Stadium District Board to kick in for Shipyard stadium, Arena replacement
GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- The Green Bay-Brown County Professional Football Stadium District Board agreed Wednesday afternoon to pitch in for two major area projects.
The Shipyard stadium in Green Bay and a replacement for the Brown County Arena would receive the funding help. First, both projects need the necessary approvals to actually happen.
Shipyard Stadium
It's been 17 months since the owners of the Green Bay Bullfrogs publicly unveiled a plan to build a new stadium on a city-owned vacant lot on the edge of the Fox River. They hope the idea reaches home plate this June with final approvals to move forward from the city council.
“Even though it's taken a while to get to this point, there has always been kind of positive energy, positive movement,” said Vern Stenman, the president of Big Top Baseball, which owns the Bullfrogs.
Now the proposal has backing from the stadium district board in the form of $500,000. A ticket tax from special events at Lambeau Field like concerts and the Badgers/LSU football game allow the stadium board to help fund area economic development projects.
“I think them throwing their weight behind this shows that they think it's going to be successful for the long-term,” said Kevin Vonck, economic developer director for the City of Green Bay.
The project also has support from Anduzzi's in the form of a $2 million restaurant that would be connected to the stadium. Also connected would be a 2,000-person capacity indoor concert venue. The city is also in discussions with developers to build housing north of the stadium, a corporate office headquarters near the stadium, another baseball facility and a cycling facility.
“I think we really just kind of hit the tip of the iceberg,” said Vonck. “Once we start to push these things along and they become more real, I think we're going to see that interest continue to generate for additional projects.”
The Bullfrogs would pay $1 million up front for the stadium. With the stadium board putting in $500,000, the city would need to put in $7.5 million up front. Although, the Bullfrogs would eventually pay back $3.5 million of that through a 20-year lease with the city.
The stadium would be programmed 180 days a year: 36 days for Bullfrogs baseball, 90 days for high school athletics, four to six days for 5,000 to 8,000-person capacity outdoor concerts. A premier soccer league development team would also play home games in the stadium.
Brown County Arena replacement
The stadium district board also agreed to give $1 million to a new expo hall that is proposed for the current home of the Brown County Arena.
The county, however, is still considering private development at that attractive corner across from Lambeau Field. Those private proposals are due Friday.
A feasibility study unveiled last month provided three replacement recommendations for the aging Arena.
The stadium district board money is contingent on the county board choosing to build the largest option, which is projected to produce a $13 million annual economic impact.
Area leaders say the money gets the ball rolling for a replacement.
“It allows us to move forward as we go and speak to our respective boards in the community,” said Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach. “They are now seeing there is support by the stadium district to make this investment.”
The largest expo hall recommendation is projected to cost between $81 million and $85 million.
To receive the stadium district's money, the county also must come up with a funding plan in the next 18 months.
