Comments on: Should the Brewers Move Downtown?

By: KF

KF — Mon, 28 May 2018 23:38:58 +0000

You also seem to be assuming that Brewers ownership will behave in the same manner as Braves or Diamondbacks owners have. These groups believed they were entitled to public funding to improve their stadiums, and moved to a new municipality when they didn’t receive it. The Brewers have already invested their own money into stadium upgrades. Their investment has gained value and viability with its improvements, why would they get out now after this?

By: KF

KF — Mon, 28 May 2018 23:31:12 +0000

This is conjecture of course, but like you I will speak objectively and not as a Brewer fan. The revenue question is mitigated by the heavy losses they would take breaking their lease and contributing to a new park (no stadium project these days is 100% public funded) I’m sure would result in minimal, if any profit. Regardless of any backlash, sounds like a poor business decision.

Where are you getting those numbers regarding their profit during “rebuilding”? Do you have a source in the front office? $110 mil seems very high for 2015–16.

By: Nicholas Zettel

Nicholas Zettel — Thu, 24 May 2018 02:33:11 +0000

I am not defending any choice to build a stadium. I am merely stating the fact that as soon as the Brewers believe they can extract higher revenues from a new stadium, they will build one. That’s it. Fans tend to think about these things in different ways, as though the Brewers would maintain Miller Park as a courtesy, rather than seeking a better opportunity as soon as they have a chance (this is the ownership group who extracted approximately $110 million in profit during the rebuilding, for example; they are a very good group at maximizing profit and undoubtedly extracting more value from land is on their radar).

I can indeed imagine the backlash, and I would certainly join. But I’d bet you money it gets built. Would you rather see the Brewers leave than a new stadium with public funds?

By: JM

JM — Tue, 22 May 2018 14:14:04 +0000

It would kill tailgating. Milwaukee is different than other big cities, it more drink beer and eat brats than drink wine eat sushi and dress nice for the game. I also think Miller Park will be renovated as it becomes outdated. Finally, the Brewers are the smallest market in Baseball, yet, continue to outdraw 75% of the league. So no, the Brewers do not need a DT stadium…

By: KF

KF — Fri, 18 May 2018 18:06:15 +0000

How do you figure revenue would be higher downtown? Parking revenue would decrease for one (Brewers own all the lots now, would probably have less spaces downtown plus competition from private vendors).

Given your writing here in the past, especially your slander of the new Bucks arena, I am incredulous that you would be defending a Brewers’ choice to seek a new stadium to replace their perfectly good 17 year old park.

Unless they put forth 100% funding, asking for public funding would be a disaster. Taxpayers are wary of paying for stadiums in general, but especially when the current one was built post-1990. Miller Park cost $400MM, $533MM today. Can you imagine the backlash?

By: Gary Derong

Gary Derong — Fri, 18 May 2018 01:02:56 +0000

Miller Park is the rare barn of a stadium that can house a lot of bars and restaurants without cramping foot traffic flow. And the parking lot is big enough to handle an entertainment venue adjacent to the stadium. As I mentioned, Mark Attanasio would need an extremely solid reason to even raise the possibility of leaving Bud Selig’s big house.

By: Nicholas Zettel

Nicholas Zettel — Thu, 17 May 2018 15:35:09 +0000

I think that’s one way of viewing it, but you also have to consider revenue potential: as soon as ownership believes they can improve revenue with a new Park, they will seek a new Park. It’s not a public infrastructure asset, it’s a private means to revenue production for the Brewers.

By: Gary Derong

Gary Derong — Thu, 17 May 2018 03:37:20 +0000

The Brewers will stay put because:
1) Miller Park continues to be remodeled as needed;
2) Milwaukee remains car-centric, so the huge parking lot and proximity to the freeway are essential;
3) Milwaukee County remains the metro area’s chief funding source, and the current stadium site infrastructure has been developed by the county over generations;
4) Brewers ownership is sensitive to the heavy lift that was required to build Miller Park and wouldn’t risk the PR damage of asking for a new stadium without demonstrating need.

By: BP

BP — Wed, 16 May 2018 16:40:59 +0000

Seriously?
Half of the fun of a Brewers game experience is tailgating. There is no way to preserve tailgating moving any closer to downtown.
Just stop now.

By: Ben Reagan

Ben Reagan — Wed, 16 May 2018 15:00:59 +0000

Looking at the maps, it looks like there is room (with a lot of property acquisition) around the Grand Avenue area for a stadium. But man, I don’t see how you do parking without several large structures, and some of them would have to be a ways from the stadium. I suppose the trolleys could help…and as you say, tailgating becomes a thing of the past.