MILWAUKEE, Wis. — For the second time in less than a year, a Milwaukee television station has pulled a story about Matt and Annette Flynn’s legal battle with the Milwaukee Brewers—raising new concerns about editorial independence and potential media bias in coverage of one of the city’s most powerful institutions.
This time, it was CBS 58. On Tuesday, May 20, a CBS 58 reporter interviewed both Matt and Annette in public about their lawsuit against the Brewers. The on-camera interview lasted about 45 minutes and focused on the couple’s claim that they were wrongly denied a $12,849 prize from the Brewers’ 50/50 raffle during a 2023 game.
The Flynns say they were told the segment would air during yesterday evening’s 10 p.m. newscast. But when they tuned in, it never aired. Instead, the broadcast featured three lighthearted segments about the Brewers—omitting any mention of the pending lawsuit or the allegations against the team. The sudden absence stunned the Flynns and dozens of friends and supporters who had been encouraged to watch.
It also didn’t go unnoticed that the same night marked the first televised Brewers game of the season on Fox6—another Milwaukee station with close ties to the team. Fox6 previously conducted its own in-depth interview with the Flynns in 2024. Reporter Jenna Sachs spent nearly two hours filming with them and planned to investigate the team’s raffle procedures. Sachs later confirmed she had written a script for the segment, but the story was never aired.
The Flynns believe this is more than coincidence. They say both stations maintain cozy promotional relationships with the Brewers—and those relationships may be influencing editorial decisions.
The legal dispute stems from the July 7, 2023 game at American Family Field, where Annette purchased 50/50 raffle tickets while tailgating. After the winning number was posted during the sixth inning, she realized she had won and sprinted to Guest Services while Matt walked behind her. An employee told her she was in the right place and directed her up another 57 steps to the 50/50 prize desk.
When she presented her ticket, she was told she was too late—by just 67 seconds. The Flynns dispute this timeline entirely. Matt says he watched the final out of the top of the seventh inning and is certain Annette had already reached Guest Services before that point. Yet, video footage provided by the Brewers suggests that Matt, walking, arrived before Annette, who had been running.
They say this defies logic. The couple was later shown selected footage by the Brewers during a closed-door meeting. Matt was initially told he could not enter, but he went in anyway. They were not allowed to photograph or record the screen, which was small and difficult to interpret. The timestamps were unreadable, and only select clips were shown—not the full route Annette took through the concourse.
The Flynns also say they observed 50/50 raffle staff selling tickets to visibly handicapped fans in the accessible seating section. Given the physical limitations involved, they found it not only impractical, but cruel, to expect those fans to reach Guest Services in a single inning. Since the incident, the Brewers have quietly changed the raffle policy. Fans now have 30 days to claim their prize.
With the case still active in Milwaukee County Circuit Court and the next court date set for August 14, the Flynns say they are not backing down. But the disappearance of their story from two local news stations—despite full interviews and promises to air—has widened their frustration. They believe the media is failing to do its job.
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15 Responses
Remember, It’s always about the Dollars.
Journalistic integrity. That’s a good one
It’s not like the 50/50 raffle is coming out of the Brewers owners pockets. Fans are spending hundreds of dollars for the whole game experience, at a minimum the Brewers should go out of their way to make sure the 50/50 raffle is paid out. I hope this couple gets the $12k and then some! As per the usual, shame on the biased media for being cowards!
idk, she didn’t know the rules and played the game. if it was not for the fan around her telling her what to do she would for sure not have won anything. Hope she kept that fan in mind to give some of the winnings to.
This is typical behavior for WHACKO Annette! She lost a bid for a contract with the County, cries wolf and sues (LOSES). She lost an election for County Board, cries wolf and delays certification of the election (LOSES!).
Maybe she should read the rules, realize they apply to her too. She might be a good Christian with a nice family…but at the end of the day, she is not above the law or rules. Even if it was 60 seconds….what happens when the next person is 3 minutes late. Then 5. Then 20….bend the rules once, everyone has an excuse.
Didn’t you win the public records case and Kenosha County circuit Court?
We should keep in mind that one inning is clearly not enough time to maneuver the building, figure out where you are going and tey to make it there on time. There are a lot of cariable that go into play on making it there in time. Brewers have seem to set that up to be a for sure failure to most fans that would not be able to make it there to collect there winnings. I believe that they have also realized the error in their organization and have changed those rules. This couple has a right to fight for their claim and if indeed it is a Brewers error then they should be paid what is owed. If at all it will stand for the next person who may be handicap that is not able to get there in time. Wouldn’t we consider that inclusive? So whether they succeed in monies given to them or awarded to them let’s look at the positive and praise the efforts they have gone through to making change where everyone has the opportunity to collect what they have potentially won.
Annette is one of the few people I know that stand up to the political machine and had integrity!
The brewers charity know they were wrong hence the changes! Don’t be a hater!
Time out. It will be up to the court to sort this out but, if I recall correctly, one of the contentions here is that she presented herself to the guest services counter only to have the people there send her to another guest services desk. If there was ambiguity over where she should go or a blip in the usual procedure then she may have a case. I won’t prejudge it one way or the other. That’s why we have courts to hear all the evidence and decide.
The sports stations nite their tounges about going after the Brewers. Bad publicity = no chance at becoming flagship
Ageeed they do…
I wasn’t aware it had a time limit either….sounds like this isn’t the first person who has had this issue.
1. Flynns say Brewers screwed them out of the 50/50 winnings.
2. Brewers say the Flynns aren’t entitled to it.
3. Flynns sued Brewers.
4.Case will be decided in court.
If you don’t make it to the counter in time, you don’t get the $.
Simple as that- there’s no story here.
CBS 58 in Milwaukee did run the story as did Channel 3 in Madison.
https://cbs58.com/news/kenosha-couple-sues-brewers-over-50-50-raffle-ticket