$54.9 Million in Upgrades Approved for Brewers Stadium
Move to winterize stadium part of $500 million public subsidy passed in 2023.
Fans walk into American Family Field to watch the Brewers’ season opener Thursday, April 1, 2021, in Milwaukee. Angela Major/WPR
Upgrades are coming to the home of the Milwaukee Brewers more than a year after the passage of a public financing deal for the stadium.
The Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District board last week unanimously approved a $54.9 million project plan for American Family Field this year. The planned renovations include $10 million for a public gathering space, and $25 million to winterize the stadium so it can be used for events during the offseason.
“It’s the first in what’s going to be many steps of delivering on what the legislature and the governor approved, and what I think a majority of citizens of Wisconsin want to see done, which is to make sure that we have a nice facility that allows the Brewers to be competitive on the ball field,” said Pat Goss, the executive director of the district.
The Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District oversees operations and maintenance at the stadium, which opened in 2001. The district officially approved the new lease agreement in December, ensuring the Brewers stay in the city until at least 2050.
A statement from Evers called the approval of the lease a “home run.”
“Without an investment from the state, the District would not have had the resources to meet the contractual and legal obligations necessary to maintain and update American Family Field, posing the risk of Wisconsin losing the Brewers and its only MLB team,” Evers stated.
Goss said new projects at the stadium can move forward because the new lease was signed. He said the district board’s vote Friday also ensures work can begin.
“It’s full steam ahead,” Goss said.
Brewers players warm up before their home opener against the Mets on Monday, April 3, 2023, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
Winterizing stadium could bring concerts, other events
Plans to winterize the stadium were discussed when the deal was being debated in 2023. The goal is for a temperature of 68 degrees to be maintained inside the stadium during the winter, according to a project description.
That will require utility upgrades.
Visit Milwaukee’s president and CEO Peggy Williams-Smith said it’s her hope the project will allow the stadium to hold public events during the winter.
“We are hopeful that they’ll host concerts, which would be huge,” Williams-Smith said. “We’re hopeful they can host other sporting events throughout the year that can create economic impact throughout the county.”
However, Victor Matheson, an economics professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, said he doesn’t believe the stadium will see much life during the winter.
“The big concert tours that require a 40,000-seat stadium, those are typically taking place in the summer, rather than in the winter,” Matheson said.
Currently, an appearance by Billy Joel and Sting is the only concert planned in the stadium for 2025.
The board also approved $10 million for creation of a “Social Gathering Space” at the stadium.
Other stadiums across Major League Baseball also have public spaces available for fans, including Gallagher Way at Wrigley Field in Chicago and Gallagher Square at Petco Park in San Diego.
Goss said much of the work won’t be noticeable to fans, like replacing walk-in coolers and freezers.
“It’s important stuff to make sure that the place stays in good shape, and that fans have a good experience,” he said.
Upgrades also include $500,000 for the stadium’s retractable roof, and around $660,000 for a sensory room for fans with “special needs.” Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee has two sensory rooms for people with developmental disabilities who need a quiet space during events.
Upgrades approved for home of the Milwaukee Brewers was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
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More about the Miller Park Stadium Tax
- $54.9 Million in Upgrades Approved for Brewers Stadium - Evan Casey - Jan 28th, 2025
- MKE County: Brewers Ballpark Subsidy Stings County Budget - Graham Kilmer - Jul 28th, 2024
- Governor Signs Brewers Subsidy Agreement At American Family Field - Evan Casey - Dec 5th, 2023
- Gov. Evers Signs Bills to Keep Milwaukee Brewers, Major League Baseball in Wisconsin Through 2050 - Gov. Tony Evers - Dec 5th, 2023
- Council, Mayor Bickered On Brewers Deal - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 29th, 2023
- Brewers Stadium Deal Passes the Legislature - Shawn Johnson - Nov 14th, 2023
- County Executive David Crowley’s Statement on Bipartisan Bill to Keep Brewers in Milwaukee - County Executive David Crowley - Nov 14th, 2023
- Gov. Evers to Sign Bipartisan Plan to Keep Milwaukee Brewers, Major League Baseball in Wisconsin Through 2050 - Gov. Tony Evers - Nov 14th, 2023
- A swing, a miss, and an errant bat in the stands - State Sen. Chris Larson - Nov 14th, 2023
- Supervisor Burgelis Responds to State Senate Vote on Brewers Stadium Funding - Sup. Peter Burgelis - Nov 14th, 2023
Read more about Miller Park Stadium Tax here
A thought and not a criticism of this significant expenditure is justified for the projected benefits. The thought is this. For approximately the same $54 million, The Mitchell Park Domes – under the leadership and marketing skills of Friends of the Domes – could be transformed into a major visitor destination. It can also become the anchor for the revitalization of the park and building a healthier community on Milwaukee’s South Side.
This is not an argument for zero-sum thinking, but one for finding the money for The Domes that I believe would have a greater positive impact on the community than the winter-related changes to the ballpark. The starting point is understanding the vision for a transformed and financially sustainable Domes that is achievable if adequately funded and led by Friends of the Domes.
I totally agree.
I fail to see how $10 million for a public gathering space and another $25 million to heat the stadium in winter is going to help “the Brewers to be competitive on the ball field”. All it may do is line the pockets of the owner, who runs the Brewers like a Triple A team, whose purpose is only to develop players that eventually get lost to other Major League teams.
What MLB needs is true revenue sharing, like in the NFL. Then the Brewers and other smaller market teams would have a better shot at truly being competitive.