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In Sports Briefs
Miller Lite ad pops the top on a minor controversy
Is this any way to sell beer to thirsty Brewers fans?  
By OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writers

Published July 3, 2007 at 6:32 a.m.
Tags: brewers, miller lite, billboard, wrigley

TV cameras revealed a lot of Brewers hats and t-shirts in the stands last weekend at Wrigley Field.

That's not surprising.

The Brewers are hot. Their fans are excited. There is nothing wrong with visiting enemy territory to root for your heroes. After all, Cubs fans have been doing it at Miller Park for years.

While Brewers fans may not have been pleased with the outcome of the series (the Cubs took two of the three games), they definitely weren't too happy with a billboard atop an apartment building on Sheffield Ave.

"We prefer a pennant race to a sausage race," the Miller Lite sign said.

The ad, which has appeared at past Cubs-Brewers series, could be considered clever... if it was for BUDWEISER.

Brewers fans are among the most loyal Miller Lite drinkers in the country, which is hardly shocking when you consider that the brewer's headquarters are located a stone's throw from the ballpark that bears the company's name. Brewers fans love the sausage race (based on the amount of run those wienies get on nightly cable highlight shows, so does the rest of the nation.) But, they are enjoying the pennant race, too.

We know all about targeting an audience and the billboard, which changes messages with each series, was designed with Cubs fans in mind. Still, you have to question the acumen of the ad agency that gave that sign the green light when they knew it might anger some of the base.

4 comments about this article.
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Recent Talkbacks ...
Posted by Preview
OlderWiser Saw it at the Brewers/Cubs game last Friday. Thought it was clever and fun....after ...
Scottage Cheese Desperate times for Miller, who lost the Chicago market to Budweiser. At Wrigley ...
kierkkegaard I tried to put a positive spin on that sign when I saw it on Sunday. I was thinking ...
mkelover Seems like outdoor advertising works! BTW - the client (Miller) would have final ...

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