The Milwaukee Brewers are reviving a smartphone-based parking system at American Family Field, nearly five months after it was suspended due to widespread problems on Opening Day.
The system, which uses license plate recognition technology instead of cashiers, will be used again at Tuesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants, the baseball club announced.
Under this system, fans can initially park in the stadium’s parking lots.
Those with a prepaid digital parking pass then activate their parking time by entering their license plate into their smartphone’s MLB Ballpark app.
Fans who purchase the more expensive daily parking will scan a QR code on signs in the parking lots and enter their license plate number and payment information.
Those without a smartphone can manually purchase a parking spot at four kiosks throughout the stadium. They are located at Home Plate Plaza, Third Base Plaza, the pedestrian bridge in centerfield near the Tailgate Haus and on the sidewalk east of Helfaer Field.
To avoid parking violations, fans must purchase a parking ticket or activate a prepaid parking permit before entering the stadium.
The ballclub says the reinstated system will eliminate the need to wait in line at the ticket booth. “Park ambassadors” will help fans with the new process, the statement said.
The recent live tests during the Brewers’ last home game “received a positive response from fans who appreciate the improved parking experience the system provides,” said Rick Schlesinger, Brewers president of business operations.
The system, operated by Milwaukee-based Interstate Parking, did not get off to a smooth start when it opened on April 2.
Many fans experienced connectivity issues and some were unable to pay their parking fees because the app would not load. Interstate Parking subsequently announced that it would immediately shut down the system.
These issues “were due to a configuration issue with Interstate technology and had nothing to do with the Brewers or the MLB Ballpark app,” Tony Janowiec, president and CEO of Interstate Parking, said in April.
The renewed system will not be used at the Green Day concert on Saturday.
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