GREEN BAY (WLUK) — The Green Bay City Council wants to set the record straight on its approach to Lambeau Field lease talks with the Packers.
Negotiations between the two sides have been non-existent most of the year, after the Packers made three offers for an extension.
The council presented a united front during the 28-minute news conference on the City Deck. Three members spoke.
Council members believe the Packers’ offers have been insufficient compared to what the two sides talked about before the team made its offers. The council also claimed the Packers have been unfairly blaming Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich for the stalled talks.
Genrich was not at the press conference.
The current lease for Lambeau Field runs until 2032 and is between the city, the Packers and the Green Bay/Brown County Stadium District. The Packers have options to extend the lease another 10 years, but have said they don’t want to do that.
The Packers currently pay the city annual rent payments that go up 2.75% each year. The Packers have offered an extension up to 30 years that does not include that annual escalator. City officials don’t like that and argue taxpayers lose out.
“$30 million that supports our police, fire, parks and road improvements. Without this crucial funding, we will face the difficult decision of raising taxes to cover the shortfall. I hope we can foster mutual appreciation and respect in the future as our hard working residents and businesses truly deserve it,” said Jennifer Grant, District 1 alderperson.
However, the Packers say it’s fair because they’re willing to put $1.5 billion of team money toward stadium maintenance and upgrades over the next 20 to 30 years.
“With the escalating costs it takes to keep up a stadium, along with our competitors across the NFL receiving significant public tax money for their stadiums, we feel it’s important to limit the outflow of revenue that comes from the stadium,” said Packers Director of Public Affairs Aaron Popkey.
The Packers have said it’s important to extend the lease now so they can execute that $1.5 billion plan to keep Lambeau Field among the best stadiums in the league. They say the longer this drags on, the more costly it could be and increases the chances of asking taxpayers for money.
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