American Family Field funding, Wisconsin Senate OKs spending bills

MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin Senate on Tuesday, Nov. 14 approved spending half a billion dollars on American Family Field repairs and improvements. It would keep the Brewers in Milwaukee through 2050.

The bills passed Tuesday include a new ticket tax for non-Brewers events held at the ballpark. It would start at $2 for normal seats and $8 for luxury boxes or suites. That added fee would go up over time, ending at $4 for normal seats and $10 for luxury boxes or suites.

The ticket tax was a last-minute change to save the deal; the bills were at risk of striking out in the Senate. The change lowers what the state will pay, bringing the total state spending to roughly $365 million over the course of the lease.

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"It wasn’t easy work. We were still making calls and doing heavy lifting late into last night," said Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison). 

Agard described the investment, should it be signed into law, as a "long-term solution for a state asset" that ensures taxpayers "are coming out ahead."

"We can debate the merits of this choice, as a matter of public policy, but in an era where literally everyone is doing this type of bidding, we can’t risk losing out on our home crew. Imagine Milwaukee and Wisconsin without the Brewers," she said. "What we did today is ensuring that a foundational, iconic part of Wisconsin remains in Milwaukee and that we’re not losing money at the same time."

Others were unsuccessful in getting the ticket tax added to Brewers' games.

"A ticket tax on all tickets would have got me there with my pom poms. I would have pulled out my Rufus King (High School) pom poms and started cheering for the Brewers moving forward," said State Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee). "I appreciate the seat at the table, but I believe a higher amount from the Brewers was key, and I believe making people pay that are not there is ;a problem."

The city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County will each pay $67 million – money that will come from the state slashing the fee it charges local governments to administer local sales tax. The Brewers would add $110 million and extend their lease through 2050.

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"The Brewers have decided that they need additional cash, and we are falling for that. This is a trick that is unfortunately pulled by Major League Baseball around the country, where all they do is whisper repeatedly that we’re going to pull your team away from you if you don’t give us the cash," said State Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee). 

Larson voted against the bill's package Tuesday. He spoke on the topic for more than 30 minutes straight.

"There’s no reason why we should be in the situation where we are the most screwed-over landlord in the state of Wisconsin, where somehow the cost we pay to maintain it is far greater than the cost of what the Brewers pay us in the quote unquote ‘rent.’ And by the way, they are property tax-exempt," he said.

The Brewers' current lease runs through 2030 and states the governmental body that owns most of the ballpark is to pay for capital improvements. 

"I think we can all agree that Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin are far better off with the Brewers playing right here at home," said bill sponsor State Sen. Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac). "Conservative estimates have the state taking in $630 million in income taxes from players and team employees through salaries through 2050. That means the state is netting well over $200 million throughout the lifetime of this deal. The state and local tax revenue are projected to be more than $880 million through the end of this lease."

The Senate bill requires an audit of the stadium board every two years and gives the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County a seat on that board, through the governor picking from lists submitted by the city and county.

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"I could have voted for the bill if there would have been an audit beforehand, and there would have been money that the Brewers would have had to kick in, another $100 million," said State Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee).

The 19-14 vote on each of the two bills was not along party lines; both Republicans and Democrats voted for and against.

With the senators making changes, the bills now head back to the Wisconsin Assembly before reaching Gov. Tony Evers' desk. The governor has indicated he supports the bills and will sign the deal.

Reaction

Gov. Tony Evers:

"This is a great day for Wisconsin. For decades, the Brewers have been a cherished part of our state’s heritage and an essential part of Milwaukee’s and our state’s economic success. And after months of hard work, I’m proud to say we’re going to be keeping the Brewers in Milwaukee, supporting thousands of family-supporting jobs—including union jobs—and ensuring a new generation of Wisconsinites can grow up cheering for the home team just like countless others before them," said Gov. Evers. "As a lifelong Brewers fan, I always believed that we could work together to find common ground and build bipartisan support to keep this team and critical economic driver right here in Wisconsin, and today, that’s exactly what we did."

Brewers President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger:

"This vote by a bipartisan majority of the State Senate is a historic moment, not only allowing the Stadium District to meet its obligations to maintain the ballpark but paving the way for the Brewers to remain in Wisconsin for the next generation. We appreciate the leadership in the legislature and among local officials, and beginning with that of Governor Evers, as we worked with all stakeholders to help build support for a creative solution that would protect taxpayers.
 
"Baseball is a game enjoyed by working families all across the state, and we are grateful to be near a final agreement to keep Major League Baseball in Milwaukee for all to enjoy. The MMAC study demonstrated that American Family Field has contributed north of $2.5 billion in statewide economic impact since opening its doors in 2001, and by extending the ballpark’s useful life, we are working to preserve an important economic driver for the future.
 
"The Brewers will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders in the days and weeks ahead, as policymakers work on the final steps to put legislation on the desk of Governor Evers. As the Brewers landlord, the Stadium District needs resources to honor its current lease agreement with its tenant. Today’s bipartisan vote creates a path to provide those resources."

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson:

"The Legislature’s action today advances my goals of keeping the Brewers in Milwaukee and protecting local taxpayers.

"With this agreement, the local contribution comes exclusively from the administrative fee associated with the local sales tax.  What that means is no negative impacts will be felt in future city budgets and no loss of shared revenue as a result of the stadium deal.

"I want to thank the Governor, Assembly and Senate leaders, and all who have thoughtfully examined the options and listened carefully to local concerns.  What legislators have achieved is a bipartisan solution that keeps Major League Baseball in Milwaukee for the foreseeable future.

"I am grateful to all the partners who worked toward a positive outcome including organized labor and business leaders.

"Milwaukee is a big-league city. Our sports teams add life to our city; they create jobs, and they raise Milwaukee’s profile around the country and around the world.  Today’s actions affirm that."

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley:

"The Milwaukee Brewers are an important asset for our community. Through negotiations with our partners at the State of Wisconsin, I am pleased that both chambers of the Wisconsin State Legislature have approved bipartisan legislation to keep the Brewers in Milwaukee through 2050. 

"But this bill does more than just that. I was proud to negotiate additional revenue flexibility for Milwaukee County in this bipartisan bill, which will generate an estimated $239 million in additional revenue flexibility, placing us in a significantly more advantageous fiscal position. Let me be clear: With this legislation, Milwaukee County will have more local dollars available to address local priorities, while keeping the Brewers in Wisconsin for decades without any additional impact on local taxpayers.

"I appreciate the leadership of Governor Evers, Speaker Vos, Majority Leader LeMahieu, Minority Leaders Agard and Neubauer, and our partners in the Wisconsin State Legislature for pushing this effort forward. Together, we created a bipartisan solution that allows Milwaukee and the state to retain the Brewers, while providing Milwaukee County with additional resources to support our residents and communities in the years ahead. I am looking forward to the Governor signing this bill into law."

State Sen. Melissa Agard (D-Madison):

"When we work in a bipartisan manner, with stakeholders and communities of interest brought to the table, we can do great things for the State of Wisconsin. The legislation passed by the Senate today not only keeps our beloved Milwaukee Brewers in Wisconsin, but the Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates the state will see a net benefit of nearly $250 million from income tax revenue alone.

"The Milwaukee Brewers are more than just a professional sports team - they are a cornerstone of our community, a key tourism attraction, a partner to businesses across the state, a vital driver of our local and state economies, and an employer to thousands of our friends and neighbors, providing more than 1,000 good union jobs.

"Keeping the Brewers in Wisconsin is good for our state. I am proud to vote for this proposal and the needed renovations to the ballpark. But I need to make it clear, we do not have to choose between funding the stadium district and investing in other critical priorities. We can do both – let’s use this bipartisan work as the catalyst to support our University system, our public schools, our child care infrastructure, our state’s natural resources, and the everyday people that make Wisconsin a great place to live, work, and play."

State Sen. Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac):

"I am excited that after months of negotiation with the Assembly, the Governor’s office, and the Brewers, conversations with local leaders, and work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, the Senate was able to pass a pair of bills to direct funding for stadium maintenance and improvement and keep the Brewers in Wisconsin through 2050.

"This bill utilizes an increased investment from the Brewers, an investment from both the city and county of Milwaukee, and state income tax dollars generated from within the Stadium District. Unless you play for the Brewers or work in their front office, your state tax dollars will not fund this deal.

"I’m proud that the final version of the bill goes further to help counties across the state, including my home county, Fond du Lac County, by reducing the County Sales Tax Administrative Fee, allowing counties to keep over $7 million more in sales tax revenue in 2024.

"Since 2001, American Family Field has contributed $2.5 billion to the state’s economy. This resulted in $24 million in net state revenue and 3,000 jobs in 2022 alone. The bills that passed today keep the Brewers and their tremendous economic impact here in Wisconsin without raising your state tax dollars a penny.

"This is a good deal for baseball fans, a good deal for taxpayers, and a good deal for the State of Wisconsin."

State Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee):

"Seasoned fans might remember a former Brewers slugger named Jeromy Burnitz. He sometimes swung his bat so hard trying to hit a home run that the bat would fly out of his hands and into the seats on the first base side, imperiling all fans in its path.

"That’s a lot like what happened today in the State Senate. In a desperate rush to pass a stadium funding package to keep AmFam Field up to MLB specifications for another 27 years, we passed a bill with few safeguards for taxpayers that will end up costing us roughly half a billion dollars - money that could be better spent on policies that benefit all of us, not just those who can afford to attend a Major League baseball game.

"With 7 years left on the current lease, it’s curious that we chose to swing at the first pitch instead of waiting for the Brewers to truly come to the table with a deal that asks a whole lot more from team ownership and a whole lot less from our neighbors.

"Despite their position in a highly profitable, multi-billion dollar monopoly, pro MLB teams, like other major sports teams, have a business plan that includes coming to cities and states with their hands out every few decades. Perhaps the next time the Brewers owners come back for a new stadium, political leaders will have more patience at the plate, wait for better pitches, and know when to cry foul."

State Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Cedarburg):

"After months of intensive negotiations, the Senate reached an agreement that will keep the Milwaukee Brewers in Milwaukee until 2050. While no stadium deal is ever going to be perfect, the pros ultimately outweighed the cons and the final product that was passed today is a better deal for taxpayers and Brewers fans alike.

Throughout the course of the lease, the Brewers will generate roughly $607 million in income tax and $61 million in state sales tax revenue for Wisconsin. If they were to leave, the state would lose out on the tax revenue entirely while still being on the hook for maintaining an empty ballpark.

The funding deal that passed the Senate today raises the Brewers rent, includes a ticket surcharge on all non-Brewer events, lowers the state’s contribution, and keeps the Brewers in Milwaukee longer than the Governor’s original proposal. While there are certainly some additional changes that I would have liked to see made, the State Senate was able to move the bill in the right direction and negotiate a better plan for both baseball fans and Wisconsin taxpayers.

The deal will go to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law, but the work does not end there. The Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball District board will now be tasked with renegotiating the terms of the Brewers lease. It is critical that during development of the lease, the District board advocates for the best interest of the taxpayers."

Milwaukee County Supervisor Peter Burgelis:

"Wisconsin residents can breathe a collective sigh of relief that the State Senate passed its version of the Brewers stadium funding bill today. This provides a framework for the legislature to hammer out a compromise for a plan to keep the Brewers in Milwaukee. It also establishes a roadmap for Stadium district development that could help self-fund stadium needs past 2050. Milwaukee has a lot to celebrate today!"