Miller Brewing Co. and Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. announced today that Miller is investing $2.5 million in the renovation and expansion of the Miller Oasis area at Maier Festival Park. Construction is set to begin October of 2005, and the revamped Miller Lite Oasis will be unveiled for the first summer festival of 2006, which is undetermined at this time.

"We are immensely proud of our alliance with Miller Brewing Co. It allows us to not only offer world-class malt beverages at the world's larges music festival but also to embark on extraordinary improvements that benefit the festival park, our customers, performers and the cultural and ethnic festivals," said Don Smiley, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. president and chief executive officer.

The new Miller Lite Oasis will be approximately 56,000 square feet compared to the current 39,000 square feet. The stage will be raised from three feet to five-and-a-half, and it'll be pushed west approximately 100 feet so that a portion of the stage will be directly beneath the Hoan Bridge. Smiley says there will be less crowding in the Oasis area because of the renovations.