State legislator proposes transferring Lambeau Field’s ownership to city of Green Bay

Rep. David Steffen announced legislation Monday that would eliminate the Lambeau Field Stadium District, the board that oversees the Green Bay Packers’ stadium.

The bill would decommission the district in September. It would officially transfer Lambeau Field’s ownership rights to the city of Green Bay and redistribute the district’s assets. Steffen’s proposal would see each Brown County homeowner receive a $600 refund check — totaling about $45 million.

The plan would simplify the financial relationship between the city and the Green Bay Packers, said the Green Bay Republican. It would also eliminate administrative costs that go toward operating the district by shifting the stadium’s ownership to the city, he said.

“There’s no bigger fan of the Green Bay Packers than me,” Steffen said. “I grew up six blocks from Lambeau Field. I worked for the Green Bay Packers. I’m a season ticket holder, and there’s nothing in this legislation that will negatively impact them financially.”

Steffen has been working on the plan for years, and he’s spoken to city, county and team leaders, he said.

“I’ve had some positive discussions with them about this possibility,” Steffen said at a Monday morning news conference. “But the most important thing I want to make clear today is that what I’m presenting is a draft. It is something that I want the public to review, even before my colleagues down in Madison.”

Steffen asked Brown County residents to take a short survey on the proposal.

The Lambeau Field Stadium District was created by the state Legislature in 1999. Steffen said the entity has completed all the objectives for which it was created. The district oversaw stadium renovations and managed funds from a special tax that ended in 2015.

There’s about $81 million left under the district’s purview, Steffen said. Under his proposal, the bulk of that money would go to property owners. Brown County and the city of Ashwaubenon would receive $6 million each.

The stadium will still be maintained, Steffen said, and the city of Green Bay would see $200 million in new revenue over the remainder of the Packers’ lease. The city would need to assume all responsibilities for managing the stadium. Most of the equity is backloaded, and $60 to $100 is liability that’s subject to repayment, he said.

Last week, the Packers announced the NFL approved a potential stock sale that would help the team finance stadium renovations. The team plans to upgrade concourses and add new video boards. The projects could cost $250 million with none of the funds coming from taxpayers.