“We thank the Brewers organization for choosing to partner with a family-owned and operated Wisconsin brand,” said Shelly Stayer, owner of Johnsonville. “Their decision confirms the fact they want their fans to have an exceptional stadium experience.”
Johnsonville was previously the official Brewers sausage for 11 seasons from 1978-1988.
“Great food is one of the most memorable parts of the baseball-fan experience, which is why we’re thrilled to bring Johnsonville back to the Brewers,” said Ryan Pociask, vice president of Marketing at Johnsonville.
Included in the Johnsonville sponsorship will be the famous Racing Sausages at Miller Park. The racing sausages are a fan-favorite before the bottom of the sixth inning of each home game.
In addition, Johnsonville will have naming rights to the Club Level All-Inclusive area in Miller Park (formerly known as the Dew Deck). The brand will also be active in the Miller Park parking lots, bringing an interactive experience to tailgating fans. And, of course, the sausage will appear on concession menus at Miller Park including Johnsonville bratwurst, chorizo, Italian and Polish sausage options.
Milwaukee Brewers chief operating officer Rick Schlesinger added: “Johnsonville and the Milwaukee Brewers are Wisconsin heritage brands, and we are excited to announce a partnership that will bring the two organizations together at Miller Park. Sausage and baseball are staples of the summer in Wisconsin, and we’ll be joining forces to continue elevating the Miller Park experience.”
Not everyone is excited about the new Johnsonville partnership. In a Facebook post on the Klement’s page a statement read: “It’s not surprising that the Brewers chose to go with a national brand over the hometown company. While we valued our 25-year partnership with the Brewers, we’re proud to still be the hometown sausage company with a focus on quality over quantity. We will continue to literally hit it out of the park for our loyal customers.”
The company also announced on its page that they would be giving a year's supply of sausage to one fan who liked the post and tagged a friend that they were excited to grill with in the comments section. The winner will be announced Jan. 29 at 9 a.m.
