WI Gov. Tommy Thompson has lent his support to a plan that
would create a state sports lottery as a source to help finance a
new stadium for the Brewers. The Milwaukee Stadium Commission is
"certain" to recommend the sports lottery as one source of
revenue, says commission chairman Robert Kahlor. Pending
approval by the state legislature, the lottery proposal could go
before state voters as early as April. Under the plan, public
funds would account for "roughly" $180M of the $223.5M project.
The Brewers would be responsible for the remaining costs. Other
sources of revenue previously suggested by the commission include
taxes on goods sold at the stadium, Indian gaming and restaurants
(Gilbert & Schultze, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL, 1/13).
DETAILS: The current stadium plan is "significantly
different" from a 1989 plan in which the team was going to
privately finance a $120M ballpark. The new stadium would seat
42,637, have 75 private suites, 3,000 club seats, restaurants,
banquet facilities and a hall of fame. The team pledged $10-$15M
up front along with $2-3M a year in rent for 20 years. Brewers
Owner Bud Selig says the new plan is consistent with other
communities that have publicly financed parks: "Baseball
economies changed late in 1991 and early 1992, so when we started
back in 1987, it has almost no relevance to the economics we're
in today" (Daniel Hanley, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL, 1/13).
