logo
Brief Publisher Logo
FACT BRIEF

Does Wisconsin own the stadium where the Milwaukee Brewers play?

By Tom Kertscher
View this fact brief on Wisconsin Watch
Copy link
email
Copy featured image
email
NO

The Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District (64%) and the Milwaukee Brewers (36%) own American Family Field.

A 1995 state law created the district, composed of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington and Waukesha counties. It is "separate, distinct and independent from the state," according to the district's website.

The district’s board enacted a 0.1% sales tax for the five counties, effective in January 1996, to fund construction of the stadium, first known as Miller Park, which opened in 2001.

The tax, in place through March 2020, raised $609 million.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Aug. 11, 2023, that the Brewers could start looking for a new home this fall if state and local officials fail to reach agreement by then on a taxpayer-funded package to fund improvements to the stadium.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in February proposed spending $290 million for long-term stadium improvements. That was rejected by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. Republicans hold a majority in the Assembly and the Senate.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District Financial Statements | December 31, 2022
Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District Summary Of The Stadium District
Wisconsin Watch Do the Milwaukee Brewers pay for some of the maintenance and improvements at their home stadium?
Wisconsin Watch Milwaukee Brewers' stadium: How much have taxpayers paid?
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Wisconsin Watch
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
FACT BRIEF BY
Brief Publisher Logo
Latest fact briefs from Wisconsin Watch
facebook
twitter
email
email
About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.