Bucks attendance article, etc.

[🏀]

Silver's 'back of house' statement is what concerns your day to day operations, concerts and events. There isn't a ton of room inside the Bradley under the seats.

Additionally, the locker rooms suck. I've only been into the Bucks, but comparing it to pictures of other NBA teams, there's no comparison. Upgrade your facilities and you may be able to keep some younger stars. I don't know what the Bucks Training Facility looks like, but I've heard it is on the wrong(south) side of Milwaukee compared to where players live.

[MarsupialMadness]

Even if the Bucks draft awesome first round talent this year, is there any real chance they will be able to keep them beyond 3-4 years? This has long been the issue for the Bucks, back to the days of Lew Alcindor. No one stays. New arena or not, they will never be a contender for longer than a year or two at best, and even then it will only be if they can string together an immaculate draft. NBA players don't want to stay in Milwaukee. They may tolerate it at first, but before long they want out.

Also, fans want to see stars. They show up for Labron and Kobe. If they Bucks can't keep stars, the fans won't show up.

Time to cut loose and bring in an NHL team.

I agree that this is the main problem, and it's a reality that many NBA teams have to face.  Until the league changes something (and what to change I have no idea) it will just be an endless cycle of the top players going to crappy teams in crappy markets and then leaving the moment their rookie contact is up.

[damuts222]

Apologies.  How many bars/restaurants are available inside of the Bradley Center?  Pizza and brats are concessions, not restaurants.  There really isn't luxury service of any sort at the BC either.

  And how many Wisconsin elite give a hoot about the Bucks, or would have the dough to penny up for this.  Theres not many large corporations in Milwaukee that would purchase one of these luxury boxes.  The Bucks need to focus on the product there putting on the floor more.  Plenty of stars in sports have helped small market teams in a variety of sports create revenue in order to build new stadiums. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Apologies.  How many bars/restaurants are available inside of the Bradley Center?  Pizza and brats are concessions, not restaurants.  There really isn't luxury service of any sort at the BC either.

After the event, what else is there to do?  The point is, that once the event is over, you go home. 

Is that a Bradley Center issue, or a zoning \ Milwaukee business issue?  Sure sounds like the latter to me. 


And just because you build a new arena, doesn't mean things are going to get rosier.  They might, at great expense of course...that's what happened in downtown L.A. but Mr. Anschutz paid for most of it.

A few miles away, the Fabulous Forum just finished with a $100million renovation, the Eagles played there last week to kick off the grand opening.  It's still in Inglewood, people are still going home after the event because no one wants to stay in Inglewood.  That's an example where the businesses aren't going to folllow.  Maybe they will in Milwaukee, in fact short term I would bet my life on it.  Whether it is sustainable long term or not will be the key.  Still, back to my original question, is the Bradley Center missing out on events right now...is it not a year round venue?  I realize the square footage is smaller, is there data that is stating they are losing events because of this?  By adding a new arena, there will be stories of all the jobs, the "financial impact" to the region (these are so bogus and overstated), etc.  I'd just like to know is the ROI real, does it benefit the people of Milwaukee, and at what cost (who pays).   

[Hards Alumni]

Is that a Bradley Center issue, or a zoning \ Milwaukee business issue?  Sure sounds like the latter to me. 


And just because you build a new arena, doesn't mean things are going to get rosier.  They might, at great expense of course...that's what happened in downtown L.A. but Mr. Anschutz paid for most of it.

A few miles away, the Fabulous Forum just finished with a $100million renovation, the Eagles played there last week to kick off the grand opening.  It's still in Inglewood, people are still going home after the event because no one wants to stay in Inglewood.  That's an example where the businesses aren't going to folllow.  Maybe they will in Milwaukee, in fact short term I would bet my life on it.  Whether it is sustainable long term or not will be the key.  Still, back to my original question, is the Bradley Center missing out on events right now...is it not a year round venue?  I realize the square footage is smaller, is there data that is stating they are losing events because of this?  By adding a new arena, there will be stories of all the jobs, the "financial impact" to the region (these are so bogus and overstated), etc.  I'd just like to know is the ROI real, does it benefit the people of Milwaukee, and at what cost (who pays).   

I don't disagree with you, and I have no data to say they are missing out on events.  I've been to other venues and the BC is a dump comparatively.  It is terribly sad that when I went to the Palace of Auburn Hills for a concert and the place blew the BC out of the water.  And they are the same age.  Sadly, the BC designers didn't have the forethought that the PAH designers did.  One is still considered modern by standards and the other obsolete.

[🏀]

  And how many Wisconsin elite give a hoot about the Bucks, or would have the dough to penny up for this.  Theres not many large corporations in Milwaukee that would purchase one of these luxury boxes.  The Bucks need to focus on the product there putting on the floor more.  Plenty of stars in sports have helped small market teams in a variety of sports create revenue in order to build new stadiums. 

My company has gone from box to courtside to no tickets in the five years I've been there. I know two other contractors that have dropped as well. It's not easy to entertain there.

[martyconlonontherun]

For those out of state or don't subscribe to JS


Bucks Attendance Down More Than 1,000 From Last Year, Ranks Near Bottom Of NBA

Published January 22, 2014
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Attendance at Bucks games has dropped by more than 1,000 from last season
The Bucks through yesterday have the NBA's worst record and are "nearly at the bottom" of the league in attendance, as they rank 29th and are "averaging 13,954 fans through the first 18 home dates," according to Charles Gardner of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. That number "is down more than 1,000 per game from last season's average." A "truly frightful sight was the crowd at the last home game" on Jan. 15. Attendance "was listed at 11,379, but at the start of the game, the crowd was not half that number." It "hasn't helped the Bucks that a cold, snowy winter and icy roads are keeping some people home," and traditionally, the team "does not draw well in the first two months of the season while the Packers are still playing." Hanging over the Bucks "is the unsettled situation" about whether to renovate BMO Harris Bradley Center or build a new downtown arena, as well as the "search for additional ownership" to join team Owner Herb Kohl. In addition, Bucks C Larry Sanders earlier this season "was lost for six weeks after becoming involved in a downtown bar brawl and tearing a ligament in his right thumb." That was a "damaging public relations blow after the team had spent much of the summer promoting Sanders as a key to the future" and signed him to a four-year, $44M contract extension. The Bucks are "in line to get one of the top picks in the June draft, possibly the No. 1 pick," and that player "should bring added excitement -- and fans -- to the home court." But for now, it is a "tough sell in the remaining three months of the season" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/22).

EYEING A NEW ARENA: In Milwaukee, Don Walker notes the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce has "hired the sports and entertainment arm of the Hammes Co. to provide advice on whether a new, multipurpose sports arena should be built, or whether the BMO Harris Bradley Center should be renovated." The move "represents a major step toward consideration of a new arena in Milwaukee." The NBA "has made it clear" to the Bucks that a new arena is "needed to meet today's league standards" and has set a '17 deadline, when the Bucks' current lease with the BMO Harris Bradley Center expires. MMAC Chair Ted Kellner said that Hammes "would provide financial strategy and a plan to guide future discussions" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/22).

And that is why Gardner is a horrible reporter. Absolutely no context to the story. More fans go to the game post packer/holiday season and as it warms up. Attendance was only down 70 people/game since last year at 18 home games during their magical 8 seed run. The Bucks have also been in the 27-29 range the last few years so our ranking hasn't changed that much.

So instead of the story being attendance had already bottomed out and nobody cared about making the playoffs with mediocre vets, they spin it as the sky is falling due to the tank. The funny thing is the Bucks aren't tanking and actually tried putting a competitive team on the court.

[Eldon]

The River Walk is awesome, but other than that, San Antonio is a dump.

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

I couldn't care less about the Bucks.

A new arena isn't the problem; the product on the court sure is, though.

Have fans stopped attending Bucks games because the BC is outdated? The BC hasn't hurt MUs attendance.

Cleveland plays in nice arena. How have they done over the years? The problem is "kids" don't want to play in Milwaukee...or Cleveland....or Minneapolis...unless they are offered more money than anywhere else and don't care about winning.

It would be a huge black eye for the NBA if it contracted. I wish the league did it, though. Knock out the Kings and Bucks.

Relocation would be more likely than contraction, and there's 11 Nielsen markets larger than Milwaukee without an NBA team. Most with arenas newer than the Bradley Center:
Seattle, Tampa-St.Pete, Nashville, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Raleigh-Durham, Baltimore, San Diego, Hartford, Kansas City, St. Louis

Only four NBA cities are smaller TV markets than Milwaukee (San Antonio, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, and Memphis).