The Milwaukee Bucks open their NBA season this evening in Boston, against the Celtics. They’ll play their first game at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’ll be the last opening night at the arena the team has called home since 1988.
In afeature in the October issue of Milwaukee Magazine, writer Zach Brooke explores the new arena that is rising downtown.
He says that the Milwaukee Bucks president, owners, developers, partners, and city leaders see it as an entire complex that will garner nationwide attention. "They see it as more than just this arena, they see it as a place where you can go and have a good time regardless of whether or not the bucks are playing."
In addition to the physical arena, there are 30 acres surrounding the structure that will house a training center (which is now complete), Froedert & Medical College of Wisconsin's sports science center and health clinic, living units, and space for retail.
With the minimum of a year before anything being officially open, Brooke says these attractions speak to the overall goal of adding density to the arena - outside of attendance for Bucks games.
Even if people choose other attractions over a Bucks game, the team still benefits, he says. "Bucks get attendance, they get hype, and they're the ones managing everything. They're not just in the stadium...I think part of the agreement to get state financing for this package was it had to be more than just an arena, but they are also benefiting from the things that aren't the arena as well."
Brooke shares further insights on the once barren Park East land with Lake Effect's Mitch Teich:
