Post by mikecubs on Jun 20, 2015 23:55:46 GMT -6
Admirals left out in the cold on arena plans
If it's built, the Milwaukee Bucks' future home would likely feature premium-priced club seats, a higher share of seats in the arena's lower bowl, more restaurants and other amenities generating increased cash for the team.
But the new arena might lack one of the defining features of the BMO Harris Bradley Center: ice. And that means the Milwaukee Admirals are beginning to search for a new place to play.
"We do not believe we will be part of the new arena," said Harris Turer, chief executive officer of the minor league hockey team.
The Bucks' owners said a decision hasn't yet been made about whether the future arena would include the ability to host the Admirals.
But Turer already has started what he calls "very preliminary discussions" with Wisconsin Center District officials about a possible lease at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, where the Admirals would share dates with the UWM men's basketball team and other tenants.
Those talks "have been very positive, but not very detailed," he said.
The Panther Arena, where the Admirals played for several years before the Bradley Center opened, is Milwaukee's only "true alternative" for the team, Turer said.
The arena would need updates to its locker rooms and other changes to accommodate the team, said Russell Staerkel, district interim president and chief executive officer.
But the ice-making machinery and other equipment for hockey is in place, he said.
"The Panther Arena would welcome the Admirals," said Staerkel. The district operates the Panther Arena, Wisconsin Center convention facility and Milwaukee Theatre, and also would operate the new Bucks arena.
Turer hopes to determine within the next year the location of the Admirals' future Milwaukee home.
The Bucks want their new arena open by the 2017-'18 National Basketball Association season.
If that happens, the Bradley Center would be demolished shortly thereafter to make way for eventual commercial development.
"It's very likely we will not be playing" at the Bradley Center by the 2017-'18 American Hockey League season, Turer said. Hockey and basketball seasons both start in October.
A Bucks spokesman said the team's owners continue to focus on obtaining approval from the Wisconsin Legislature and Milwaukee Common Council for a public financing plan that would cover $250 million of the new arena's estimated $500 million cost.
The plan has been stalled by bipartisan opposition.
"We honestly haven't made any decisions" about the Admirals, said Jake Suski, Bucks senior vice president of communications. "There's a lot still unresolved."
Mike Fascitelli, a Bucks co-owner, plans to meet soon with Turer to update him on the arena design process, and "continue the conversation," Suski said.
Marquette University plans to lease dates in the new arena for its Golden Eagles men's basketball team. Those dates would be subleased from the Bucks, which would have a master lease on the facility.
The Admirals, however, will likely be left out, Turer said. He came to that conclusion because of vague, noncommittal responses he's received from Bucks President Peter Feigin and co-owner Marc Lasry.
"Everything we've heard, or not heard, leads me to believe we will not be a tenant," Turer said.
Panther Arena benefits
That might be a simple economic calculation by the Bucks.
Installing ice-making equipment and other furnishings needed to host hockey games at the new arena would add to its construction costs, and the Admirals would be virtually the only tenant paying rent for hockey dates.
"I'm not sitting here begging to be part of the new arena," Turer said. "We're a minor league hockey team, and we have limited revenues."
Also, Panther Arena offers some advantages, he said. There's the potential for better dates and a more intimate setting for hockey fans.
Panther Arena seats about 9,000 people for hockey, compared with about 17,800 at the Bradley Center.
The Admirals, who play 38 regular-season home dates, drew an average crowd of 5,800 during the previous season, Turer said.
The Admirals paid $90,000 to use the Bradley Center during the 2014-'15 season, Turer said.
The team's revenue is generated almost entirely by ticket sales and corporate sponsorships.
Cash from food and beverages sold at Admirals games goes to the Bucks, Turer said. This past season, for the first time, the hockey team got a share of cash from Admirals T-shirts and other club merchandise sold at the Bradley Center, he said.
Built for hockey
The Admirals were founded in 1970 and initially played at the Wilson Park Ice Arena, 4001 S. 20th St.
By 1971, the team was playing some games at what was then known as the Milwaukee Arena, where the Bucks and Marquette also played.
By the 1975-'76 season, the Admirals were based at the Milwaukee Arena.
That move brought more revenue for the team, but wasn't enough to prevent a 1976 bankruptcy filing. Later that year, a group led by former Chicago Blackhawks sportscaster Lloyd Pettit and his wife, Jane Bradley Pettit, bought the Admirals.
The Bradley Center was funded mainly through a $90 million donation by Jane Bradley Pettit in memory of her father, Harry Bradley. Bradley was a founder of Allen-Bradley Co., now Rockwell Automation Inc.
The arena was designed with the idea of drawing a National Hockey League team to Milwaukee, and its sight lines are considered to be better for hockey than basketball.
The Bradley Center, completed in 1988, is the third-oldest NBA arena. It's been home to the Admirals since it opened.
Turer, who led a group that bought the Admirals in 2005, said he's disappointed, but not upset, about the prospect of not being part of a new arena.
He understands it's a business decision.
"I'm not throwing $150 million into the facility," Turer said, referring to the financing commitment by the Bucks' owners, which would be supplemented by $100 million from former owner Herb Kohl.
"I respect that. It's their place."
www.jsonline.com/business/admirals-left-out-in-the-cold-on-arena-plans-b99521483z1-308668251.html
If it's built, the Milwaukee Bucks' future home would likely feature premium-priced club seats, a higher share of seats in the arena's lower bowl, more restaurants and other amenities generating increased cash for the team.
But the new arena might lack one of the defining features of the BMO Harris Bradley Center: ice. And that means the Milwaukee Admirals are beginning to search for a new place to play.
"We do not believe we will be part of the new arena," said Harris Turer, chief executive officer of the minor league hockey team.
The Bucks' owners said a decision hasn't yet been made about whether the future arena would include the ability to host the Admirals.
But Turer already has started what he calls "very preliminary discussions" with Wisconsin Center District officials about a possible lease at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, where the Admirals would share dates with the UWM men's basketball team and other tenants.
Those talks "have been very positive, but not very detailed," he said.
The Panther Arena, where the Admirals played for several years before the Bradley Center opened, is Milwaukee's only "true alternative" for the team, Turer said.
The arena would need updates to its locker rooms and other changes to accommodate the team, said Russell Staerkel, district interim president and chief executive officer.
But the ice-making machinery and other equipment for hockey is in place, he said.
"The Panther Arena would welcome the Admirals," said Staerkel. The district operates the Panther Arena, Wisconsin Center convention facility and Milwaukee Theatre, and also would operate the new Bucks arena.
Turer hopes to determine within the next year the location of the Admirals' future Milwaukee home.
The Bucks want their new arena open by the 2017-'18 National Basketball Association season.
If that happens, the Bradley Center would be demolished shortly thereafter to make way for eventual commercial development.
"It's very likely we will not be playing" at the Bradley Center by the 2017-'18 American Hockey League season, Turer said. Hockey and basketball seasons both start in October.
A Bucks spokesman said the team's owners continue to focus on obtaining approval from the Wisconsin Legislature and Milwaukee Common Council for a public financing plan that would cover $250 million of the new arena's estimated $500 million cost.
The plan has been stalled by bipartisan opposition.
"We honestly haven't made any decisions" about the Admirals, said Jake Suski, Bucks senior vice president of communications. "There's a lot still unresolved."
Mike Fascitelli, a Bucks co-owner, plans to meet soon with Turer to update him on the arena design process, and "continue the conversation," Suski said.
Marquette University plans to lease dates in the new arena for its Golden Eagles men's basketball team. Those dates would be subleased from the Bucks, which would have a master lease on the facility.
The Admirals, however, will likely be left out, Turer said. He came to that conclusion because of vague, noncommittal responses he's received from Bucks President Peter Feigin and co-owner Marc Lasry.
"Everything we've heard, or not heard, leads me to believe we will not be a tenant," Turer said.
Panther Arena benefits
That might be a simple economic calculation by the Bucks.
Installing ice-making equipment and other furnishings needed to host hockey games at the new arena would add to its construction costs, and the Admirals would be virtually the only tenant paying rent for hockey dates.
"I'm not sitting here begging to be part of the new arena," Turer said. "We're a minor league hockey team, and we have limited revenues."
Also, Panther Arena offers some advantages, he said. There's the potential for better dates and a more intimate setting for hockey fans.
Panther Arena seats about 9,000 people for hockey, compared with about 17,800 at the Bradley Center.
The Admirals, who play 38 regular-season home dates, drew an average crowd of 5,800 during the previous season, Turer said.
The Admirals paid $90,000 to use the Bradley Center during the 2014-'15 season, Turer said.
The team's revenue is generated almost entirely by ticket sales and corporate sponsorships.
Cash from food and beverages sold at Admirals games goes to the Bucks, Turer said. This past season, for the first time, the hockey team got a share of cash from Admirals T-shirts and other club merchandise sold at the Bradley Center, he said.
Built for hockey
The Admirals were founded in 1970 and initially played at the Wilson Park Ice Arena, 4001 S. 20th St.
By 1971, the team was playing some games at what was then known as the Milwaukee Arena, where the Bucks and Marquette also played.
By the 1975-'76 season, the Admirals were based at the Milwaukee Arena.
That move brought more revenue for the team, but wasn't enough to prevent a 1976 bankruptcy filing. Later that year, a group led by former Chicago Blackhawks sportscaster Lloyd Pettit and his wife, Jane Bradley Pettit, bought the Admirals.
The Bradley Center was funded mainly through a $90 million donation by Jane Bradley Pettit in memory of her father, Harry Bradley. Bradley was a founder of Allen-Bradley Co., now Rockwell Automation Inc.
The arena was designed with the idea of drawing a National Hockey League team to Milwaukee, and its sight lines are considered to be better for hockey than basketball.
The Bradley Center, completed in 1988, is the third-oldest NBA arena. It's been home to the Admirals since it opened.
Turer, who led a group that bought the Admirals in 2005, said he's disappointed, but not upset, about the prospect of not being part of a new arena.
He understands it's a business decision.
"I'm not throwing $150 million into the facility," Turer said, referring to the financing commitment by the Bucks' owners, which would be supplemented by $100 million from former owner Herb Kohl.
"I respect that. It's their place."
www.jsonline.com/business/admirals-left-out-in-the-cold-on-arena-plans-b99521483z1-308668251.html
