Baldwin highlights "For the Fans Act" ahead of Packers home opener

As the Green Bay Packers get ready for their home opener tonight at Lambeau Field, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is pushing to make it easier for fans across Wisconsin to watch the team.

Baldwin held a press conference before the game Thursday to discuss the “For the Fans Act,” a bill that would require sports leagues to provide local fans with one free, live option to watch their team’s games. It would also end blackouts on league-owned streaming services.

“The sound of football should fill living rooms and sports bars across the state. But tonight, millions of Packers fans won't be able to simply turn on the TV and cheer on the green and gold,” said Balwin.

Thursday night’s Packers-Falcons game will stream nationally on Amazon Prime Video . While the game will be available on local television in the Green Bay and Milwaukee markets, fans elsewhere in Wisconsin will need a Prime subscription to watch.

It’s one of four Packers games scheduled on streaming platforms this season. Another will air on Netflix the night before Thanksgiving.

“For some, another subscription might not sound like the biggest deal. But with costs the way they are right now, for most Wisconsin families I hear from, they are stretched thin and looking for absolutely everywhere they can to save money,” said Baldwin.

The cost of streaming subscriptions also goes beyond fans watching from home. Bars and restaurants that show Packers games can face significantly higher costs for commercial subscriptions.

Don Mjelde, who owns two establishments in Green Bay and serves as Eastern District Vice President of the Tavern League of Wisconsin, also spoke during Thursday’s press conference. He said bars and restaurants outside the Green Bay and Milwaukee television markets have to purchase commercial subscriptions to show games that are on streaming services.

“Each streaming service requires a different annual subscription per service per year, which adds up to thousands of dollars,” Mjelde said. “It’s simply not affordable as an incredible new expense on a small business.”

Baldwin said she is working to gain support for the proposal in the Senate. She is also seeking to add it as an amendment to college sports legislation being considered this week.