George Strait at American Family Field: What you need to know before the Milwaukee concert

George Strait will play his first Milwaukee in 14 years at American Family Field June 3.
George Strait will play his first Milwaukee in 14 years at American Family Field June 3.
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A month after the coronation, the King is visiting Milwaukee.

No, not Charles — the King of Country Music, George Strait, who's coming to American Family Field June 3.

Strait has scaled back on his touring obligations in the past decade, and he is hitting only a handful of cities on his stadium tour this year. It will be his first show in Milwaukee since he headlined Summerfest in 2009.

Here's everything you need to know before heading out to the show at American Family Field.

More: With big concerts with Morgan Wallen, George Strait and more, Milwaukee has become a must-play market for country music.

More: These are all of the arena, amphitheater and stadium concerts in Milwaukee in 2023

When do the gates and parking open for George Strait's American Family Field concert?

The parking lots open Saturday at 3 p.m., with the gates opening at 4:15 p.m. and the show starting at 5:45 p.m. The show's on a Saturday, so that should ease traffic a bit, but give yourself plenty of time. Driving to the first of Morgan Wallen's two American Family Field shows in April, my car crawled for 46 minutes after pulling up to the stadium before I could finally park. And while there are five entryways into the stadium, expect long lines through security, too.

How much is parking, and how can you save some money?

The show's going to be near capacity, meaning about 40,000 people, so to guarantee a spot, consider buying parking in advance. It's cheaper, too: $25, or $40 for a spot in a preferred lot closer to the stadium. You can buy parking at brewers.com/strait. If you decide to wait to buy parking on site, a spot in the general lot will cost $35, or $50 for the preferred lots.

Don't want to drive? You have other options.

Milwaukee County Transit System offers a pair of routes that'll drop you off within walking distance of the ballpark: the GoldLine on Wisconsin Avenue and Route 18 on National Avenue. 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 be warned: It'll likely be mobbed after the show.

You also can check with bars that typically offer shuttle service to Brewers games, to see if they'll do the same for Strait's concert.

Are any tickets still available? How much are they?

The show is nearly sold out, but there are some first-hand seats still available, priced between $125 for seats in the top sections, up to $1,103 for a "platinum seat" close to the stage, through ticketmaster.com. (Those prices don't include fees.) Beyond that, scores of resale seats are also available through Ticketmaster, starting at $171, up through $1,975 for seats close to the stage (again, excluding fees).

What to do if you're sitting on the field, or if your ticket is at will call

You'll need to get a wristband to get access to any seats on the field. Wristband stations will be on the field level concourse near Sections 110, 118 and 127. Each ticketholder will need to present a barcode for their field seat to redeem a wristband.

If your tickets are waiting at will call, you can pick them up at the box office near the home plate gate. Tickets will only be distributed to the designated will-call contact, who must present their ID and the credit card used for the purchase. The ticket office will open at 9 a.m. June 3 and remain open until Strait takes the stage.

See something, say something: How to flag security, and other protocols

If you have any issues, text “Crew” and explain the situation to 41835. You also can speak to a staff member or visit one of three guest relations booths: at the field level behind Section 116, the loge level behind Section 222, or the terrace level behind Section 419.

Also, make sure to keep the aisles clear, and don't stand on the seats. Signs cannot be more than 18 by 24 inches, attached to poles or handles, or be inappropriate.

Chris Stapleton will open for George Strait at American Family Field June 3.
Chris Stapleton will open for George Strait at American Family Field June 3.

Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town will open for George Strait

It's been awhile since Milwaukee fans have seen Strait, but his immediate opener Chris Stapleton has become a familiar face around these parts. Milwaukee has had a string of sold-out Stapleton appearances, including the award-winning singer-songwriter's Summerfest headlining appearance at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater in 2021 and his Fiserv Forum show last October. The night will begin with the four-part vocal harmonies of another awards-show and country radio favorite, Little Big Town.

What will Strait play in Milwaukee?

The 71-year-old Strait has one of the most staggering catalogs in country music history, with an unprecedented 61 songs cracking the top 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart since 1981. There's no way he'll get to them all, but at his tour kickoff in Arizona this month, Strait played 32 songs — including country chart-toppers like "Check Yes or No" and "All My Ex's Live in Texas." Three songs in that show were with Stapleton, including their cover of the Townes Van Zandt classic "Pancho and Lefty."

Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.

More: George Strait hinted at riding away and Chris Stapleton 'Outlawed' at 2023 tour kickoff in Arizona

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: George Strait at American Family Field: What you need to know