Bucks, city of Milwaukee narrow down potential new arena sites

(MILWAUKEE) - After meeting Friday morning with Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Wes Edens, city leaders say they've narrowed down where the team's proposed new arena will go. 


The lakefront near the Summerfest grounds is out.  Fourth District Alderman Bob Bauman that idea was shot down by Edens.  \"He told me point-blank that he's explored the Third Ward, walked around the Third Ward, looked at (the) Summerfest location generally-- and that they're not interested in that,\" Bauman said.  


The Menomonee Valley?  Near Miller Park?  Also out, according to Mayor Tom Barrett.  \"Not sites that we're actively looking at.\"    


The Park East corridor, while still an option being discussed, gets a lukewarm reception from Milwaukee elected leaders.  \"My view is that it may be too far from the other activities in downtown,\" Bauman said.  

 

Both Barrett and Bauman are zeroing on a new Bucks arena that is downtown, as close to Wisconsin Avenue as possible, and west of the Milwaukee River, and say Edens agrees with that location.  \"There will be a half a dozen sites we would look at, all of them have challenges because you just don't have a big plot of land sitting anywhere right now.  So they can be challenges. but none of them are insurmountable challenges,\" Barrett said. 

 

In their meeting Edens told the city he wants an arena site chosen within the next 3 or 4 months. How to pay for the arena will come later.  \"Just make sure that we do this right.  You get a chance at this once a generation,\" Barrett said.   

 

 

 

 

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