City council faces options for Toyota Field clubhouse, leans toward four-story addition
MADISON – The Madison City Council faces three options for a new clubhouse at Toyota Field that meets Major League Baseball standards. Toyota Field, which opened in 2020, is home to the Minor League Baseball team the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
Three options were presented to the city council at a Monday work session for meeting new MLB standards for visitor locker rooms at Toyota Field.
Option 1 proposed converting an existing maintenance facility behind third baseline into the visitor clubhouse. That project would cost $3 million and another $1 million to construct a replacement maintenance facility, totaling $4 million. The project would take 8-10 months to complete and be ready for use by spring of 2026.
Option 2 proposed a one-story clubhouse where the bullpen currently is in the outfield at the cost of $7 million. Option 2 also proposed a removable outfield fence that would make the field suitable for football games and presumably increase revenue. Construction would be completed by spring of 2026.
Option 3 proposed a four-story clubhouse at the cost of $25 million. The first floor of the clubhouse would be ready by April 2026 and the other three floors by January of 2027. The proposed four-story clubhouse would include seven new suites for group bookings at baseball games, a factor some city council members believe will generate enough revenue to pay for the clubhouse.
“We have to look at this as a business deal,” reasoned councilmember Greg Shaw. “I know option 3 is more expensive but it generates more money, and it pays for itself.”
“To me, building four stories makes the most sense,” he added.
Councilmembers Connie Spears, Teddy Powell, and John Seifert agreed.
“I just feel like we have to bet on our city,” expressed Spears.
Councilmembers Ranae Bartlett, Maura Wroblewski, and Karen Denzine expressed concerns against the four-story option.
“Like each of you, I’ve been watching our sales tax receipts for the last four months. They reflect either flat or negative – same month comparisons from the year before. I’m concerned about inflation. I’m concerned about interest rates and what it costs. I don’t think this is the time go into debt,” stated Bartlett.
The council is already under a contract with an architect for the design of the four-story building, and for demolition and excavation of the site. Demolition is scheduled to take place later this month on Jan. 23. Bids are expected to open in April.
