Pink at American Family Field: Everything you need to know about Milwaukee stadium concert
For the first time since it opened as Miller Park in 2001, American Family Field is hosting four major concerts in a single year.
Morgan Wallen was the first artist to headline two consecutive nights at the Milwaukee Brewers ballpark, when he kicked off his tour there in April. Two months later, George Strait broke an attendance record there for his first Milwaukee concert in 14 years.
But the stadium's last 2023 concert is even more significant. When Pink plays American Family Field on her Summer Carnival tour Aug. 14, she will be the first female artist to headline a stadium concert in Wisconsin.
Like the other three concerts, Pink's show will be at capacity. But unlike those three, it's happening on a Monday night — so there's a strong chance traffic will be even worse.
Here's everything you need to know before Pink's American Family Field concert.
More: These are all of the arena, amphitheater and stadium concerts in Milwaukee in 2023
When do the gates and lots open for Pink's American Family Field concert?
Fans can start getting into the stadium at 5 p.m. Aug. 14, an hour and a half before the first act takes the stage. The parking lots open at 3:30 p.m., in case you want to show up early for some pre-Pink tailgating. You’re going to want to get there early regardless. The traffic crawl from pulling up by the stadium until I parked took me 58 minutes for the Strait show, and that was on a Saturday. With Pink playing on a Monday, I suspect commuter traffic could make that stretch even worse. And don’t forget: Lines to get past security into the ballpark will be long as well.
More: The Pink concert will likely cause massive delays on I-94 tonight. Here's how to avoid it.
How much is parking, and how can you save money parking?
To guarantee a parking spot, you can reserve a spot in advance at brewers.com/pink. You’ll save money, too. Advance general parking is $25 (plus a $6.50 parking fee). You could avoid the fees by waiting to park on site on the day of the concert for $35 to $50, but there's no guarantee you'll get a spot. The advance preferred parking is already sold out.
Here's how to get to the Pink concert if you don't want to drive
A couple of Milwaukee County Transit System routes drop people off within walking distance of the ballpark: the CONNECT1 on Wisconsin Avenue and Route 18 on National Avenue. (The GoldLine that previously took passengers near the stadium is no longer in service.) Get the schedule and more information at ridemcts.com.
If you take a cab to the concert, you'll get dropped off at the transit area outside Helfaer Field, where you can also grab a cab after the show. Drop-off and pick-up for Uber and Lyft is in the Gantner parking lot, but expect huge crowds after the show.
Bars that offer shuttle service to Brewers games may do the same for Pink. Check in advance.
Drop-offs from friends or family are highly discouraged, with pick-ups not available due to road closures after the show. But there is a special accessibility drop-off area near the Club Express gate.
Are any tickets still available? How much are they?
When we checked Ticketmaster, there were just 12 first-hand tickets still available, all in 200 sections, stage right, with limited views, for $149 each (not including fees). But there are a lot of resale seats through Ticketmaster, currently priced between $58 for an obstructed view in a top section to $1,825 for a front-row seat near center stage on the field (again, not including fees).
Where's will-call, and how do you get access to the field?
Tickets won’t be available to purchase on site at the Brewers box office, but will-call for picking up tickets will be at the box office near the home plate gate. (Although, generally, most tickets will be electronic only.) It'll be open beginning at 9 a.m. Aug. 14 and remain open until Pink takes the stage. You must be the designated ticketholder to get the tickets and present an ID and the credit card used for purchase.
If you have a seat on the field, you'll need to grab a wristband first, available on the field level concourse near Sections 110, 118 and 127.
How to flag security if there's a problem, and other safety tips
Text “Crew” to 41835 if there are any issues. You also can speak to a staff member in the stadium, or head over to one of three guest relations booths: the field level behind Section 116, the loge level behind Section 222, or the terrace level behind Section 419.
You can bring signs, but they cannot be more than 18 by 24 inches, they can't be attached to handles or poles, and they can't be inappropriate. Feel free to dance, but keep those aisles clear, and don't stand (or dance) on the seats.
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Grouplove, and Milwaukee's own KidCutUp open
Energetic pop band Grouplove and recently inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will warm up the crowd. But don't expect Benatar to sing one of her signature songs "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" — last year, she pulled it from her set "in deference to the victims of the families of these mass shootings," she told USA TODAY. "I can’t say those words out loud with a smile on my face, I just can’t."
A Milwaukee native is also part of the bill. Tim Zick, aka KidCutUp, will perform DJ sets throughout the night, like he's been doing for nearly all of Pink's concerts since he impressed the pop star and her team when he was booked to open for her at Summerfest in 2017.
What will Pink play — and will she fly around the stadium?
It wouldn't be a Pink show without some jaw-dropping acrobatics, so expect to see Pink swing around the stage, and (spoiler alert) soar around the stadium for grand finale "So What." At her North American tour kickoff in Toronto, she did nearly all of her signature smashes — including "Get This Party Started," "Who Knew," "Just Like a Pill," "Try," and "Just Give Me a Reason" — plus songs from this year's "Trustfall" album and a couple of Bob Dylan and Sade covers.
Whatever she plays in Milwaukee, we're going in with sky-high expectations. Her last three Milwaukee shows made our yearend best concerts list; her Summerfest show landed at No. 6 on our list of the best concerts of the 2010s.
Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Pink concert 2023 at American Family Field in Milwaukee: What to know
