Brewers deal better, still not good enough

A vote could come today in Madison on state funding for a renovation of the Milwaukee Brewers ballpark. The state is looking to throw taxpayer money at a half-billion dollar renovation plan. The Senate will likely consider the legislation today. Some improvements have been made compared to the Assembly version of the Brewers bailout. Their plan would lessen the amount taxpayers contribute, while increasing the amount the Brewers would contribute. That is a good start. But still the Brewers would only be contributing about 20% of the total costs. By comparison, the Milwaukee Bucks contributed about half the costs of building the Fiserv Forum, while taxpayers funded the rest. Another sticking point in this proposed deal is that there is a clause in the lease that requires American Family Field to be in the top 25% of major league ballparks. So if the Twins get improvements to Target Field, the Brewers could demand the same, at taxpayer expense. Keep in mind, the Brewers could fund the entire renovation themselves. One of the team’s owners recently bought a soccer team, while another sold his California home for $25 million. And according to reports, the Brewers were willing to make Craig Counsell the highest paid manager in baseball before he bolted for the Cubs. They could write that big check and start the renovations tomorrow. Instead, they continue to insist that the taxpayers pick up a big chunk of the tab, or else they will take their ball and go somewhere else.