State Republican lawmakers proposed $614 million in funding for maintenance and upgrades to Milwaukee’s American Family Field, on Monday.
Spearheaded by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, the recently proposed bill would extend the Brewers’ lease until 2050 while providing $177 million from the state, $200 million from the city of Milwaukee and $135 million from Milwaukee County, according to NBC Sports. Another $100 million would come from the Brewers organization itself.
The Brewers' current lease with the state is set to expire in 2030. And while the team’s management hasn’t said whether they would renew it without upgrades, Brewers officials told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in August that they would consider relocation to Charlotte, North Carolina or Nashville, Tennessee.
A 2020 study commissioned by the team estimated $428 million in repairs by 2040. A second study commissioned by the governor's office put that number at $567 million.
“While it’s good to hear Republicans are getting serious about keeping Major League Baseball in Wisconsin, it’s unfortunate Republicans rejected Gov. Evers’ commonsense proposal that ultimately would’ve saved taxpayers millions of dollars in the long run,” said Evers’ spokesperson Britt Cudaback.
The Brewers organization said in a statement Monday it supports an eventual “bipartisan” solution but so far has remained firm on its proposed $100 million contribution.
Team representatives said they will not accept any proposals that require the creation of housing or businesses on any of the parking lot structures surrounding the field — a plan Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson called for the Brewers to create, similar to Fiserv Forum’s Deer District in the parking lots around American Family Field.
“I am very protective of our tailgating culture,” Brewers President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger told CBS58.
Democrats have objected to the plan.
“[The proposal] places too great of a financial burden on the city and county of Milwaukee,” Assembly Democrats said in a statement Monday.
Mayor Johnson noted that dual contributions from the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County would unduly burden taxpayers in those areas, forcing Milwaukee residents to pay twice for the stadium upgrades, Johnson told Urban Milwaukee.
“Milwaukee County is still facing a significant fiscal deficit over the next several years,” Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said in a statement Monday. “Any new proposal by the state of Wisconsin must recognize that reality.”
Vos disagreed, claiming that the agreement was “a good deal for everybody.”
“Letting the Brewers leave would be bad for southeastern Wisconsin,” Vos said at a press conference Monday morning. “If the Brewers leave, we will continue to own this facility. The taxpayers are on the hook, whether we like it or not.”
The bill includes the creation of a new advisory board for the stadium. According to the proposal, this board would have nine members, with four being appointed by the governor, two from the state Senate leader, two from the Assembly leader and one from the Brewers organization. With current leadership in place, Republicans would have an equal number of appointees as Evers.
Johnson called the lack of Milwaukee-chosen representatives on the advisory board “taxation without representation.”
The plan also comes with a shared revenue agreement.
"One percent of [the Brewers’ revenue] will go to every community in the state so every community in the state of Wisconsin benefits from keeping the Brewers again," said Representative Rob Brooke, R-Saukville, who helped author the proposal. “It's cheaper to keep them.”
Editor's note: This article was updated on September 24, 2023, to correct the date Brewers officials told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel of plans to explore alternative host cities.
Gabriella Hartlaub is an arts editor for the Daily Cardinal. She also reports state politics and life & style stories. Follow her on Twitter at @gabihartlaub.
