Bauman leads commission recommendation to protect Panther Arena and neighboring theater

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Alderman Bob Bauman is preemptively throwing intentional roadblocks in front of any future attempts to demolish Panther Arena and the neighboring Miller High Life Theatre.

The Wisconsin Center District owns and operates the buildings and is conducting a study on their future. Though the results are not out yet, Bauman believes that study will recommend demolishing the buildings to make way for a new property development.

On Monday, Nov. 3, the city's Historic Preservation Commission unanimously recommended the buildings be classified as historic sites.

There are no demolition plans in place yet; in fact, the study is still being compiled.

But UWM administrators are aware of the possibility the building may be taken away from them. They’d like to stay here as long as possible.

Dale Schumacher is a UWM alum and basketball fan. He told us, "I think it's a great place for the school to play, especially them. It's a facility that matches their needs."

Schumacher has been coming to basketball games at Panther Arena for the past couple of decades. He says the arena and atmosphere are a perfect fit for the university.

UWM Athletic Director Amanda Braun agrees, saying, "And right now, it's the very best option we have for our games."

Braun says the university always talks about contingencies but is not discussing a forced move at this time. "We want to extend our contract here. That's something we'd like to do. We have this season and three more, so we do have some time."

On Monday, Milwaukee Alderman Bob Bauman spearheaded the Historic Preservation Commission’s recommendation to designate the arena and neighboring theater as historic sites.

The designation would not prevent the Wisconsin Center District from demolishing the buildings, but it would require they go through added layers of input from the public and Common Council.

The university hopes it doesn't come to that.

UWM Chancellor Thomas Gibson said, "This is a facility that also serves a number of different programs and activities for the university."

Gibson pointed to the university's commencement ceremonies as an example of a high-profile event that needs the arena. "We would have to pursue all possible options, should we find the arena is no longer available for us," he said.

For now, administrators and fans are hoping they can call Panther Arena home for years to come.

Schumacher said, "The atmosphere on campus isn't bad. But I think this just gives it a little more professionalism, having the bigger downtown facility."

The Wisconsin Center District study is still being compiled. The results are expected to be presented to the district board sometime in January.