Popkey said about litigation because litigation is what people do.

Steffen acknowledged, as he has before, that the city might need to borrow money for about five years to meet its new obligations.Ĭouncil member Barbara Dorff, the finance committee chairwoman, said she was not surprised by the Packers warning that the matter could end up in court. RELATED: Packers playoff ticket costs drift, but remain high as fans wait for opponent to be decided RELATED: In memoriam: Ted Thompson among Green Bay Packers who died in 2021 What he is proposing is bad for the city, the community, Lambeau Field and the Packers,' Popkey said after the meeting. 'What is disappointing is that one state assemblyman can potentially drive a wedge in a relationship that has been so successful. He and the Packers disagree on what constitutes financial impact. Steffen contends changes to the lease, such as the elimination of the stadium board and the maintenance fund, would not matter as long as the Packers were not impacted financially. If that were to go away, that could jeopardize our ability to get additional funds,' Popkey said. 'The NFL would not approve money to go into the stadium if not for the (financial) structure that is in place. The team has done that and added another $300 million in investment in the Titletown District without additional public financing. The team has made about $500 million in improvements to Lambeau Field since the 2003 renovation. The Packers say those actions, as well as others in the proposal, would violate the three-party lease, which has language specifically prohibiting changes to the ticket tax and imposing penalties for attempting to do so.Ĭhanging the ticket tax also could imperil money the Packers receive from the NFL for improvements to Lambeau Field, Popkey said. The proposal would allow the city to use excess ticket tax on certain other projects. Steffen's plan calls for replacing the $81 million by redirecting the 10% Lambeau Field ticket tax to the city, which would be responsible for reimbursing the team for maintenance costs determined by formula. He would give $700 to Brown County homeowners and additional money to Brown County, Green Bay, Ashwaubenon, the Greater Green Bay Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation. He also wants to distribute the $81 million from the maintenance fund largely created by a half-cent sales tax which ended in 2015. Steffen argues it completed all its legislatively assigned duties in 2015 and should be dissolved. The district was created for the 2003 renovation of Lambeau Field. More: Green Bay Packers stock sale hits 165,000 shares, $54 million raised for Lambeau Field improvements 'Any good idea should be open to public scrutiny.' More: Green Bay official wants lawmaker to explain plan to disband stadium district. He intends to reintroduce it in January 2023. The discussion was largely academic for now because Steffen said there is no chance the proposal could become law this year. Steffen on Tuesday explained his plan to the city's Finance Committee, with other council members attending the virtual meeting as well. The proposal does not involve the Titletown District, a business and entertainment district owned by the Packers west of Lambeau Field and in the village of Ashwaubenon.

It would leave no choice other than immediate major litigation to prevent it from taking effect.' 'It would constitute a breach of trust and illegal evisceration of the Lambeau Field lease. The proposed legislation is unwise public policy for that reason alone,' said Aaron Popkey, Packers public affairs director. Steffen's legislation would position them instead as adversaries, as they would be forced to sort out who would be responsible to make up the operations and maintenance funding deficit.

Packers public relations aaron popkey