Sports

$614M proposed for Brewers’ stadium upgrades

Published

1 year ago

September 19, 2023

admin

Associated Press

Sep 18, 2023, 02:06 PM ET

MILWAUKEE — Republican legislators announced a bill Monday that would devote more than $614 million in public funding to repair and renovate the Milwaukee Brewers‘ stadium — far more than taxpayers spent to build it more than two decades ago.

Under the proposal, the state would give the team $60.8 million next fiscal year and up to $20 million each year after that through 2045-46. The city of Milwaukee would contribute a total of $202 million, and Milwaukee County would kick in $135 million by 2050.

The team would contribute about $100 million and extend its lease at American Family Field through 2050, keeping Major League Baseball in its smallest market for another 27 years.

Reports commissioned by the Brewers and another by a state consultant found that the stadium’s glass outfield doors, seats and concourses should be replaced, that its luxury suites and technology such as its sound system and video scoreboard need upgrades, and that its signature retractable roof needs repairs. Fire suppression systems, parking lots, elevators and escalators need work, too.

According to a Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo attached to the legislation, baseball operations at the stadium currently generate about $19.8 million annually in state and local taxes. That figure is expected to grow to $50.7 million annually by 2050, according to the memo.

Public funding for professional sports facilities is always a hotly debated issue.

At a stadium news conference announcing the plan, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos tried to justify the spending. He said losing the Brewers to another city would cost the state and local economies tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue each year, which could lead to diminished state aid for communities around Wisconsin.

Baseball operations at American Family Field generate enough tax revenue that lawmakers can afford to give the team money without imposing any new taxes, Vos said.

“It’s a win for Wisconsin,” the speaker said of the proposal.

No Brewers personnel spoke at the news conference. Rick Schlesinger, the team’s president of business operations, issued a statement saying the proposal shows that lawmakers want to keep the team in Milwaukee. He did not say specifically whether the team supports the plan, but he planned to address reporters at a news conference later Monday.

The proposal would have to pass the Republican-controlled state Assembly and state Senate and get Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ signature before it could become law. Evers’ office issued a statement Monday saying he looked forward to reviewing the proposal.

The team’s principal owner, Mark Attanasio, has an estimated net worth of $700 million, according to Yahoo Finance. The team itself is valued at around $1.6 billion, according to Forbes. Still, the Brewers have been working for months to secure public funding for stadium repairs and upgrades.

Evers proposed giving the team almost $300 million in the state budget in exchange for the team extending its lease by 13 years, to 2043. Evers would have pulled the money from the state’s $7 billion surplus, but Republican lawmakers killed the plan after Vos said he wanted a longer lease extension.

The stadium opened in 2001 as Miller Park and replaced aging County Stadium. Construction cost about $392 million and was funded largely through a 0.1% sales tax imposed in Milwaukee County and the four other counties that surround the stadium.

Construction got off to a tough start. The tax was a lightning rod for criticism; Republican state Sen. George Petak was recalled from office in 1996 after he switched his vote from no to yes on the tax plan. And three construction workers were killed at the stadium in 1999 when a crane collapsed.

But the park ultimately got built. Known for its distinctive fantail retractable roof, the stadium became a destination for Wisconsin baseball fans as the Brewers experienced a resurgence in the late 2000s, advancing to their first playoff appearance in 26 years in 2008. The team has made five other trips to the playoffs since then, including two appearances in the National League Championship Series. The Brewers currently lead the NL Central by 6½ games as they pursue their fifth playoff appearance in the last six years.

The five-county sales tax generated about $605 million before it expired in 2020. The stadium name changed to American Family Field in 2021 after the Brewers struck a 15-year naming rights deal with the insurance company.

The Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District essentially serves as the Brewers’ landlord at the stadium. The Brewers’ lease calls for the district to cover repairs, but Evers’ office and the Brewers said in February that the end of the sales tax has left the district short of funds.

The package introduced Monday would create provisions for the state to loan the district up to $50 million for stadium repairs.

Sports

Follow live: No. 6 Penn State takes on No. 11 SMU in first round of College Football Playoff

Published

5 mins ago

December 21, 2024

admin

Follow live: No. 6 Penn State takes on No. 11 SMU in first round of College Football Playoff

Sports

Notre Dame tops Indiana to kick off new CFP era

Published

12 hours ago

December 21, 2024

admin

Notre Dame tops Indiana to kick off new CFP era

Associated Press

Dec 20, 2024, 11:46 PM ET

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Jeremiyah Love tied the Notre Dame record with a 98-yard touchdown run, Riley Leonard added two more scores and the Fighting Irish shut down the highest-scoring team in the College Football Playoff, overwhelming Indiana 27-17 on Friday night.

The seventh-seeded Fighting Irish (12-1) won their 11th straight — and their first playoff victory. They’ll face second-seeded Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman got the biggest win of his three-year career by extending his Irish record to 12 victories over ranked teams in three seasons.

“There’s no place like Notre Dame,” Leonard said. “This is why you come here, this is why I came here — to play for a championship.”

Tenth-seeded Indiana (11-2) completed a magical season by finishing with its second fewest points this season on a cold, brisk night in the first CFP game ever played on a campus site. Both of the Hoosiers’ losses came to top-five opponents. Indiana set a single-season school record for wins but still hasn’t won at Notre Dame since 1898.

Notre Dame took control on its third offensive play when Love scooted around the right side of Indiana’s defense, eluded one tackle and sprinted down the sideline to make it 7-0. He matched Josh Adams’ longest run in school history, set in 2015 against Wake Forest. It was also the longest run in CFP history.

“It’s all about finding a way to get another week,” Freeman said. “It wasn’t easy. But we’re going to enjoy this one and we’ll get another one.”

Love finished with eight carries for 108 yards despite appearing to reinjure his left knee later in the first half.

Indiana never recovered after Notre Dame made it 14-0 early in the second quarter.

Leonard’s 1-yard TD run late in the fourth gave him 15 this season to break Notre Dame’s season record by a quarterback.

Indiana scored both of its touchdowns in the final 1:27.

Notre Dame made it 14-0 on Leonard’s 5-yard TD pass to Jayden Thomas early in the second quarter. The Irish settled for three more field goals, and the defense took care of the rest — allowing just one field goal.

Leonard was 23 of 32 with 201 yards and one interception. Notre Dame receiver Jordan Faison caught seven passes for 89 yards.

Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke turned in another poor game against a top defense, finishing 20 of 33 with 215 yards, with two TDs and one interception, and the Hoosiers rushed for just 63 yards.

“They took it to us,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. “They won, they deserve to win. We didn’t play our best game, but they had a lot to do with that tonight.”

Takeaways Indiana: The Hoosiers trailed fewer minutes than any other FBS team this season and had the highest-scoring team entering the playoffs. They didn’t do either Friday night against a stout Irish defense that rattled Rourke early.

Notre Dame: The Irish have relied on the running game and defense all season — and it was that combination that gave Notre Dame the first playoff win in school history. It may need more out of its passing game to win its first national championship since 1988.

Up next Indiana: Will spend a busy offseason trying to replicate what they built in Year 1 under coach Curt Cignetti.

Notre Dame: Plays Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Sports

Date set for NASCAR’s antitrust suit motion

Published

16 hours ago

December 21, 2024

admin

Date set for NASCAR's antitrust suit motion

Associated Press

Dec 20, 2024, 07:51 PM ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A federal judge set a Jan. 8 hearing to hear NASCAR’s motion to throw out an antitrust lawsuit filed against the stock car series by Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports

The two teams are suing NASCAR and were granted a preliminary injunction Wednesday that will allow them to compete as chartered teams in 2025.

U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth D. Bell said Friday that “NASCAR fans [and members of the public who may become fans] have an interest in watching all the teams compete with their best drivers and most competitive teams.” NASCAR has indicated it will appeal his ruling and wants his injunction partially blocked pending the appeal.

The hearing is the latest in the legal brawl between the two Cup Series teams and the sanctioning body that began late last season. Judge Bell is set to decide other motions, as well. He also set a Sept. 19, 2025, deadline for discovery to be completed and set a trial date of Dec. 1 — after the completion of next season.

23XI, the team owned by Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Front Row refused in September to sign take-it-or-leave it charter renewal offers made by NASCAR. A charter is essentially a franchise and guarantees prize money, a spot in the field each week and other protections.

The teams filed suit alleging NASCAR owners are “monopolistic bullies” and lost a bid in November to be recognized as “chartered” teams as the suit continues.

23XI and Front Row can now sign the charter agreements and still pursue their lawsuit. They also each were granted permission to purchase additional charters from Stewart Haas Racing, which is going from four Cup cars to one, though NASCAR must approve the transfers to those teams.