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Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023

Does the Republican plan for the Milwaukee Brewers stadium give away $600 million ‘for nothing’?


no

The Milwaukee Brewers would contribute $100 million toward renovations at American Family Field, extend the team’s lease on the stadium until 2050 and pledge not to relocate under a bill proposed by Republican state lawmakers.

The bill would allocate $614 million in public funding — from the state, the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County — to repair and renovate American Family Field.

On May 25, 2023, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Milwaukee risks losing the Brewers to another city if renovations to the stadium aren’t made, and that the renovations require public funding.

A Wisconsin Assembly committee held a hearing Oct. 5 on the bill. Changes are expected before the Assembly and Senate vote on it.

Baseball operations at the stadium generate about $19.8 million annually in taxes. That amount is expected to increase to $50.7 million by 2050 and cover the taxpayer cost.

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