kokomo Municipal Stadium in Indiana.[8]

Franklin Field
Franklin Field is located in Wisconsin
Franklin Field
Franklin Field
Location within Wisconsin
Former namesBallpark Commons (planning stages)
Routine Field (2019)
Milkmen Stadium (2020 preseason)
Address7035 S. Ballpark Drive[1]
LocationFranklin, Wisconsin
Coordinates42°55′07″N 88°0′59″W
OwnerROC Ventures[2]
Capacity4,000[3]
Field sizeLeft field: 330 ft (100 m)
Center field: 408 ft (124 m)
Right field: 330 ft (100 m)[1]
SurfaceTurf
Construction
Broke groundJune 7, 2018[2]
OpenedJune 24, 2019[4]
Construction cost$15 million[3]
General contractorMarso Construction[2]
Tenants
Milwaukee Milkmen (AA) 2019–present
Milwaukee Panthers (NCAA) 2020–present
Milkmen warming up

Naming rights dispute

The naming rights were originally held by Routine Baseball, a baseball apparel brand based in Franklin.[9] However, in August 2019, Routine Baseball filed a lawsuit against ROC Ventures, arguing that the letter of intent outlining the terms of the naming-rights deal was never officially signed and that ROC Ventures should not have moved forward with the deal.[10] They claimed ROC Ventures never had formal permission to use and profit off its branding, and in addition owed them more than $100,000 in unpaid invoices. Later, ROC Ventures filed a countersuit, alleging that Routine not only failed to pay naming rights, but also did not pay royalties or commitments due after Routine took over Lifestyle Sports Apparel and Korked (a ROC Ventures enterprise that created apparel for Joe Maddon's foundation). In November, the two parties reached a settlement and all Routine branding and signage was removed from the ballpark.[11] In January 2020, the Milkmen were actively searching for a new naming-rights partner.[12] In June 2020, ROC Ventures announced it had forged a partnership with the Franklin Tourism Commission to rename the ballpark from Milkmen Stadium to Franklin Field and build a visitor's center nearby.[13]

In May 2021, Wisconsin Lutheran College held a commencement ceremony for their winter 2020 and spring 2021 graduates at Franklin Field.[14]

References
  1. "Facilities". Milwaukee Athletics. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  2. Ryan, Sean (June 8, 2018). "Ballpark Commons breaks ground on stadium". Milwaukee Business Journal. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  3. Kirchen, Rich (May 2, 2018). "War Pigs? Zimmerman's American Association team narrows list of possible names". Milwaukee Business Journal. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  4. Spedden, Zach (June 25, 2019). "Routine Field Debuts". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  5. Yovino, Joe (September 28, 2017). "Ballpark Commons project coming to Franklin". WI Construction News & Bids. The Daily Reporter. Milwaukee, WI. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  6. Hess, Corrinne (February 20, 2018). "Independent minor league pro baseball team coming to The Rock". Milwaukee Business News. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  7. D'Amato, Gary (February 27, 2018). "D'Amato: UWM baseball team finally will get its field of dreams". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  8. "Routine Field Opening Delayed Until June 24". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. April 12, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  9. "Routine Field: The Biggest Milestone Yet!". RoutineBaseball.com. September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  10. Spedden, Zach (August 28, 2019). "Routine Field Naming Rights Subject of Lawsuit". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  11. Spedden, Zach (November 25, 2019). "Settlement Reached in ROC Ventures, Routine Baseball Dispute". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  12. Spedden, Zach (January 1, 2020). "Milkmen Search for New Ballpark Naming-Rights Partner". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  13. Radcliffe, J. R. (June 18, 2020). "Newly named stadium for Milwaukee Milkmen catches attention of ... Keith Olbermann?". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  14. "Congratulations, Graduates!". Wisconsin Lutheran College. May 25, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
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