GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Green Bay Packers have threatened legal action against the state of Wisconsin and city of Green Bay if they go along with a proposal that would change the ownership dynamic for Lambeau Field.
A spokesperson for the team and the lawmaker proposing the change spoke at a city finance committee meeting Tuesday evening.
The Packers may play in Lambeau Field, but the organization doesn’t own it. It leases it from the city of Green Bay and the stadium district. The Packers are threatening consequences if that dynamic changes.
“It would constitute a breach of trust and illegal evisceration of the Lambeau lease,” said Aaron Popkey, the Packers Director of Public Affairs. “It would leave no choice other than immediate major litigation to prevent it from taking effect.”
Popkey says the Packers are already wasting time and resources on what he calls illegal proposed legislation.
“We are considering using the indemnification provisions of the lease and other rights to cover legal fees from those responsible, including the state and the city to the extent of their affirmative participation.”.
The proposal is from Republican State Rep. David Steffen of Howard. He wants to eliminate the stadium district and transfer its responsibilities to the city of Green Bay.
“It was designed for a specific purpose. That purpose has been satisfied and for that reason, it is appropriate to consider its closure.”
Steffen says the stadium district’s obligations ended in 2015, when the county sales tax stopped being collected for the 2003 renovation and future upkeep of Lambeau.
Steffen believes the city’s elected body would be better suited to carry out the stadium lease obligations, rather than the appointed, 7-member, stadium district board.
The stadium district currently has about $81 million built up to help repay the Packers each year for maintenance expenses. Steffen’s proposal liquidates that fund, including sending $700 checks to Brown County property owners.
Steffen claims, with the lease potentially running until 2043, about $280 million in additional revenue will be generated through a ticket tax.
“I firmly believe the city of Green Bay could do a far better job of providing that base level of oversight and transparency.”
Steffens says with the lease calling for the maintenance repayments to the Packers to end in 2031, the city would reap the benefits of an estimated $180 million surplus from the ticket tax revenue.
Steffen admits his projections would have the city on the hook to make up a deficit for five years in repaying the Packers for maintenance and upkeep. Steffen says he would reconsider the distribution of the stadium district’s current reserve so the city wouldn’t have to worry about covering any potential deficits.
Popkey contends all money from the ticket tax is supposed to be for Lambeau upkeep.
“It is very clear in the lease that any extension of the lease, the ticket tax has to go to the team.”
Both sides claim they’ve had lawyers confirm their analysis of the lease.
As for the city, the discussion was for informational purposes only.
“This is not a relationship that I am interested in risking,” said Barbara Dorff, the city council’s vice president, when speaking about the city’s relationship with the Packers. “I did not feel threatened by what Mr. Popkey said about litigation because that is what people do.”
Steffen says he doesn’t intend for his legislation to reach the governor this year, leaving more time for discussion and changes.
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