GREEN BAY, Wis. — State Rep. Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D-Green Bay) today criticized comments by U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Clyman) after Fitzgerald reportedly described concerns raised by the Green Bay Packers regarding proposed changes to the federal Sports Broadcasting Act as “laughable.”
The debate centers on congressional efforts to review the Sports Broadcasting Act, a federal law that allows the NFL to negotiate national television contracts collectively and distribute revenue equally among teams. Packers officials have warned that changes to the law could undermine the competitive balance that has allowed Green Bay, the smallest market in professional sports, to compete with teams from much larger cities.
Rivera-Wagner said the discussion is about more than football. It is about whether elected officials take seriously the concerns of the communities they represent. “The job of government is to represent the interests of the people we serve, not insult them when they raise concerns,” said Rivera-Wagner. “Whether someone agrees with the Packers’ position or not, treating those concerns as laughable is exactly the kind of politics that leaves people feeling ignored by their government.”
The Green Bay Packers are one of Wisconsin’s most significant economic and cultural institutions, supporting thousands of jobs, driving economic activity for local businesses, and attracting visitors from around the world. Most recently, the NFL Draft showcased Green Bay on a global stage and demonstrated the extraordinary impact the Packers have on our community and state.
Rivera-Wagner said that success is rooted in a model that has allowed the smallest market in professional sports to thrive for generations. “For more than a century, Green Bay has proven that a small community can compete with anyone when we work together,” Rivera-Wagner said. “The Packers are one of the most important institutions in Wisconsin. We all bleed green and gold on Sundays, and when Green Bay raises concerns about its future, those concerns deserve to be taken seriously.”
Rivera-Wagner represents much of the City of Green Bay in the Wisconsin State Assembly and serves on the Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District Board, which oversees Lambeau Field. Prior to his election, he served as Chief of Staff to Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich.
