Bucks to play at UWM Panther Arena

[MU/Panther]

https://twitter.com/onmilwaukee/status/873618354132725760

[MU/Panther]

http://www.nba.com/bucks/release/bucks-announce-a-return-to-the-mecca?source=twitter

[mufansince72]

Seems like a cool idea. Especially if they bring back the old court. I'm sure this will be a game against the Brooklyn Nets or some other real bad team that they wouldn't be able to sell tickets to. There will be enough people that want to see them play in the old arena to sell the place out.

[MU/Panther]

Ya, I'm sure it will be a game during the week in November or so. Ticket prices will be sky high for this! I don't think they can play on that old court, but they can make a new one that looks like it.

[mufan2003]

I am indifferent about it, but there seems to be a lot of positive reaction to it. So that's cool.

[Kidd Karma]

Creative idea to make more $$$. Throw in 1980's uniforms, warmups.....

[MUfan12]

So far I've heard they'll have a replica court, no throwbacks, and they'll play Boston. This will be so fun.

[Goose85]

Creative idea to make more $$$. Throw in 1980's uniforms, warmups.....

I'd prefer the old Jabbar / Big O era jerseys.

Only question is are there enough seats at the arena to accommodate all season ticket holders? Probably not when you include the half season ticket packages.

One aspect of the arena that I hope they bring to the new facility is dimming the lights in the seated area and having the court the focal point.

[MU/Panther]

Peter Feigin said the goal moving into the new arena is to have 10,000 season ticket holders. In 2015-16, the Bucks were over 4,000 season-ticket holders. So, there will be enough seats at UWM Panther Arena for it's season-ticket holders. The half-season might not even include the UWM Panther Arena game.

[CaribouJim]

Peter Feigin said the goal moving into the new arena is to have 10,000 season ticket holders. In 2015-16, the Bucks were over 4,000 season-ticket holders. So, there will be enough seats at UWM Panther Arena for it's season-ticket holders. The half-season might not even include the UWM Panther Arena game.

Wow - only 4,000 in '15-'16?

[CaribouJim]

"In just their third season, the Bucks compiled a 34-2 record at the MECCA and went on to win the 1971 NBA Championship."

Is that right? They were 66-16 that year - 82 games. 34-2 reflects only 36 home games.

[CaribouJim]

I'd prefer the old Jabbar / Big O era jerseys.

Agree big time - those unis were timeless - you could use that exact version today (minus the shorty short shorts of course) and they'd still be cool IMO. Very entertaining team.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/1971.html

[MU/Panther]

Wow - only 4,000 in '15-'16? I'm trying to find out where I read that, so it doesn't look like I'm giving out BS numbers.

[Goose85]

"In just their third season, the Bucks compiled a 34-2 record at the MECCA and went on to win the 1971 NBA Championship."

Is that right? They were 66-16 that year - 82 games. 34-2 reflects only 36 home games.

I think in the old days it was not that uncommon for teams to play a game at a different site. Arenas were pretty much the same and not the revenue generators they are now. I know the Bucks would play a few games in Madison and maybe elsewhere.

Remember the KC / Omaha Kings back in the day. Some games in KC and some in Omaha.

Before the Brewers came to town, the White Sox would play a few games in Milw. Trying to expand the market I guess.

[MU/Panther]

This quote was from Feigin today, as the media got a tour of the new arena. I said in the earlier post about season tickets being about 4,000 couple of years ago. Well, I guess I was a bit high on that.

"We've got five suites left out of 33,” Feigin said. “We've also sold through lofts which is another premium product."

Feigin says they hope to get 10,000 season ticket holders for the 2018-2019 season.

"To put that into perspective of growth, three seasons ago, we were probably at the 2,500 mark," he said.

[TheSultan]

I think in the old days it was not that uncommon for teams to play a game at a different site. Arenas were pretty much the same and not the revenue generators they are now. I know the Bucks would play a few games in Madison and maybe elsewhere.

Remember the KC / Omaha Kings back in the day. Some games in KC and some in Omaha.

Before the Brewers came to town, the White Sox would play a few games in Milw. Trying to expand the market I guess.


Spot on Goose. Five games in Madison that year.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/1971_games.html

EDIT: And they played the entire first round of the playoffs in Madison too. Wonder what was going on at the Arena?

[MU/Panther]

https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/902550704241422338

[mufan2003]

https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/902550704241422338

MUfan12 predicted this a couple weeks back. Good call. An exciting start to the season: @Boston, Cleveland and then hosting Boston at the Arena.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">�� Classic Venue<br>�� Classic Jersey<br>�� Classic Opponent<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ReturnToTheMECCA?src=hash">#ReturnToTheMECCA</a><br><br>Details: <a href="https://t.co/EBycOvOuEX">https://t.co/EBycOvOuEX</a> <a href="https://t.co/yMTei4WBve">pic.twitter.com/yMTei4WBve</a></p>&mdash; Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/902560399102328833">August 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[MU/Panther]

If I'm not mistaken, MUfan12 got knowledge that Boston was coming to UWM Panther Arena. Also, added that Marquette would sign the new arena deal in August. Well done, by MUfan12!

[MUfan12]

If I'm not mistaken, MUfan12 got knowledge that Boston was coming to UWM Panther Arena. Also, added that Marquette would sign the new arena deal in August. Well done, by MUfan12!

Ha, thanks! Was wrong on the throwbacks, but wasn't aware of Nike's plans at that point.

On that note, while those are nice, the Bucks wore that style a few years back. I would have loved to have seen the Irish rainbow set, or that style with the red trim.

[MU/Panther]

The starting ticket price by the Bucks is $125. :eek:

[MU/Panther]

Tickets have been lowered to $45 on the Bucks site
https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/923249431549444102

[CaribouJim]

Anybody on the board go to this game - curious as to what the vibe was. I assume it was LOUD.

[Goose85]

I was at the game. Really cool event, though I was hoping for more throwback features other than just having Johnny Mac say a few words pregame.
You forget that every seat in that place is a darn good seat relative to the floor.
Great game environment, more like a college game in that the fans were cheering the whole game. Louder than the normal BC, but that is just the facility.
I like that the stands are a bit darker too.

Funny how that floor, with the design, was so cutting edge back then. Now so many have some sort of design.
As a throwback to the 80's, probably appropriate that we played and lost to the Celtics. Either the Celtics or 76ers did us in come playoff time every year.

[MU/Panther]

I was at the game. Nothing new for myself being in the building. As many know I have MU and UWM full season tickets. The wife and I have a Admirals mini plan. Plus, we do go to a roller derby event. So, on any given year, we are at UWM Panther Arena 13 to 20 times per year.

I thought 11,000 people was too many people in the old MECCA for that Bucks game. The teams in it now really serve the purpose for the building.

Let me tell you the upgrades in the past few years are out of this world. Game changer for an fan!!!

-LED lighting in Arena bowl

- HD Scoreboard (installed 2014)

-New seating
All 8,684 permanent seats replaced
Completed in three phases over three years (2014-2016)

-Restroom improvements

-Upgraded concession stands

-Expanded Fan Store

-Box Office
Original Box Office Lobby terrazzo floor restored.


http://www.uwmilwaukeepantherarena.com/about-us/whats-new-improved-at-the-uw-milwaukee-panther-arena/

[Goose85]

I was at the game. Nothing new for myself being in the building. As many know I have MU and UWM full season tickets. The wife and I have a Admirals mini plan. Plus, we do go to a roller derby event. So, on any given year, we are at UWM Panther Arena 13 to 20 times per year.

I thought 11,000 people was too many people in the old MECCA for that Bucks game. The teams in it now really serve the purpose for the building.

Let me tell you the upgrades in the past few years are out of this world. Game changer for an fan!!!

-LED lighting in Arena bowl

- HD Scoreboard (installed 2014)

-New seating
All 8,684 permanent seats replaced
Completed in three phases over three years (2014-2016)

-Restroom improvements

-Upgraded concession stands

-Expanded Fan Store

-Box Office
Original Box Office Lobby terrazzo floor restored.


http://www.uwmilwaukeepantherarena.com/about-us/whats-new-improved-at-the-uw-milwaukee-panther-arena/

A great venue for an under 10K crowd, and for the Admirals. We are talking about hitting an Admirals game or two this year. Haven't been to one in a number of years.

[MUFAN2010]

I'm glad MU doesn't play there - the restrooms, the concourses are old and outdated, long lines for restrooms and beers and the concourses were overcrowded made it a mess. Sightlines are great but getting around between quarters and halftime were a headache.

[MU/Panther]

A great venue for an under 10K crowd, and for the Admirals. We are talking about hitting an Admirals game or two this year. Haven't been to one in a number of years. I went to one Admirals game in my life at the Bradley Center. That was in 1995 or so. I really liked in what I've heard from Harris Turer in a rough time when the Admirals knew, they were not going to be in the New Bucks Arena. Total class! proud to have them in Milwaukee. I'm not really a hockey fan. My wife and I went to our first game last year on Dec. 26st. Had to be a crowd over 6,000. Cowbell night. Great energy in the building. Close to the action. We went to two more games in April. So, we got a mini plan this season. The Admirals do tons of promos and have great pricing. We really enjoy going!!

http://www.milwaukeeadmirals.com/promotions