Take up Stadium Subsidy Bill Next Session, Audit District First

Milwaukee, WI – “It is clear the stadium subsidy bill seeking to use hundreds of millions of tax dollars to underwrite California billionaire Mark Attanasio is stuck in the State Senate.

Legislators should take the opportunity to hit ‘pause’ on the issue, hear directly from their constituents, and deliberate further on the issue. As our October PPP poll showed, Wisconsin voters are currently dead set against using their tax money to subsidize the stadium and would rather see their dollars directed toward other priorities like public safety, roads, and healthcare.

The Brewers’ army of paid lobbyists and PR professionals have created a two-pronged false narrative to extort our State – first that the team will pick up a move if they aren’t subsidized. Second, that the issue must be decided this session. This narrative isn’t true. Milwaukee has great fan attendance – we are 15th in attendance in a league of 30 teams. No potential market could match Milwaukee’s commitment to the team – despite the lack of a World Series appearance since 1982. Second, there is ample time to audit the stadium district and receive a true stadium needs assessment before the current stadium lease expires in 2030.

A deal may eventually be reached with the combination of ticket, parking, alcohol surcharges and equity in the team being provided to the taxpayers. But this won’t happen until the Brewers are broken of their entitlement to tax funds without accountability. The State Senate should table a stadium subsidy bill until their next session.”

Dan Adams, Director for Milwaukee Works, Inc.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.