Bucks Arena 95% Complete; See Inside
And oh, the atrium, the locker rooms, the media interview room!
Just under two years after work started, the Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center is nearly complete. You know, the new Milwaukee Bucks arena.
Bucks president and effervescent impresario Peter Feigin led the press on an arena tour Friday morning, showcasing everything from enormous locker rooms to the soaring atrium.
The team anticipates moving into the arena in July and beginning operations in August. He compared the remaining work to a punch list on a home improvement project, but instead of 30 things, Feigin joked that there are more like 3,000.
A crew of 350 was on site Friday working to clear that list, down from over 800 when the team held a ceremonial topping off ceremony last August. A representative from Mortensen, the project’s general contractor, said that more than 3,700 people have worked on the project, many of whom were participants in the city’s Residents Preference Program designed to create jobs for unemployed or underemployed city residents.
Under the main floor, the team was ready to show off the 30,000-square-foot locker room campus. The campus, really a series of rooms instead of a single large room, contains everything from oversized lockers with private safes to a hydro-therapy room complete with large whirlpool. Drawing delight from many press folks on the tour, the media interview room and media dining room are substantially larger than what was available at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
The visiting locker rooms are also substantially larger, something that’s been an issue for the Bucks with the Bradley Center. “We want every player in the NBA to think this is a great place to be,” said Feigin. Similarly-sized rooms exist for visiting entertainers booked to perform here, as well as for Marquette University‘s Golden Eagles team.
And while locker rooms are certainly a private thing, the public will be able to see them as part of arena tours that the team will regularly offer.
The large atrium appears nearly complete, with everything from escalators to signage for the year-round team store installed. Besides being the front door to the arena with floor-to-ceiling glass, the team has visions of hosting everything from weddings to corporate events in it. “It’s going to be one of the greatest places to have an event in Milwaukee, bar none,” Feigin declared.
Above the atrium, the mezzanine club is also nearing completion and is already a clear cut above any Bradley Center club. The space, which has a 900-person capacity, is accented by reclaimed wood and Cream City brick as well as large metal pieces by Milwaukee-firm Scathain. The club also features an overlook of the arena and a 32-foot-long fireplace that ties the many bars and restaurants in the complex together.
Upcoming Announcements
There are a couple major announcements from the Bucks still to come. Notably, the naming rights for the arena itself. Feigin teased reporters saying there was no update, but added “I know what this is arena is going to be called.” He told Urban Milwaukee that the partner, whoever it is, intends to leverage the roof of the building to display their brand.
In addition, the team has yet to announce what the opening act will be in late August, but Feigin says the team anticipates announcing that soon, along with a list of open house-style events. Outside of the arena, work continues on the “Live Block” entertainment center, but no tenants have been announced and Feigin said he didn’t have updates on that today.
Photos
If you think stories like this are important, become a member of Urban Milwaukee and help support real independent journalism. Plus you get some cool added benefits, all detailed here.
More about the New Bucks Arena
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Beat Hiring Targets on Fiserv Forum - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 20th, 2019
- Murphy’s Law: Taxpayers Make Bucks, Brewers Rich - Bruce Murphy - Apr 16th, 2019
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Unveil Master Plan for Park East - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 15th, 2019
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Plan Massive Arena Signs - Jeramey Jannene - Feb 12th, 2019
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks’ New Bar Is “The MECCA” - Jeramey Jannene - Feb 7th, 2019
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Planning Sports Bar for Live Block - Jeramey Jannene - Jan 24th, 2019
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Inside Good City Brewing’s New Taproom - Jeramey Jannene - Jan 23rd, 2019
- Good City Brewing Opens At Fiserv Forum - Jennifer Rick - Jan 22nd, 2019
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Watch the Bradley Center Demolition From the Inside - Jeramey Jannene - Jan 16th, 2019
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Watch the Bradley Center Roof Drop - Jeramey Jannene - Jan 13th, 2019
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bradley Center To Go Boom - Jeramey Jannene - Jan 3rd, 2019
- Fiserv Forum Adds Drink Wisconsinbly - Jennifer Rick - Dec 8th, 2018
- Friday Photos: Arena Apartments Rising - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 23rd, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bulls Put Fiserv Forum To The Test - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 4th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Honor Herb Kohl at Arena Opening - Jeramey Jannene - Aug 26th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Open Fiserv Forum - Jeramey Jannene - Aug 26th, 2018
- Governor Walker Celebrates Grand Opening of the Fiserv Forum - Gov. Scott Walker - Aug 26th, 2018
- Walker Reconsiders Fiserv Subsidy? - Chuck Quirmbach - Aug 3rd, 2018
- Wisconsin Center District Announces Substantial Completion of Fiserv Forum - Wisconsin Center District - Jul 31st, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Will Play in Fiserv Forum - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 26th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Plan German-Style Holiday Market - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 16th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Show Off Nearly Finished Arena - Jeramey Jannene - Jun 28th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Unveil Monumental Sign - Jeramey Jannene - Jun 14th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Arena Getting Custom-Painted Fire Hydrants - Jeramey Jannene - Jun 6th, 2018
- Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center to Launch Sustainability Program - Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center - Jun 5th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Still Won’t Play in Fiserv Arena - Jeramey Jannene - May 31st, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Good City Brewing Tapped for Bucks’ Live Block - Jeramey Jannene - May 31st, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Beat Hiring Goals on Arena - Jeramey Jannene - May 23rd, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Is Bucks Live Block Good Urbanism? - Jeramey Jannene - May 22nd, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Arena 95% Complete; See Inside - Jeramey Jannene - May 18th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Unveil Old World Third St. Bar - Jeramey Jannene - May 8th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Won’t Play in Fiserv Arena - Jeramey Jannene - Apr 27th, 2018
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Live Block Eliminates Performance Space - Jeramey Jannene - Dec 12th, 2017
- Eyes on Milwaukee: City Panel Okays Live Block Shrinkage - Jeramey Jannene - Dec 4th, 2017
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks’ Live Block Connector Approved - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 21st, 2017
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Arena 68% Complete - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 21st, 2017
- Bucks’ Health Clinic Will Soon Open - Graham Kilmer - Nov 9th, 2017
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Unveil Arena Parking Garage - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 31st, 2017
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Arena On Budget, On Schedule - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 5th, 2017
- Friday Photos: Live Block Work Starts in Deer District - Jeramey Jannene - Sep 22nd, 2017
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Top Off New Arena - Jeramey Jannene - Aug 24th, 2017
- Photo Gallery: Touring The New Bucks Arena - Graham Kilmer - Aug 1st, 2017
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Inside New Bucks Arena - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 6th, 2017
- Friday Photos: The Deer District Rises - Jeramey Jannene - May 12th, 2017
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Council Approves Arena, Hammes Design Changes - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 1st, 2017
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Committee Okays Two Downtown Designs - Jeramey Jannene - Feb 22nd, 2017
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Unveil New Signs for Arena - Jeramey Jannene - Feb 14th, 2017
- Friday Photos: Arena Rises from Frozen Tundra - Jeramey Jannene - Dec 16th, 2016
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Live Block is a Slam Dunk - Jeramey Jannene - Dec 5th, 2016
- Friday Photos: New Bucks Arena From Above - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 7th, 2016
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Council Okays Streetcar to Bucks Arena - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 6th, 2016
- Friday Photos: Bucks Arena Work Prep - Jeramey Jannene - May 27th, 2016
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Arena Design Approved - Jeramey Jannene - May 17th, 2016
- Eyes on Milwaukee: How Urban is Bucks New Arena? - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 18th, 2016
- Eyes on Milwaukee: New Bucks Arena Approved - Jeramey Jannene - Sep 22nd, 2015
- Murphy’s Law: Is Abele Dumping the Marcus Center? - Bruce Murphy - Jul 28th, 2015
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Bucks Arena Winners and Losers - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 17th, 2015
- Murphy’s Law: How Abele Bailed Out Walker - Bruce Murphy - Jun 11th, 2015
- Murphy’s Law: Abele Plan for Bucks Arena Won’t Work - Bruce Murphy - Jun 4th, 2015
- Back in the News: Bucks Bailout Gets Even Bigger - Bruce Murphy - Jun 1st, 2015
- Murphy’s Law: Arena Plan is Massive Tax Shift to Milwaukee - Bruce Murphy - May 29th, 2015
- Murphy’s Law: MMAC Plays Hardball on Bucks Arena - Bruce Murphy - May 5th, 2015
- Murphy’s Law: State Bucks Arena Plan Fleeces Milwaukee - Bruce Murphy - Apr 23rd, 2015
- Murphy’s Law: The Secret Tax Subsidy Society - Bruce Murphy - Apr 14th, 2015
- Murphy’s Law: Should City/County Donate More to NBA Arena? - Bruce Murphy - Mar 24th, 2015
- Murphy’s Law: Bucks Owners Must Build Without Subsidy - Bruce Murphy - Mar 10th, 2015
- Murphy’s Law: How Could Walker Refuse Incredible Deal? - Bruce Murphy - Feb 12th, 2015
- Murphy’s Law: Foundation Helps Herb Kohl Get $20 Million Windfall - Bruce Murphy - Dec 18th, 2014
- Murphy’s Law: How Will NBA Arena Benefit the City? - Bruce Murphy - Dec 2nd, 2014
- Murphy’s Law: Dispute Over Bucks Arena Goes National - Bruce Murphy - Oct 23rd, 2014
- Murphy’s Law: 10 Reasons To Build Bucks Arena on Wisconsin Ave. - Bruce Murphy - Oct 8th, 2014
- Murphy’s Law: How UWM Deal Will Affect the Bucks - Bruce Murphy - Jul 3rd, 2014
- Murphy’s Law: Four Plans to Save the Bucks - Bruce Murphy - May 15th, 2014
- Murphy’s Law: 10 Key Issues in NBA Arena Debate - Bruce Murphy - Apr 24th, 2014
- Murphy’s Law: $1 Billion Needed for Milwaukee Facilities - Bruce Murphy - Dec 12th, 2013
- Murphy’s Law: New Moves to Bail Out the Bucks - Bruce Murphy - Oct 15th, 2013
Eyes on Milwaukee
-
American Family Unveils Downtown Office Plan
Dec 5th, 2019 by Jeramey Jannene
-
Will Tent City Come Back?
Dec 4th, 2019 by Jeramey Jannene
-
Mount Mary Plans $45 Million Complex
Dec 4th, 2019 by Jeramey Jannene
and yet the pot holes on the NW side continue to increase in size and number. The MPS meltdown continues. Slumlords run rings around MKE City Attorneys. Good deal!
New venues for wealthy team owners are heavily subsidized with tax dollars. The “old” buiklding was’t even that old! How many school buildings are replaced on the same schedule? None.
Why are taxpayers expected to heavily subsidize wealthy team owners (who make more money from the subsidy)?
Why aren’t we getting a fair share of the profits?
Professional sports franchises – privately owned but publicly funded entities. Let’s cut bus routes traveling to suburban jobs for inner city residents. Our roads and infrastructure don’t need repair. We do need a new Bucks arena. Hot dog vending jobs will bring family sustaining wages to the area.