MILWAUKEE | New Bucks Arena and Development

Boisebro · #1 Posted **Apr 8, 2015, 3:10 PM**

from today's JS Online:

Quote:

Bucks to unveil game-changing $1 billion arena package

Envisioning an entertainment hub that would transform downtown, the Milwaukee Bucks plan to build a $500 million arena just north of the BMO Harris Bradley Center and use that as a springboard for an additional $500 million in development, much of it in the largely vacant Park East corridor.

The arena site itself is not surprising — it has been the worst-kept secret in the city for weeks — but the conceptual development plans for the Park East are striking in their breadth.

The development would include a 700,000-square-foot, 17,000-seat arena; a 60,000-square-foot public plaza, anticipated as a sort of live entertainment space on what is largely a city-owned parking ramp at the corner of N. 4th St. and W. Highland Ave.; and arena parking across the street in the Park East area. Total amount of space just for that portion of the development: 1 million square feet.

Another surprise, sources familiar with the Bucks' plans said, is the Bucks' intention to build a state-of-the-art practice facility as soon as possible on Park East land just east of The Brewery development. The Bucks' practice facility is in leased space at the Archbishop Cousins Center in St. Francis; the team would have to buy out the lease.

Lastly, the Bucks' plans, still in the conceptual and preliminary phase, call for the demolition of the BMO Harris Bradley Center, first opened in 1988 and now the second-oldest nonrenovated arena in the National Basketball Association.

The land now occupied by the BMO Harris Bradley Center could become some combination of a new hotel and additional commercial or office space.

link to rest of story.

Images from Bucks website and JS Online.

Boisebro · #2 Posted **Apr 8, 2015, 9:26 PM**

additional renderings from USA Today:

LouisVanDerWright · #3 Posted **Apr 9, 2015, 6:55 PM**

That's baller, unlike most arenas, the siting of this one could very well transform a large section of downtown Milwaukee. Driving a stake through the heart of the Park East white elephant at last!

matthew2109 · #4 Posted **Apr 11, 2015, 10:10 PM**

Finally. The Bradley Center is well past its age

Rail>Auto · #5 Posted **Apr 12, 2015, 6:46 PM**

The Bradley Center is fairly young for buildings. I'd rather see it renovated, or at least scaled down to a niche that's between a new facility and MECCA, especially if this new arena doesn't hold hockey.

I know I'm in the minority but this design looks boring, and it has the redundant waterfall you can find at the Yum Center in Louisville or the Ford Center here in Evansville. Surely, they can do better than this.

If a new arena just has to be the answer, I'd like to see the unused Edmonton design used... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz3rRiLsbTU

Boisebro · #6 Posted **Apr 13, 2015, 10:05 PM**

i'm rather lukewarm on the design myself.

the article stated that the arena is designed to resemble waves coming off Lake Michigan.

meh.

i'd rather see a design that emulates the spirit and/or history of Milwaukee, not waves.

BUT... as long as they can freeze the wave to accommodate hockey and help Milwaukee land an NHL team, i can live with the design.

sentinel · #7 Posted **Apr 14, 2015, 12:15 AM**

It's fu*kin awesome, just build it already.

bucksfan15 · #8 Posted **Jul 21, 2015, 1:11 AM**

Wisconsin Senate approves $250M funding plan for Milwaukee Bucks arena

Quote:

“This is a game-changing moment for Milwaukee and the entire state,” said Sheehy. “I am extremely pleased that legislators on both sides of the aisle politically were able to come together around this exciting vision of a brighter future.”

Estimated Groundbreaking----->October

ardecila · #9 Posted **Jul 21, 2015, 4:46 AM**

So they are closing off 4th St, 5th St, and Highland Ave to build this arena?

I thought the era of the superblock was over.

LouisVanDerWright · #10 Posted **Jul 21, 2015, 4:37 PM**

This is actually a steal for taxpayers as far as arenas go especially if the surrounding redevelopment also happens. Unlike most stadium projects, this is only 50% taxpayer funded.

bucksfan15 · #11 Posted **Jul 24, 2015, 4:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

So they are closing off 4th St, 5th St, and Highland Ave to build this arena?

I thought the era of the superblock was over.

5th street and Highland aren't through streets already. The only street that will be closed is 4th but that is not even set in stone yet. Technically they are turning it into a pedestrian mall connection between the arena and live district but again, it is still being discussed. It may also become a right of way for the streetcar. We should know soon.

Rail>Auto · #12 Posted **Jul 25, 2015, 2:18 AM**

I heard they were discussing another convention center as a part of this deal. Any way they could use the Bradley Center in a way that Detroit is using Cobo Arena?

bucksfan15 · #13 Posted **Aug 4, 2015, 3:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rail>Auto

I heard they were discussing another convention center as a part of this deal. Any way they could use the Bradley Center in a way that Detroit is using Cobo Arena?

Rumor is the convention center expansion could be gifted to the city from private sources. It's starting to sound like someone might have swung a deal when they approved the arena. Initial reports had an expansion valued at $200 million but who knows what is about to happen. Additionally, the Bucks president announced today that new, more detailed renderings will be released by the end of August and construction of the arena, practice facility, and mixed-use parking structure would start this year, likely by October. He also announced that private developers are lining up to build around the arena and they are close to finalizing the land sale agreement for all of the Park East land east of the river. Milwaukee seems to be on the brink of a major boom.

Conceivably, shovels for both the arena and streetcar could go into the ground in 2 months as well as 2 (maybe more) high-rises and numerous smaller, infill projects by the end of the year. Very exciting times in Brew City.

Crawford · #14 Posted **Aug 12, 2015, 12:15 PM**

Poor Wisconsin taxpayers. Hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars flushed down the toilet.

Tom In Chicago · #15 Posted **Aug 12, 2015, 5:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crawford

Poor Wisconsin taxpayers. Hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars flushed down the toilet.

Not true. . . they'll be getting a new arena for their basketball team. . . [/dummy]

. . .

Busy Bee · #16 Posted **Aug 12, 2015, 6:22 PM**

All taxpayer funded sports venues are a scam. The leagues and team ownership, a business by any definition of the word, should pay for new facilities not the general public. The ownership knows they can extort cities and counties because they have them over a barrel. A single threat to move away and municipalities cave. And for those that say special tax districts and financial incentives are the same thing, sports teams are actually asking for their facilities to be payed for, not just a long term tax break. Even Walmart doesn't ask for that shit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom In Chicago

Not true. . . they'll be getting a new arena for their basketball team. . . [/dummy]

. . .

If tickets to see the games were free for all the taxpayers that funded the facility, you'd have a point. But since that's not the case, this is just another example of sports socialism, American style. Privatize the profits, socialize the losses.

the urban politician · #17 Posted **Aug 12, 2015, 7:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

All taxpayer funded sports venues are a scam.

^ Yep.

What a horrible, disgraceful thing this is. Just what jobs are the Milwaukee Bucks creating?

How are they benefitting the regional economy? They aren't.

Americans don't realize just how easily they can live without a professional sports franchise. We have ourselves convinced that these are MUST HAVES, playing right into the palms of these giant leagues and associations.

I LOVE a good basketball or football or soccer game, or a tennis match. But to hell with building those asshats a stadium. Build your own. Wanna leave? Leave, I'll just watch it on TV.

bucksfan15 · #18 Posted **Aug 12, 2015, 10:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crawford

Poor Wisconsin taxpayers. Hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars flushed down the toilet.

Many Wisconsinites support this.

bucksfan15 · #19 Posted **Aug 12, 2015, 10:26 PM**

Time to celebrate!

Walker signs Bucks arena deal, fall construction planned

Quote:

The Bucks hope to break ground on the new arena in October or November.

bucksfan15 · #20 Posted **Sep 9, 2015, 3:09 PM**

Milwaukee County and Bucks to announce completion of Park East land sale

Quote:

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele and Milwaukee Bucks president Peter Feigin, at a press conference scheduled for 2 p.m. today, will announce the approval of the sale of about 10 acres of land in the Park East corridor in downtown Milwaukee, that is being sold by the county to the Bucks ownership group for $1.

Approval from the Milwaukee Common Council is the last approval needed and they are widely expected to approve the final portion of the arena deal September 22.

Let's break ground already! Only another month or two...