Brewers parade set to freeze Milwaukee as schools close for World Series victory
The city is preparing for a massive Friday celebration after the team defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in five games.
By Jack Weber ·
Milwaukee streets will likely grind to a halt on Friday as the community prepares for a victory parade marking the Brewers' first World Series championship in 58 years. The celebration follows a 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, which secured the title in five games.
The victory ended a long wait for the small-market franchise. Fans filled the stands at the Tampa Bay Rays' stadium, outnumbering the home crowd, before the final out was recorded. The excitement has since returned to Milwaukee, where thousands of supporters have already begun gathering in the city center.
Milwaukee Public Schools will close on Friday to allow residents to participate in the festivities. The parade route will run through downtown and finish with a fan fest at Henry Maier Festival Park, located near the Lake Michigan shoreline. A large police presence is expected to manage the anticipated heavy traffic and dense crowds.
The anticipation is already measurable. One fan reported standing in a line of 34,000 people at 8 a.m. to secure tickets for a rally at American Family Insurance Amphitheater. The scale of the event has even reached local government proceedings.
Michael Maxwell, a presiding judge in neighboring Waukesha County, issued a ruling regarding courtroom attire. He declared that Brewers gear is formally considered compliant with professional decorum for staff, litigants, and attorneys through the end of the parade.
