MLB Who owns the Milwaukee Brewers and how did they make their money?
A plan unveiled Monday would spend around $600 million of state and local cash on American Family Field's renovations over nearly 30 years, with the Milwaukee Brewers pledging $100 million.
The plan still needs approval from the State Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers, as well as their counterparts in Milwaukee County and City of Milwaukee — where several elected officials are opposed to local stadium spending. However, many support the proposal and see it as a way of keeping Major League Baseball in Wisconsin.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said whether the Brewers stay in Milwaukee after the team's lease of the stadium expires at the end of 2030 could stake on the approval of the plan. The proposal, unveiled by Vos and other Republican legislators, requires the ball club to extend its lease through the end of 2050.
Here's a little more info on who owns the Brewers and where the team's money would be coming from.
More: Taxpayers would spend $600 million on Brewers ballpark renovations
Who owns the Milwaukee Brewers?
Los Angeles-based businessman Mark Attanasio.
Who is Mark Attanasio?
Attanasio, 65, has been the principal owner of the Milwaukee Brewers since 2005.
Attanasio was born and raised in the Bronx and grew up a New York Yankees fan. He is the son of actor Joe Attanasio, who appeared in movies such as "Sleepers." Joe Attanasio sang the national anthem before every home opener at Miller Park until his death in 2015.
Attanasio's brother, Paul Attanasio is a Hollywood writer who has written movies like "Quiz Show," "Donnie Brasco" and "Sphere" and also created TV shows "Gideon's Crossing" and "Homicide: Life on the Street." He was also the executive producer of the smash hit "House."
Attanasio has two sons, Mike and Dan, and has spoken in the past about keeping the Brewers in the family.
How did Mark Attanasio make his money?
Attanasio is the co-founder of Crescent Capital Group, a Los Angeles-based global alternative investment firm. The firm has approximately $40 billion of assets under management and has made investments in over 190 companies since its creation over 30 years ago.
As of 2020, Attanasio was reportedly worth $700 million.
How much did Attanasio buy the Brewers for?
Attanasio purchased the Brewers for $223 million from the family of MLB commissioner Bud Selig, coming to the agreement in 2004. The sale went through in January 2005.
Recently, Forbes estimated that the Brewers are worth $1.2 billion, ranked 24th in the league in worth.
How many other owners do the Milwaukee Brewers have?
As of 2021, the Milwaukee Brewers ownership group is made up of 17 members. Owning the largest share of the team, Attanasio is the principal owner, and the others are minority stakeholders.
Who are the other owners of the Milwaukee Brewers?
The Brewers don't reveal the names of those who are among the minority ownership group, however, the Milwaukee Business Journal has reported that members of the Lubar, Marcus and Uihlein families are part of the ownership team.
Two confirmed minority stakeholders, though, are Milwaukee Admirals principal owner Harris Turer and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Turer, a Milwaukee native, has been involved in Brewers ownership since 1996 and is the grandson of Master Lock founder Harry Soref.
Does Giannis Antetokounmpo own the Brewers?
Antetokounmpo became the 17th member of the Milwaukee Brewers ownership group in 2021 and the first newcomer to the group since the team was purchased by Attanasio in 2005.
More: Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo joins Brewers ownership, Mark Attanasio
Who owns the Milwaukee Brewers stadium?
American Family Field is owned by the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District, which is comprised of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington and Waukesha counties.
The district largely owns the stadium (with the baseball club owning a minority share) and leases it to the Brewers. That lease, which runs through 2030, requires the district to pay for most major capital improvements. The latest funding plan could extend the team's lease to the end of 2050.
Construction on the stadium, which lasted from 1996 to 2001, was made possible through $290 million of public funds from a 0.1% sales tax imposed on the five counties. The controversial tax lasted from January 1996 to March 2020.
Journal Sentinel reporters Tom Daykin and JR Radcliffe contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Who owns the Milwaukee Brewers; what to know about Mark Attanasio
