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Miller Park – first stadium with a retractable roof to earn LEED certification

At a glance

  • 2.96 million — Average number of fans who came to watch the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park over the last five seasons (2007-2011), enjoying levels of comfort, safety and efficiency far superior to those experienced at Milwaukee’s old ballpark.
  • 350 — Number of pieces of HVAC equipment that Johnson Controls installed, and now maintains, to keep Miller Park running efficiently for players and fans.

 

The challenge: Giving baseball fans what they want – efficiently, affordably and profitably

To make a sports stadium successful, you have to put fans on seats, but it takes a lot more than a winning team to do that. Fans want their total stadium experience to be first rate. This means surroundings that are safe, well lit and comfortable, regardless of the weather conditions outside. Today’s fans also want to be entertained off the field with high-quality food, dazzling audio/video displays, interactive play areas for the kids, and just about every other amenity imaginable.

 

The Milwaukee Brewers commissioned a state-of-the-art stadium – Miller Park – that would provide all this and more. The stadium seats 41,900 people, has 64 luxury suites, more than 30 concession stands, over 550 TV monitors, and clubs and restaurants of all kinds. However, keeping fans comfortable in a place where outdoor temperatures are near freezing at the beginning of the season is not easy. Miller Park’s unique fan-shaped retractable roof, when closed, shields those inside from the elements, targeting a 60-degree Fahrenheit (15.5-degree Celsius) minimum inside temperature. None of this comes easily or inexpensively. The stadium, which opened in 2001, cost $400 million to build and takes millions of dollars a year to operate. Those costs motivated the occupants to seek every possible energy efficiency and operational savings opportunity. To achieve that, they partnered with Johnson Controls.

 

The solution: Sophisticated control systems and facilities management expertise

Johnson Controls worked with the Brewers throughout the design and construction phase of Miller Park. This collaboration at the early stages of the project ensured the stadium would have the right equipment and control systems to provide the comfort and safety fans expect, and to keep costs manageable. Solutions implemented include Johnson Controls’ Metasys® building management system, which controls the stadium’s intricate HVAC systems for maximum comfort and efficiency. The system even provides individualized comfort control for each of the stadium’s 64 luxury suites, which are a major revenue source for the team. In addition, Metasys controls the public areas and concourses, operates the smoke purge system, maintains appropriate carbon monoxide levels, and controls all game day startup- and shutdown-related activities.

 

Having taken over Miller Park’s facilities management in 2005, Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions now oversees overall stadium operations. Johnson Controls technicians are responsible for maintaining the mechanical equipment, control systems, and fire alarm and suppression systems. The technicians are permanently stationed on site to troubleshoot any potential problem or malfunction.

 

What’s more, Johnson Controls helped the Brewers meet their sustainability goals. Leading the project to earn LEED® certification at Miller Park, Johnson Controls worked with multiple vendors and stadium occupants to implement numerous building energy efficiency initiatives. New recycling and waste management programs were put in place, and new policies were drafted to help the stadium adhere to sustainability goals
moving forward.

 

Results and benefits

Miller Park

In 2012, Miller Park became the first stadium with a retractable roof and the third Major League Baseball stadium overall to earn LEED certification in the category of Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance.

 

Since 2007, the Brewers have drawn more than 2.95 million fans per season.

The comfort and amenities of the stadium have played a major role in boosting attendance and revenue. Through energy and operational improvements, the stadium is annually reducing its water usage by 22 percent and is expected to save 1,153 metric tons of CO2.

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WHAT OUR CUSTOMER SAYS...

"Attention to detail, expertise in building management and reliability are all among the best attributes of Johnson Controls. Hosting events in a building as large as Miller Park, we have the highest confidence that Johnson Controls’ efforts lead to a guest experience that is best in class."

Bob Quinn, Executive Vice President/Finance and Administration, Milwaukee Brewers

 

Miller Park case study
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