Chapter 229

229.67 History History: 1995 a. 56; 2001 a. 16; 2023 a. 40.

229.68 229.68 Powers of a district. A district has all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and provisions of this subchapter. The district may not incur costs or any obligations for signage related to a change in naming rights for the baseball park facilities. In addition to all other powers granted by this subchapter, a district may do all of the following:

229.68(1) (1) Adopt and alter an official seal.

229.68(2) (2) Sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded.

229.68(3) (3) Maintain an office.

229.68(4) (4) In connection with baseball park facilities:

229.68(4)(a) (a) Acquire, construct, equip, maintain, improve, operate and manage the baseball park facilities as a revenue-generating enterprise, or engage other persons to do these things.

229.68(4)(b) (b) Acquire; lease, as lessor or lessee; authorize the sublease of; use; or transfer property; except that the district may not enter into any lease or sublease that does not receive the affirmative vote of a majority of all current members appointed to the district board and eligible to vote on the matter.

229.68(4)(c) (c) Improve real property.

229.68(4)(d) (d) Enter into contracts, subject to this paragraph and such standards as may be established by the district board, which standards may include approval by a professional baseball team pursuant to the terms of a lease with the district. For a contract, the estimated cost of which exceeds $200,000, the district shall issue a request for proposals or other procurement document to solicit proposals. The district board may award any such contract for any combination or division of work it designates. In awarding a contract, the district board shall consider price; time for completion of work; qualifications and past performance of a contractor; contractor responsiveness; contractor eligibility in accordance with any request for proposals or other procurement document; the results of applicable inspections and tests; and performance standards established by the board, including with respect to quality and workmanship. The district shall determine the most advantageous proposal from a responsible and responsive offeror taking into consideration only the factors under this paragraph and the evaluation criteria set forth in any request for proposals or other procurement document. The district shall award the contract by written notice to the selected offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the request for proposals or other procurement document.

229.68(4)(e) (e) Grant concessions.

229.68(4)(f) (f) Make a grant of land or other property to the state, especially dedicated by the grant to use for a professional baseball park.

229.68(5) (5) Employ personnel, and fix and regulate their compensation; and provide, either directly or subject to an agreement under s. 66.0301 as a participant in a benefit plan of another governmental entity, any employee benefits, including an employee pension plan.

229.68(6) (6) Purchase insurance, establish and administer a plan of self-insurance or, subject to an agreement with another governmental entity under s. 66.0301, participate in a governmental plan of insurance or self-insurance.

229.68(7) (7) Subject to s. 229.682 (10), mortgage, pledge, or otherwise encumber the district’s property or funds.

229.68(8) (8) Issue revenue bonds under s. 66.0621, subject to ss. 229.72 to 229.79, and enter into agreements related to the issuance of bonds, including liquidity and credit facilities, remarketing agreements, insurance policies, guaranty agreements, letter of credit or reimbursement agreements, indexing agreements, interest exchange agreements and currency exchange agreements, except that the district may issue bonds under this subsection only if all of the following conditions are met:

229.68(8)(a) (a) A supermajority of the district board vote in favor of issuing bonds.

229.68(8)(b) (b) A majority of the members of the district board determines, based on the best available information, that the total cost of the initial construction of baseball park facilities does not exceed $250,000,000.

229.68(8)(c) (c) A majority of the members of the district board determines that the district’s lease arrangement with the professional baseball team franchise that uses baseball park facilities constructed under this subchapter as its home facilities incorporates a term of at least 30 years.

229.68(8)(d) (d) The bonds are issued before December 7, 2023.

229.68(8m) (8m) Obtain loans under s. 16.09 (5) for purposes described under s. 229.687 (2). Any moneys borrowed or accepted under this subsection shall be deposited into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687.

229.68(9) (9) Maintain funds and invest the funds in any investment that the district board considers appropriate. After December 7, 2023, to the extent feasible, a district shall contract with the investment board to invest funds held in trust under this subchapter.

229.68(12) (12) Set standards governing the use of, and the conduct within, the baseball park facilities in order to promote public safety and convenience and to maintain order.

229.68(13) (13) Establish and collect fees, and establish shared revenue arrangements or other charges for the use of the baseball park facilities or for services rendered by the district.

229.68(14) (14) Enter into partnerships, joint ventures, common ownership or other arrangements with other persons to further the district’s purposes.

229.68(16) (16) Subject to s. 229.682 (10) accept gifts, loans, grants, and other aid, which may be used only for the following purposes:

229.68(16)(a) (a) Retiring bonds or other debt used to develop, construct, improve, repair, or maintain baseball park facilities.

229.68(16)(b) (b) Maintaining the baseball park facilities.

229.68(16)(c) (c) Operating the baseball park facilities.

229.68(16)(d) (d) Making capital improvements to the baseball park facilities.

229.68(17) (17) Administer the receipt of revenues, and oversee the payment of bonds issued by the district.

229.68 History History: 1995 a. 56; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2009 a. 2; 2019 a. 28; 2023 a. 40.

229.6802 229.6802 Lease and nonrelocation agreements required. The grant under s. 16.09 (3) may not be awarded unless the secretary of administration determines that all of the following apply:

229.6802(1) (1) Lease. The district has entered into a customary lease arrangement with a professional baseball team that satisfies all of the following:

229.6802(1)(a) (a) Has a standard term that expires no earlier than December 31, 2050.

229.6802(1)(b) (b) Requires the professional baseball team to make at least 27 annual deposits in the amount of $300,000 into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687 beginning in 2024.

229.6802(1)(c) (c) In addition to the deposits under par. (b), requires the professional baseball team to make at least 27 annual deposits in the amount of $1,851,852 into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687 beginning in 2024.

229.6802(1)(d) (d) In addition to the deposits under pars. (b) and (c), requires the professional baseball team to make at least 22 annual rental payments in the amount of $1,208,401 to the district beginning in 2024 and to make at least 5 annual rental payments in the amount of $3,208,401 to the district beginning in 2046, of which the district shall deposit not less than $2,000,000 of each such payment into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687.

229.6802(1)(e) (e) In addition to the deposits and payments under pars. (b), (c), and (d), requires the professional baseball team, or a 3rd party on the professional baseball team’s behalf, to make financial contributions in connection with the development, construction, improvement, repair, and maintenance of the baseball park facilities during the term of the lease in an amount that totals $50,000,000, of which $25,000,000 must be so contributed before January 1, 2037, and requires the team to regularly report to the district all expenditures under this paragraph.

229.6802(1)(f) (f) Requires the professional baseball team, upon expiration of the lease or upon termination of the lease as a result of breach by the professional baseball team, to disclaim any interest in moneys of the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687 and, upon request of the district, convey and transfer to the district for consideration not to exceed $1 all of the professional baseball team’s right and title to the baseball park facilities, except for ancillary improvements constructed or developed by the professional baseball team after December 7, 2023, without financial contribution from the state or the district.

229.6802(2) (2) Nonrelocation agreement. The district has entered into a nonrelocation agreement with the professional baseball team that, except as required by the league of professional baseball teams of which the team is a member, requires the professional baseball team to play all of its home games at the baseball park facilities and prohibits the professional baseball team from relocating until expiration or termination of the lease according to its terms.

229.6802(3) (3) Third-party negotiator. The district has contracted with a 3rd party approved by a two-thirds vote of all current members appointed to the board and eligible to vote on the matter to represent the district in connection with negotiation of the lease and nonrelocation agreements under this section.

229.6802 History History: 2023 a. 40.

229.6805 229.6805 Facility management. During the term of any lease between the district and a professional baseball team with respect to baseball park facilities, the district shall, at the district’s expense, contract with a facility management company or employ an executive director with expertise in managing and operating professional sports facilities and venues similar to the baseball park facilities. The contract shall require the facility management company or executive director to have primary responsibility to manage and supervise the development, construction, improvement, repair, and maintenance of the baseball park facilities.

229.6805 History History: 2023 a. 40.

229.682 229.682 Special provisions.

229.682(1) (1) Gifts and donations. The district board shall explore and consider ways to solicit and encourage gifts and donations for the development, construction, improvement, repair, and maintenance of baseball park facilities and, to the extent feasible, implement means to solicit such gifts and donations.

229.682(4) (4) Special ticket provisions. A professional baseball team that uses as its home field baseball park facilities that are developed, constructed, improved, repaired, or maintained under this subchapter shall annually designate at least one of the team’s home games in each of April, May, June, July, August, and September as a discount ticket day for which residents of the state may purchase discounted admission tickets.

229.682(6) (6) Use of stadium. The district board shall consider during the design review process the utilization of the facility for events in addition to baseball, which are consistent with the program statement and design for the stadium complex, and do not adversely affect the design, construction schedule or budget.

229.682(7) (7) Youth sports organizations. A professional baseball team that uses as its home field baseball park facilities that are developed, constructed, improved, repaired, or maintained under this subchapter shall make an annual contribution of at least $40,000 to youth sports organizations in this state for the purchase of equipment or the rental or maintenance of athletic facilities that are used by such organizations. The contributions that are required under this subsection may be made in cash or equipment.

229.682(8) (8) Special rental payments. If a district board enters into a lease agreement with a professional baseball team for the rental of baseball park facilities under this subchapter, the lease agreement shall include all of the following:

229.682(8)(a) (a) A provision requiring lessees of sky boxes located in the facilities to pay to the team an amount equivalent to the combined sales tax rates in the jurisdictions in which the facilities are located multiplied by the total of all payments for the rental of the sky boxes.

229.682(8)(b) (b) A provision requiring the team to include amounts received under par. (a) as part of its rental payment to the district.

229.682(9) (9) Capital spending limitations. After 2045, the district may not initiate any capital project that has an expected life span that exceeds the remaining term of the lease arrangement with a professional baseball team with respect to the district’s baseball park facilities. This subsection does not restrict any of the following capital spending:

229.682(9)(a) (a) An amount that does not exceed the amount of the professional baseball team’s deposits under s. 229.6802 (1) (b) and (c) after 2045 into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687.

229.682(9)(b) (b) For purposes related to maintaining the safety of the baseball park facilities or the improvement, repair, maintenance, or replacement of the components and systems necessary to operate the baseball park facilities or to comply with applicable law, insurance requirements, or standards imposed by the professional baseball league of which the professional baseball team is a member.

229.682(10) (10) Borrowing limitations. After December 7, 2023, the district may not borrow moneys except as provided under s. 229.68 (8m). Notwithstanding anything in this subsection to the contrary, nothing in this subsection precludes the district from entering into long-term performance or service contracts, capital leases, lease purchase agreements utilizing 3rd-party financing, or similar arrangements with respect to the equipping, repair, maintenance, or improvement of baseball park facilities.

229.682(11) (11) Bonding limitations. Except as provided in s. 229.68 (8), the district may not issue bonds.

229.682(12) (12) Ticket surcharge.

229.682(12)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the district board shall require that the sponsor of an event held at the baseball park facilities of the district, other than a baseball game involving a professional baseball team that uses the baseball park facilities as its home field, or an exhibition, “All Star,” or other similar event involving professional baseball teams or representatives of other professional baseball teams that are members of the same league as the professional baseball team that uses the baseball park facilities as its home field, impose the following ticket surcharges and deliver the surcharge moneys to the district board:

229.682(12)(a)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., for each ticket that is sold to the event:

229.682(12)(a)1.a. a. From 2024 to 2032, a $2 surcharge.

229.682(12)(a)1.b. b. From 2033 to 2041, a $3 surcharge.

229.682(12)(a)1.c. c. From 2042 to 2050, a $4 surcharge.

229.682(12)(a)2. 2. For each ticket sold that entitles the holder to access a stadium luxury box or suite:

229.682(12)(a)2.a. a. From 2024 to 2032, an $8 surcharge.

229.682(12)(a)2.b. b. From 2033 to 2041, a $9 surcharge.

229.682(12)(a)2.c. c. From 2042 to 2050, a $10 surcharge.

229.682(12)(b) (b) No ticket surcharge under par. (a) may be charged for any of the following categories of events:

229.682(12)(b)1. 1. Events for which the sponsor is a professional baseball team that uses the baseball park facilities as its home field.

229.682(12)(b)2. 2. Events that are not ticketed.

229.682(12)(b)3. 3. Events for which tickets are provided at no charge.

229.682(12)(b)4. 4. Events held to benefit or honor military or law enforcement or other emergency response personnel.

229.682(12)(b)5. 5. Political conventions.

229.682(12)(b)6. 6. Charitable events.

229.682(12)(b)7. 7. Events for which tickets were made available for presale or sale before December 7, 2023.

229.682(12)(c) (c) The district board shall deposit all surcharge moneys received under par. (a) into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687.

229.682(12)(d) (d) Annually, the district board shall certify to the secretary of administration the amount of surcharge moneys received under par. (a) in the preceding year.

229.682 History History: 1995 a. 56; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2015 a. 55; 2023 a. 40.

229.685 229.685 Special fund tax revenues.

229.685(1) (1) The district board shall maintain a special fund into which it deposits only the revenue received from the department of revenue, that is derived from the taxes imposed under subch. V of ch. 77, 2021 stats., and may use this revenue only for purposes related to baseball park facilities.

229.685(2) (2) If the district board determines that the revenues in the special fund under this section exceed current operating expenses for the operation of baseball park facilities, the district board shall apply the excess to either fund a fund for maintenance costs and capital improvements or to retire bonds issued for the initial construction of baseball park facilities, and any bonds issued to fund or refund those bonds, prior to their maturity. As soon as practicable after the retirement of all bonds issued for the initial construction of baseball park facilities and all bonds issued to fund or refund those bonds and after funding a fund for maintenance costs and capital improvements sufficiently to meet any maintenance or capital improvement obligations between the district and any professional baseball team using baseball park facilities constructed under this subchapter as a home stadium, the district board shall make a certification to the department of revenue and the department of transportation to that effect.

229.685(3) (3) Annually, the district board shall transfer from a fund funded under sub. (2) to the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687 not less than all of the following amounts:

229.685(3)(a) (a) Through 2039, $2,200,000.

229.685(3)(b) (b) The amount deposited under s. 20.395 (5) (ij).

229.685 History History: 1995 a. 56; 2017 a. 249; 2023 a. 40.

229.687 229.687 Baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund.

229.687(1) (1) The district shall establish and maintain a baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund. The fund shall consist of all of the following:

229.687(1)(a) (a) Moneys borrowed or accepted and deposited under s. 229.68 (8m).