Summer in Wisconsin means a lot of things: county fairs, Friday night fish fries, and Kenosha Kingfish Baseball. The Kingfish are back at Historic Simmons Field for another season in the Northwoods League, and if you have never made the trip to Kenosha for a game, this is the summer to change that. Whether you are a lifelong baseball fan or just looking for an affordable, memorable night out, Simmons Field delivers in a way that bigger, pricier venues simply cannot.
What is the Northwoods League?
The Northwoods League is a summer collegiate wood-bat baseball league that has been developing elite college talent since 1994. Every player on the field is a current college athlete who must maintain NCAA eligibility to participate, which means the competition is genuine and the stakes feel real. With 26 teams across the Midwest and Canada, the league has become the gold standard for summer collegiate baseball, and its track record speaks for itself. Over 410 Northwoods League alumni have gone on to play in Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and World Series champion Chris Sale. On any given night in Kenosha, you could be watching the next one.
The season runs from late May through early August, giving Wisconsin families a full summer of action to work with.
A Ballpark With Real History
Simmons Field is not a modern corporate stadium. It is a real ballpark with a story going back to 1930, and that history is part of what makes a night there feel special. The park underwent a significant renovation in 2014 to welcome the Kingfish, and recent upgrades before the 2024 season added field turf, LED lighting, a new scoreboard, and an upgraded netting system that makes sight lines significantly cleaner. Yet the bones of the old park remain. The twin suites were built using wood and seat parts from the original third base grandstand, and those blue seats actually date back to 1930. The rest of the seating came from Baltimore’s Camden Yards.
One of the more memorable features of Simmons Field is the Bambino, a 43-foot-long former commercial fishing boat that serves as part of the left field fence. It holds up to 25 people for private parties and is one of those details that makes you realize someone put genuine thought and personality into this place.
The park’s history in is on display throughout the first base concourse, where blown-up newspaper clippings, photographs, and historical artifacts trace Simmons Field’s long life as a community gathering place.
Tickets That Will Not Break the Budget
One of the biggest draws of Kingfish baseball is the price. We spend $12 a ticket and sat right behind homeplate. That is a night of live professional-caliber baseball for the cost of a fast food meal. For groups, the Miller Lite Fish Bowl party area down the left field line offers all-you-can-eat burgers, brats, hot dogs, and beverages for $37 per person. Four-top tables are available for $50, and the Bambino Party Boat can be reserved for $45 per person, with food and drinks included.
Kids are welcome and the atmosphere is completely family-oriented. Free parking is available throughout the neighborhood and surrounding lots, and tailgating is permitted in the stadium lots.
Food Worth Showing Up Early For
The food at Simmons Field stands out, and that is not something you can say about every ballpark. The menu includes walking tacos, alongside the traditional burgers, brats, and dogs. It wouldn’t be a Wisconsin sporting event without Cheese Curds which were available at nearly every concession stand. There is also ice cream, an Elvis sundae served in a helmet, and a solid craft beer selection featuring local options alongside the expected Wisconsin staples. Keep an eye on the scoreboard during the game because if the visiting team’s designated hitter strikes out, drinks go two for one for the rest of that inning.
Promotions That Actually Entertain
The Kingfish take their between-inning entertainment seriously, and it shows. The promotional calendar runs all season long with themed nights, bobblehead giveaways, and Saturday night fireworks after every home game. There are t-shirt tosses, a kids’ play area with a bouncy house along the first base concourse, and appearances throughout the night from the team’s mascot, King Elvis, an orange fish in a white jumpsuit who arrives on an ATV before the first pitch.
One fan favorite promotion that you have to see to believe is the toilet bowl race. Two toilets on wheels are rolled onto the field, one person sits on each toilet, and a partner pushes them down the line. It is exactly as chaotic and funny as it sounds, and it is the kind of only-at-the-ballpark moment that you will be talking about on the drive home.
Future Stars You Can Watch for Next to Nothing
Part of what makes Northwoods League baseball so compelling is the proximity. These are legitimate college athletes competing hard for their baseball futures, and you can watch them from seats that put you close to the action at prices that barely register. The Kingfish have averaged between 2,000 and 2,500 fans per game since they began play, which means Simmons Field feels alive without being overwhelming. The crowd is engaged, the staff is friendly, and the whole experience has the kind of community feel that bigger venues have long since lost.
WeWisconsin Tip:
For night games, the third base line is your best bet. With the sun setting to the west, third base side fans have the light at their backs and a comfortable view of the entire field. Fans sitting on the first base line, by contrast, may find themselves looking directly into the setting sun for the first few innings. It is a small thing but it makes a real difference in how much you enjoy the game. If you are in the Southeast Wisconsin area, be sure to checkout the Kenosha Kingfish!