Wisconsin Legislature approves Brewers stadium renovation plan

The Wisconsin Legislature passed a bill approving the stadium renovation at American Family Stadium in Milwaukee on Tuesday, as covered by Jesse O’Boin of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. While the bill still needs Gov. Tony Evers’ approval to officially pass, he has already announced his intention to sign it.

Under this funding plan, the state agrees to pay just under $366 million to support stadium modernization through 2050. Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee will each contribute $67.5 million. The Brewers are expected to pay roughly $150 million — about $100 million of that through rent and about $50 million earmarked for discretionary upgrades. In total, public funding amounts to just over half a billion dollars over 26 years.

Once signed into law by the governor, the plan will put to rest any questions about the Brewers’ future in Milwaukee. The team’s lease at American Family Field, which was set to expire after the 2030 season, will be extended through 2050. In August, team officials floated the possibility of a move if a lease extension was not agreed upon this fall. This will no longer be a concern for Brewer fans, at least for the better part of the next three decades.

“Now we can all sleep tonight knowing that the Brewers will be here for the next generation in a wonderful, beautifully maintained stadium that deserves the support of the fans,The team’s president of business operations, Rick Schlesinger, told reporters (including Auboin) on Tuesday.

Some residents will certainly have concerns about allocating significant public funding to modernize the stadium. There was opposition in the state Senate, where the bill narrowly passed 19-14.

The Brewers have played in Milwaukee since 1970. The franchise began as an expansion team in Seattle but spent only one season there before moving to Wisconsin. With the Rays and Brewers reaching agreements on stadium deals, the A’s are the only franchise that will be relocating in the near future. MLB owners unanimously approved the Athletics’ request to move to Las Vegas this morning.