Brewers Agree to $500 Million Stadium Renovation, Staying in Milwaukee

Discussing the Brewers American Family Field renovation
My Twitter - / realpatrickmcl

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

That is unreal that a little over 20 year stadium actually needs a half billion dollar makeover. I mean, it still looks really ultra modern state of the art to me...

[@giannisforprez1271]

As a mke local it’s solid and the price tag is a little ridiculous but it certainly needs some renovations. Nothing has changed except for the scoreboard like 15 years ago. Glad they got a deal done.

[@chriskay1449]

A lot of that money will go towards roof repairs and a heating/cooling system that it currently does not have.

[@OldRustySteele]

@@chriskay1449 Chris, do you know why it would need a cooling system? It hardly ever gets that hot in Milwaukee. It’s not like Dallas, Houston, or Tampa.

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

@@chriskay1449 And they didn't have this heating/cooling system the first time because...

[@HoshizakiYoshimasa]

It looks like an airport hanger. I been to all 30 MLB stadiums it was a bottom 5 stadium. Only Tampa Oakland White Sox and Cleveland were worse. Indoor stadiums just seem so soulless and ugly compared to most outdoor ballparks. Baseball is meant to be played outside. But small and even mid sized Metro and TV markets have to pay up for stadiums or they will lose their teams to other markets willing to build stadiums. Especially now that US sports leagues have global ambitions

[@danimalman3]

I think its a little crazy to have these major renovations for stadiums that really aren't that old. I totally get repairs, upgrades, and even custom fitting stadiums to baseball but this one I feel is totally fine.

[@fitzpatrickgf]

Tax papers paying for the private MLB enterprise renovation and repairs is the most concerning and no one is realizing the Roman Empire is knocking on your door to keep the Roman Colosseum going, for the sheep to stay distracted with something they don't even own!

[@xman777b]

​@@fitzpatrickgf pretty much.

[@HoshizakiYoshimasa]

​@@fitzpatrickgfWhat's funny is Japan SKorea Taiwan and the Dominican Republic will gladly step in and build whatever MLB wants if it means a team. (I think that's where US sports leagues ambitions are now... The globe. Small and mid market teams who don't playball.... Will lose their teams to other markets that will cooperate on stadiums. As sports leagues can't just endlessly expand and expand)

[@hawlikd]

This is what happens when you don't have annual upkeep of the Statuim.

[@johna7564]

Upkeep of the what?

[@reesejabs788]

It's hard to believe that a stadium needs that much in repairs in only 20 or so years.

[@concertvids34]

I toured AmFam last year and have friends that are lifelong residents of the greater Milwaukee metro. It is incredibly dumb to push renovations this far. I get the roof and other maintenance upgrades but to force taxpayer to foot the bill is said. I also empathize with Milwaukee as a lifelong Hartford, CT resident as I was 6 and going to my first NHL games in 96-97 falling in love with hockey and then the left. We also were used as a city to pressure Foxborough, MA to give Kraft breaks to build Gillette stadium although I love how Kraft paid for over 90% of the costs to build Gillette and used very little taxpayer money. Kraft also pays for a lot of the costs to upgrade the stadium unlike most pro sports owners.

[@sirchi8731]

Probably the first and last time. Especially now that the Brady era is over. So when the Patriots come knocking for q new stadium in 25 years...Boston better pay up or lose NFL for good. They got 20 to 25 years

[@concertvids34]

@@sirchi8731 doubtful. The Kraft family routinely updated the venue and have their own construction company. Robert’s son seems aligned with the same vision to invest in patriot place and the stadium for decades to come. Boston will never get the Patriots back there isn’t room and Foxburough has a theme park like set up that nabs the biggest stadium tours and Patriots home games yearly.

[@HoshizakiYoshimasa]

Small and mid sized Metro areas and TV markets have to ether cooperate on stadiums or lose their teams to other markets willing to help build. Especially now that US sports leagues have Global ambitions. Milwaukee Brewers may have eventually become the Seoul Brewers. Cleveland Guardians maybecome the Taiwan Guardians. Baltimore Orioles may become the Tokyo Orioles. US people need to understand this and act if they want to keep their teams

[@concertvids34]

@@HoshizakiYoshimasa there is no way a league with 162 regular season games is putting a team in Asia.

[@ZACKMAN2007]

What are they gonna cook? New scoreboard? New seats? More bars?

[@JL_-on1st]

It's a really nice ballpark

[@chriskay1449]

They aren't moving the scoreboard no matter how much you whine about it as you are the only one whining about where it is.

[@P_greenlee]

Thank you someone else who doesn’t have a problem with the scoreboard

[@ZENETTI18S]

He never likes any centerfield scoreboards. I dont see what's the big deal.

[@k_e3735]

Can the senate approve renovations on my house? I'll throw parties, charge for parking, sell over priced drinks and merchandise at my house. Would that qualify my house as being part of the city and entitled to tax breaks and funding?

[@georgehenry8422]

EXACTLY.

[@saints093]

If the A’s move to Vegas, they should change their name and not be called A’s, if Oakland can get an expansion team, maybe they could call the expansion team Oakland A’s

[@AKT0B0S]

Totally disagree. The A’s have a rich history and have moved cities several times. Embrace the Las Vegas Athletics.

[@BrownBomber92181]

BS, the Athletics are one of the original MLB teams dating back to the 1880's. They were originally from Philadelphia, then Kansas city before they even made it to Oakland in 1968.

[@CapnBreeze]

Oakland will never get a new team 😂

[@BrownBomber92181]

@@CapnBreeze nope, there's a reason why there's a mass exodus from Oakland lol

[@richardcheng3288]

If the A's move to Las Vegas, then forget about the expansion team in Oakland, new expansion teams may be Nashville & Salt Lake City.

[@ditto1958]

Miller Park/Am Fam Field is a really nice place to watch a baseball game. The agreement is really just to pay for a lot of expensive maintenance it will need in the near future.

[@reesejabs788]

That makes some sense. I know the roof has some issues. I have also heard they want to make it climate controlled.

[@fitzpatrickgf]

What happened to private enterprise? Are you kidding me? Since when does a MLB ball park that charges an arm and a leg per paying customer, to get the states tax payers to pay for repairs on a stadium? Socialism at its best folks! I hope Wisconsin citizens contacted their legislature quickly in hopes in denying any state funds to pay for the repairs, but we already know how Bureaucratism works! When money from a private enterprise makes a threat in leaving, the legislature looks at all the Billions in tax revenue that was already spent years ago, with the future unpaid debt would cause a collapse of bankruptcy with the city of Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin. So, rush with scare tactics to approve to pay for repairs instead of telling the owner of the Brewers and the MLB to kiss their bu_t_t! In Reality Folks! Its all MONEY LAUNDERING! Some other resource needs the funds and they are going to paint a picture the repairs are needed and then funnel the rest to all the general funds into social programs for the city and state. That's how its been going for the past 100 years in every state! In order to fix a problem that in no way will the state pay for, create another problem where the spot light is shining and convince the people it needs to be fixed or they may leave!

[@sirchi8731]

Put a sock in it and enjoy the game

[@XXX-rc6qt]

It’s called corporate welfare extortion

[@deplorablepepe7576]

We should implement a 25 percent tax on all media revenue generated by professional sports teams. Gotta get back the money from their welfare.

[@sirchi8731]

@@deplorablepepe7576 Milwaukee paid up and is keeping their team...Oakland didn't..and lost their team

[@robertkauffman8137]

Bud Selig ruined baseball. Steroid man who employed users. (documented) I will never hope for anything good for this sick franchise.

[@nopnj]

Leave it to the Republicans to basically double what the Governor initially offered with state surplus money. Granted the lease is now a little longer, but the Republicans can screw up anything they touch under the guise of fiscal responsibility.😂

[@CynicalCharlatan88]

Wanna talk about how the corrupted democrats of Miami forced it ls taxpayers to foot a 2.4 billion dollar bill for a stadium that actually only cost them 600 million to build.🐸☕️

[@HoshizakiYoshimasa]

US sports leagues have global ambitions now. If Mid and Small market US metros and tv markets want to keep their pro sports teams they must cooperate with the stadiums or eventually lose their teams to other markets (domestically and very soon globally). Sad but true.

[@jonstefanik9400]

Gillette Stadium is 21 years old and they got a little renovation in the South Endzone like 10 years ago. They got a major renovation last year into this year. More seats, Bigger Jumbotron and demolished the lighthouse in favor of rebuilding a bigger lighthouse. Improvements to the stadium while the Patriots play like shit.

[@scotttild]

I believe that Kraft owns that building if I am not mistaken so he can do what ever the hell he wants. Brewers don't own their building.

[@jonstefanik9400]

@@scotttild Kraft does indeed own Gillette Stadium. He built it to keep the team for relocating. Yes after 20 years it's time for renovation. He wanted to build the stadium bigger in order to host Army vs Navy. That should be interesting.

[@scotttild]

@@jonstefanik9400 As long as he is not asking for public money these guys can do what ever they want as far as I am concerned.

[@MegaMantim]

Welp...I'm happy Milwaukee will keep MLB but its the most egregious way....

[@ckap7276]

When the Brewers moved to Milwaukee in 1970 Milwaukee was a top 20 media market. Now it is barely in the top 50 and the Brewers are the smallest market within the MLB. I think minus the public funding the team would have left for greener pastures. Even though the team draws well with fans it all comes down to eyes on the TV screen and less about a---es in the seats. Charlotte or Nashville likely places they would have gone.

[@reesejabs1895]

The simpler the roof design, the better. Good job Globe Life Field - one sliding panel roof, fewer problems.

[@I_SuperHiro_I]

Renovate what?! The stadium is great. The name of the stadium……..

[@georgehenry8422]

These professional sports teams with their threats to leave can do just that ........... see ya later. Expecting taxpayers to fund this kind of stuff is just plain wrong. If you think it's Ok, then please step up and pay my portion of the tax for this BS. Thanks in advance.

[@electrovampyre1572]

brewers ownership pitching in HAHA that was hilarious cheap mark isn't pitching in a dollar

[@giannisforprez1271]

Talking about a entertainment district at am fam field. The brewers have a rich tailgating culture so that’s why they have so many parking spots. I think a beer district would be nice but the field is like 10-15 minutes from the city center so it might be tough finding businesses that would want to open a new restaurant or bar in west Allis

[@evanschoenfeld5405]

Plus the area behind miller park rough

[@scotttild]

500 million for baseball but nothing to improve roads and bridges.

[@r24765]

A giant beer hall etc like Lambeau would work well but dont take away all the parking lot. Tailgating szn

[@evanschoenfeld5405]

They got the beer tents

[@87alock]

I'm no baseball stadium expert but the place looks fine to me. I must be missing something

[@jonstefanik9400]

The problem is that MLB did an inspection of it and found multiple hazards and obsolete features of the facility.

[@admirals818]

Aesthetically, there is nothing wrong with it. The renovations are mostly repairs and maintenance of the stadium.

[@scotttild]

No you are not missing anything. Its keeping up with the other owners. Everyone wants something better. Its absurd cities are still paying for stuff like this.

[@georgejohnson5478]

HOW DO PEOPLE ENJOY A BALLGAME IN A DOME🤭DAY & NIGHT AIR BREEZE CAN'T BE BEAT🥰

[@giannisforprez1271]

It’s open more than 50% of the time. I love having the roof for games in April.

[@georgejohnson5478]

@@giannisforprez1271 EASY FOR YOU TO SAY🤔WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WITH CLAUSTROPHOBIA🎪TAKE MY AIR BREEZE ALL DAY🌬🧢

[@admirals818]

Did you enjoy those April games at County Stadium? Hence the retractable roof (which is open for most games).

[@giannisforprez1271]

@@admirals818 not old enough to have went to county stadium. My parents speak highly of it tho. But they also enjoy having a roof now

[@HoshizakiYoshimasa]

​@@giannisforprez1271Because Americans are soft. Doesn't matter, even when open it's still not majestic as purely outdoor ballparks. It still has that ugly roof that needs to be pulled back. Plus the bonus of far Midwestern Alcoholics tailgating in parking areas (take that back to padded rugby NFL) Easily a bottom 5 MLB experience for me and I been to all 30.

[@stevenbauer4799]

mlb extortion works amidst the empty threats once again. win a w s some day brewers like tx. strangers did then cry for extortion $$$'s. should move brewers to the south like braves did.

[@wizardoferror9942]

At least there’s a city and an owner who cares about the sport, unlike the A’s. I’m not complaining.

[@kevinjs26]

Wisconsin sports fans have the best tailgaters in the biz. They need to be careful removing too much parking.

[@jeffreyreyes6800]

It's insane that a 20 year old stadium needs that much work it's more that it's located away from downtown Milwaukee

[@fadercreek]

st louis and orlando nfl expansion

[@jonstefanik9400]

Heck! It's fine with me

[@sirchi8731]

​@@jonstefanik9400not happening

[@MikeMath9]

The outfield seating is weird because the highway is just beyond the outfield and instead of building over the highway, they just built the outfield seating up instead of out

[@DavidKRoebuck]

Did he describe it as “disgusting?”

[@HoshizakiYoshimasa]

It is. It looks like an airport hanger. Alcoholic boomers tailgating (take that trash back to that inferior padded Rugby NFL). And let's just be honest Indoor baseball stadiums are just ugly compared to the majestic outdoor baseball stadium. Baseball is meant to be played outside. "B-but its too cold in April and September!", so what?

[@DavidKRoebuck]

@@HoshizakiYoshimasa best ballpark I’ve been to is ES-Con in Sapporo.

[@typorter-pp6lh]

To everybody questioning why a 22-year-old stadium needs repairs. All buildings deteriorate, including the building you currently live in. Plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling….all of it needs repaired or replaced after 20 or 30 years. Stadiums are no different, regardless of how pretty it still looks from the outside.

[@dvferyance]

Now you can change that prediction that AmFam Field would be demolished in 2035.

[@HoshizakiYoshimasa]

Give it another decade and a half. especially with US sports leagues now having global ambitions and the fact sports leagues can't just endlessly expand and expand. Seoul Brewers, coming in 2050!!!

[@XAM-cq2ng]

🎉 Las Vegas A’s 🎉

[@MartinPawlusiak]

Can't you build a new stadium for $500,000,000?

[@giannisforprez1271]

No, not anymore. New stadium would on the low end be 1.5 billion

[@adanalyst6925]

Not one with a retractable roof

[@Maxumisblox]

Ok that’s nice for Milwaukee

[@HoshizakiYoshimasa]

Easily a bottom 5 stadium for me. I been to all 30. Ugly airport hanger feel even when the roof is open. Alcoholics (then again it is Wisconsin) and Boomers tailgating in the parking lots (Ew. Go back to the NFL). No where near majestic as Wrigley.

[@Quimby-1966]

I notice the lifespans on stadiums is usually not higher than 20 yrs

[@P_greenlee]

This guy doesn’t understand the art of tailgating on weekend games

[@adanalyst6925]

Weird cuz he is from the Midwest

[@XXX-rc6qt]

Can you say Corporate Welfare?