GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (WFRV) The Timber Rattlers are in the playoffs.

But it is not only action on the field that has fans excited.

"This day in age you are only relevant as long as you are doing something new" says Timber Rattlers President Rob Zerjav.

That is why, after 18 years, Fox Cities Stadium is getting a makeover.

It is a "field of dreams" according to Grand Chute Town Chairman Dave Schowalter. "Since we've got the Brewers affiliate I've attended several games this summer and just to see the stands filled with 4000 fans on a daily basis is fantastic"

In fact, the T-Rats have seen a 25% boost in attendance since joining forces with the Brew Crew.

The new expansion will make room for 400 more fans on game day and beyond.

"We are looking to utilize the facility. It's a great location. We've had a lot of people wanting to use the facility during the winter" says Zerjav.

The number of bathrooms will double and concessions will increase.

The most noticeable change will be a second level year round banquet facility behind home plate.

According to Zerjav "We are getting a lot of people calling already wanting to book different events at the ballpark and we haven't even gotten going yet".   

"It is going to have a great economic impact for the town which is why the chamber also helped financially" explains Schowalter.  

A $400,000 grant came from the Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The team will pick up the rest of the almost six million dollar tab.

"We are self sustaining. We knew we could afford this and that's why it has taken a handful of years to get to where we are at" says Zerjav. "We didn't want to put it on the backs of our ticket holders and all of sudden you see ticket prices double, concession items double".

Work on the full project will start within a week of the season ending.

The expansion will be ready by first pitch next April.