"For the first time since Miller Park opened in March 2001, 43 suites on the stadium's Club Level are being completely renovated.

Despite the dire economic climate, Rick Schlesinger, the team's executive vice president for business relations, said Thursday that the timing was right for redoing the suites.

"With the upgrades we've done in the Metavante and Gehl Clubs, it made for a bigger contrast between the clubs and the suites," he said. "We know that hospitality budgets are probably going to be reduced. But this is one of our approaches to try to overcome some concerns. If you are trying to market to people, you want to go with your best product."

It doesn't hurt business, either, to be able to say the Brewers are coming off a playoff appearance, the first time that has happened since 1982.

The suites will feature hardwood floors, new furnishings, new lighting, new fixtures, a new refrigerator and new, flat-panel, high-definition televisions. The redesign will also give the suites a roomier appearance.

One suite has already been refurbished and is being shown to potential leaseholders.

"We've got a higher number of suites we have to resell. It's a rough economy, but we feel we are offering a high-end experience. The thinking is, this will help us overcome some of the economic obstacles," Schlesinger said.

Inside Miller Park, there are other changes going on.

A third party suite, themed after the 2008 Brewers, will open next season. The new suite, located in the right-field area, will join existing party suites themed after the 1957 Milwaukee Braves and the 1982 Brewers. The Brewers have found success leasing the suites on a game-by-game basis.

The stadium's FanZone store, located near Friday's Front-Row Grill, is also scheduled for a makeover. The store, about 4,500 square feet in size, will have special sections, including a new hat and jersey wall, a special tailgate and Sausage Mascot section, and a section devoted to women's apparel. Beginning Nov. 3, the FanZone store will be temporarily located at the Big League Blast area, located on the Loge Level.

"With the reconfiguring and moving things around and moving some areas, people will see a dramatic increase in the sense of the store being bigger and being displayed better," Schlesinger said.

On the field, the outfield grass has been removed and will be replaced in the coming weeks. Schlesinger said the same kind of hybrid bluegrass that was laid on the infield last season will be put down in the outfield."