Wisconsin lawmakers approved a plan Tuesday to spend nearly half a billion dollars to help the Milwaukee Brewers repair their stadium over the next three decades, according to the Associated Press, pushing the proposal to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk despite arguments that the team has more than enough money and doesn’t deserve such a sizable government subsidy.
The Senate approved the legislation on a 19–14 vote. The Assembly followed suit Tuesday evening, passing the proposal 72–26. Evers made a statement Tuesday evening that he plans to sign the funding package into law, remarking:
“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. 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.”
The Brewers say 22-year-old American Family Field needs extensive repairs. The stadium’s glass outfield doors, seats, and concourses need replacing; the stadium’s luxury suites and video scoreboard need upgrades; and the stadium’s signature retractable roof, fire suppression systems, parking lots, elevators, and escalators need work, according to the team.
Republicans amended the plan Tuesday during floor debate to incrementally raise the two-dollar ticket surcharge to four dollars and the luxury suite ticket surcharge from eight dollars to $10 by 2050. The revenue would be used to reduce the state contribution. According to Legislative Fiscal Bureau projections, the surcharges will generate about $20.7 million, reducing the state contribution to $365.8 million.
Republican Sen. Dan Feyen of Fond du Lac, who authored the Senate amendments, argued that the team will generate more than $600 million in income tax revenue over the next three decades.
The final Senate vote was fractured, with three of the four Democrats who represent Milwaukee joining 11 Republicans in voting against it. LaTonya Johnson was the only Milwaukee Democrat who voted for the plan.
