The Packers reached a tentative 30-year lease agreement with the city of Green Bay for playing at a renovated Lambeau Field, according to Steven Bruss of the GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE. In the new lease deal, the city could get as much as $700,000 in annual rent from the team, as the team would pay $500,000 the first year the stadium renovations are complete, while rent will increase 2.75% per year. According to the agreement, rent would be renegotiated after the 13th year of the deal and could "increase by $120,000 or more." The figure is lower than the $1M per year in rent the city currently receives, but the city is now responsible for certain duties, such as police protection, that they will no longer be responsible for under the new agreement (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 12/15). In Milwaukee, Don Walker notes that the agreement is "subject to final approval" by the Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District, the Packers and the City Council. The agreement gives the Packers the right to "retain all parking, concession and advertising revenue at the stadium during football games." The team has also agreed that it cannot "move the franchise from Lambeau Field" without approval of the city and the stadium board. Green Bay Mayor Paul Jadin said that the lease includes a 10% ticket tax that would take effect in the '01 season and "allows the city, which owns the stadium, to use Lambeau Field for non-football events during the off-season." Revenue from city events would be used to "help pay off" the public's portion of the stadium debt. The team "hopes" to break ground next month for the facility and be ready for the beginning of the '03 football season (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 12/15).
