MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced new appointments to the newly reformed Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District board, the majority owner of American Family Field, currently the designated home of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball club, which is charged with overseeing, operating, and maintaining American Family Field in Milwaukee.
“The work to reach a deal to keep the Brewers in Wisconsin was a tremendous feat of bipartisan compromise and hard work, and I am grateful for all the partners that came together on this issue to help ensure future generations of sports fans can continue rooting for the home team in Milwaukee,” said Gov. Evers. “I have confidence that this group of qualified individuals being appointed to the newly formed board today will carry on the tradition of excellence set by their predecessors. I look forward to their efforts to see the continued success of American Family Field and the Brewers for years to come.”
Ensuring professional baseball remains in Milwaukee and the ballpark is successful is crucial to supporting working families, local and state economies, and retaining jobs. Since opening its doors in 2001, the ballpark has generated $2.5 billion in total economic output for the state. In 2022 alone, the ballpark supported 3,000 jobs. The Brewers and American Family Field also support more than 1,100 union jobs, including Brewers employees and union employees, through vendors and related services.
In December, Gov. Evers enacted two historic, bipartisan bills passed by the Wisconsin State Legislature, 2023 Wisconsin Act 40 and 2023 Wisconsin Act 41, to ensure the Milwaukee Brewers and Major League Baseball remain in Wisconsin through 2050. The bills were passed with broad, bipartisan support after months of collaboration and negotiations between Gov. Evers, members of the Wisconsin State Legislature, the Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee County, the city of Milwaukee, and local stakeholders and partners.
2023 Wisconsin Act 40 requires replacing the previous 13-member baseball district board with a new 13-member board consisting of: four persons appointed by the governor (including a chairperson); three persons appointed by the speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly; three persons appointed by the majority leader of the Wisconsin State Senate; one person appointed by the governor from lists provided, respectively, by the professional baseball team, the city of Milwaukee, and Milwaukee County. Under the changes enacted in 2023 Wisconsin Act 40, all board members are appointed to serve four-year terms except the initial term for the chairperson, as well as one initial appointment from the governor, senate majority leader, and speaker, respectively, shall be for two years.
Gov. Evers today announced the following new gubernatorial appointments to the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District Board:
- Chairperson Jenni Dye, Office of the Governor; at-large appointment for an initial term expiring Jan. 1, 2026;
- Andrew Disch, North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters; at-large appointment for an initial term expiring Jan. 1, 2026;
- John Zapfel, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; at-large appointment for a term expiring Jan. 1, 2028;
- Corey Gall, Wisconsin Pipe Trades Association; at-large appointment for a term expiring Jan. 1, 2028;
- Kevin Newell, Royal Capital; appointment selected from a list offered by Milwaukee County for a term expiring Jan. 1, 2028;
- Preston Cole, Department of Administration, city of Milwaukee; appointment selected from a list offered by the city of Milwaukee for a term expiring Jan. 1, 2028; and
- Michael Cantor, Sterling Project Development; appointment selected from a list offered by the Milwaukee Brewers for a term expiring Jan. 1, 2028.
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