Brewers Stadium $500M Upgrade Gets Green Light from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signs a bill allocating half a billion dollars in taxpayer funds over the next 30 years to facilitate the repair of the Milwaukee Brewers stadium, following months of behind-the-scenes negotiations. Stacy Revere/Getty Images

American Family Field, home to the Milwaukee Brewers, is set for a major facelift following the enactment of a $500 million public funding plan signed into law by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Tuesday, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The milestone legislation paves the way for extensive renovations and improvements to the 22-year-old stadium, securing its status as a vital cultural and economic asset for the state.

During a symbolic ceremony at the ballpark, Governor Evers highlighted the bipartisan support behind the funding plan, emphasizing the Milwaukee Brewers' integral role in Wisconsin's identity.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers stressed the potential far-reaching consequences of losing the team, asserting that its absence would create a ripple effect affecting families and communities statewide.

In the wake of the legislation's approval, negotiations between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District, the primary owner of American Family Field, are set to commence.

The discussions will center on a new lease agreement extending through 2050.

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The $500M Brewers Stadium Upgrade Negotiations

While the legislation faced its share of controversy, with debates over public funding for professional sports teams being inherently divisive, the Milwaukee Brewers owner, Mark Attanasio, underscored the importance of the funding for enhancing the fan experience and maintaining the team's competitiveness.

Critics, including some Milwaukee-area legislators, argued against public subsidies for the Brewers, pointing to Attanasio's estimated $700 million net worth and the team's valuation of approximately $1.6 billion, ESPN noted.

The final bill, signed by Governor Evers, outlines a state contribution of $365.8 million distributed in annual payments until 2050.

The city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County will collectively contribute $135 million.

To alleviate public concerns, the legislation introduces surcharges on tickets to non-baseball events held at the stadium, such as concerts and rallies, projected to generate $20.7 million.

Additionally, the Brewers committed $110 million to the project, extending their lease through 2050.

The bill secured overwhelming support in the Legislature, with a 72-26 vote in the Assembly and a 19-14 vote in the Senate last month.

Milwaukee's Plan to Pay its Share for Brewers Stadium Upgrade

As part of its financial commitment to the Brewers stadium upgrades, the city of Milwaukee is obligated to contribute $67.5 million over the next 27 years, per TMJ4.

This funding will be sourced from a new 2 percent sales tax set to take effect at the beginning of the year.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson clarified that the sales tax, expected to generate nearly $200 million in 2024, will not impact the city's original revenue projections.

The mayor emphasized that Milwaukee's contributions to American Family Field repairs will not burden taxpayers.

State Representative Rob Brooks played a key role in discovering a flaw in a state administrative fee, leading lawmakers to reduce the user fee to 0.75%.

The resulting surplus funds, exceeding Milwaukee's ballpark improvement obligations, will be redirected to the community, mitigating the financial impact on the city.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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