Packers reach out to stadium district to try to reignite talks over lease extension
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – The Packers sent a letter on Wednesday to the Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District asking them to step in, as they say that Mayor Eric Genrich has “refused to meet over an extension to the lease agreement for Lambeau Field.”
The Packers are looking to come to a long-term commitment to utilize Lambeau Field to go forward with roughly $1.5 billion in renovation and upgrade projects without any taxpayer funds.The Packers current lease for Lambeau Field with the city expires in 2032, but there is an option to extend it by 10 years.
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“We are frustrated and disappointed, so we need to discuss with the district the lease and move forward in that respect,” Packers Director of Public Affairs Aaron Popkey said. “We also want to make sure the district understands that they play a crucial role.”
Packers officials said since they first approached the city about extending the lease they’ve made three proposals. They say mayor Genrich hasn’t responded to any of the proposals or offered a counteroffer.
The team said the stalled lease negotiations have forced them to halt several projects that they had planned for the offseason.
Stadium District Director Brian Dworak said that they haven’t been a part of this.
“We are hopeful to help facilitate in moving that forward and really work with both the Packers and city of Green Bay to bring this to a conclusion,” Dworak said.
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A statement from the city to Local 5 said the following:
The City of Green Bay is not interested in a public debate with the Packers, other than to say the Packers are grossly mischaracterizing our views and actions. As we have stated previously, our taxpayers deserve nothing less than what they’re currently entitled to under the existing lease, which has 18 years remaining, and absolutely not the $30 million loss the Packers proposed. If and when the Packers are interested in submitting a proposal that reflects the thoughtful conversations that took place over several months between the two parties, the City will be happy to consider them and respond appropriately.
City of Green Bay
City officials have maintained that any reductions in the amount the Packers pay for rent would be bad for area taxpayers. They say cheaper rent means less money for the city forcing officials to make difficult decisions on how they can make it up.
“Our proposal didn’t call for a decrease in rent, it was a freeze in rent with the focus on additional revenue going back into the stadium,” said Popkey.
The current lease agreement asks for a 2.75 percent increase in rent each year. Packers officials said their proposed rent freeze allows them to continue to do projects at Lambeau without needing to use taxpayer money.
Correspondence shared with Local 5 News from lawyers with the city and the Packers reveal there have been additional disputes between the two parties.
One point of contention, has been game day on-field EMS services. City officials want the team to use units from the city instead of the outside provider that the Packers have been using. City officials said that the outside provider hasn’t been compliant with city’s safety plan during football games, something that the team refutes.
The two parties have also disputed over the team replacing railings inside the stadium bowl. Packers officials told Local 5 News these disputes have distracted from what they see as the more pressing concern of negotiating a new lease agreement.
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