Poll: Two-thirds want bipartisan solution to fund Brewers stadium

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Two-thirds of Wisconsin residents support a bipartisan solution to pay for renovations at American Family Field as lawmakers negotiate a sweeping package to keep the Brewers in Milwaukee, a new poll found.

The poll commissioned by VISIT Milwaukee and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) shows 66% of likely Wisconsin voters agree Governor Tony Evers and the GOP-controlled Legislature "must work together" to find a solution to keep the team in Milwaukee.

The Tarrance Group, a Republican polling firm, conducted the poll Sept. 20-25. They surveyed 800 likely voters in Wisconsin. The margin of error is +3.5%.

The findings were released as lawmakers will hold a public hearing Thursday on a GOP bill that would spend $700 million to fund renovations at American Family Field.

Taxpayer money would be used to pay for a majority of the plan, $600 million, with the state pitching in $411 million and the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County both providing $202.5 million.

Milwaukee leaders and Democratic lawmakers have expressed opposition to the plan.

Spending taxpayer money on the Brewers stadium was opposed by a majority of residents, 56%, under another poll commissioned by the nonprofit Milwaukee Works last month. A Democratic polling firm, Public Policy Polling, conducted the survey before the details of the bill were released to the public.