The baseball commissioner has a message for Wisconsin. Fix American Family Field--or else

[Eugene]

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The baseball commissioner has a message for Wisconsin. Fix American Family Field--or else

Tom Daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Thu, May 25, 2023 at 10:05 AM EDT·2 min read

Wisconsin's Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers need to approve a plan to finance $448 million of long-term renovations at American Family Field ? or risk the Milwaukee Brewers moving to another city.

That's the message expected to be delivered Thursday by Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred, who's visiting Milwaukee, a source is telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

A Brewers representative declined to comment. But the source, who asked not to be named, said Manfred is planning a news conference at American Family Field because of concerns MLB officials have about funding for the ballpark.

Evers, a Democrat, in February proposed providing state cash for long-term renovations at American Family Field.

Republicans who control the Legislature rejected Evers' proposal but have been negotiating a separate deal that has yet to be unveiled.

-snip-

Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/baseball-commissioner-message-wisconsin-fix-140521284.html

Original Journal Sentinel link (paywall): https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2023/05/25/brewers-ballpark-funding-draws-concerns-from-mlb-commissioner-manfred/70253613007/

[Tetrachloride]

1. Is the building falling down?

[Thunderbeast]

2. Wouldn't it be simpler

to ask every resident in the Milwaukie area to put a couple hundred dollars in an envelope and mail it to Disney (ESPN), Universal, Rupert Murdock, or another struggling media giant?

Maybe save back a few bucks for a superstar trying to survive on sixty million a year?

I am REALLY TIRED of the extortion practiced by pro sports and their TV partners. The league owners can't make skyboxes "pencil out" without billion dollar taxpayer subsidies from people who couldn't afford to buy a beer in these palaces.

Let 'em go. Maybe Las Vegas can be home to two MLB teams! They'll pay anything!

[hibbing]

3. Socialize the costs, privatize the profits n/t

[rsdsharp]

4. It opened in 2001. Did they make it out of paper mache?

[Eugene]

5. The plan is for $448m in renovations over a 20-year period.

American Family Field needs $448 million in long-term work. Here's how that breaks down.
Talks of renovating Brewers' stadium in early stages

Technology and moving parts (retractable roof, elevators, etc.) are some of the big ticket items.

[rsdsharp]

6. It already has a retractable roof.

It’s 22 years old. Was this just one more thing Bus Selig fucked up?

[Eugene]

7. Mechanical systems need major maintenance/overhaul over decades of use.

Moving parts wear out. Tech gets outmoded and needs upgrades.

[rsdsharp]

8. Chase Field is three years older.

I don’t recall these issues with it’s roof.

[Eugene]

9. Their roof has "issues" too.

https://news.yahoo.com/chase-field-planning-fix-issues-012707420.html

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/03/28/Facilities/chase-field-retractable-roof-repairs.aspx

[rsdsharp]

10. And yet, MLB isn't threatening to pull the franchise

[Eugene]

11. That field likely is not in a political impasse over how to pay the repair bill.

As the OP states, the Democratic governor and the GOP-controlled legisature are in deadlock over a state-owned sports venue.

The MLB ultimatim is stop squabbling and get it done.