Franklin Field (Wisconsin) Explained

Stadium Name:Franklin Field
Logo Image:File:Franklin_Field_Wisconsin_logo.jpg
Pushpin Map:USA Wisconsin
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Wisconsin
Pushpin Label Position:top
Address:7035 S. Ballpark Drive
Location:Franklin, Wisconsin
Coordinates:42.9186°N -88.0164°W
Broke Ground:June 7, 2018[1]
Opened:June 24, 2019
Owner:ROC Ventures
Surface:Turf
Construction Cost:$15 million[2]
General Contractor:Marso Construction
Former Names:Ballpark Commons (planning stages)
Routine Field (2019)
Milkmen Stadium (2020 preseason)
Tenants:Milwaukee Milkmen (AA) 2019–present
Milwaukee Panthers (NCAA) 2020–present
Seating Capacity:4,000
Dimensions:Left field: 330feet
Center field: 408feet
Right field: 330feet[3]

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.[4] 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.[5] [6] The ballpark opened with the Milkmen losing 3–2 loss in 11 innings to the Gary SouthShore RailCats on June 24, 2019,[7] a month after the first home game for the Milkmen was played at Kokomo Municipal Stadium in Indiana.[8]

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]

Notes and References

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