Arena Construction - Make pitch for ASG in 22/23. pg 95

[paulpressey25]

The point is you're only guaranteed one year of strong attendance when opening a new arena/stadium. People will come out when it's brand new because they want to see what it looks like. Once they see what it looks like though, you need to give them a reason to keep coming back.

I agree with this. And in the case of the Brewers they really needed Prince, Braun, Hardy, etc to get people excited along with new GM in Melvin and new owner. If none of that happened, Miller Park would still be at 1.7 million.

I had access to really good tickets in Miller Park a couple times in 2002 and 2003 through work. Was very hard to get people to come even when free. Most had already been in 2001 to see the roof open and close after each game and had no great interest in going back to see a 65 win doormat baseball team owned by Bud.

Where the new stadium/arena helps is once the team is good. I do believe that you can get even more people to bandwagon in a better facility with more amenities. I don't think County Stadium could have drawn those 3 million years that MP did.

But the new arena will be quickly back to 12,000 attendance for Bucks games in year two if this team is still a 32-41 win squad.

[drew881]

Didn't realize this but should be interesting. - "The upper concourse is located above the upper bowl, which means fans will now walk down rather than up to their seats."

That's how it is at the Kohl Center lower bowl.

That's how it is at the former Consol Arena in Pittsburgh too, which was built by the same people. I'm not sure how much I like this approach. For hockey it is ok because the ushers prevent anyone from going in during gameplay. Why the NBA doesn't do this is beyond me. It's great. So it you have everyone walking up during gameplay, instead of people walking both up and down, you have more traffic that will block your view.

[trwi7]

I remember before Miller Park opened they had an open house of sorts that let people look around and get different views of the stadium and then they opened and closed the roof. My dad took me and my brothers to that and there were probably more people there than a typical game at County Stadium the year before.

People have a curiosity to see something that's completely new, so if the new arena isn't completely sold out the first year it's open, it will be damn close. However, if the team stinks, you're going to be seeing a lot of empty seats even though the games will technically be sold out.

[MickeyDavis]

I was at the Miller Park open house. Constant flow all day. Wendy and Laurel argued they needed MP so they could raise payroll and compete. Instead payroll got all the way down to $27 million as they stuffed cash in their pockets before selling.

I was at the BC open house too. People were awed lol.

[FlagsFlyForever]

Year two of Miller Park was the 56-106 Brewers, the worst season in franchise history. That was one of only two seasons where the Brewers drew less than 2 million fans at Miller Park. Despite being a very mediocre franchise, the Brewers have averaged 2.6 million fans since they opened Miller Park. The Brewers drew 2 million fans at County Stadium exactly one season.

The point is you're only guaranteed one year of strong attendance when opening a new arena/stadium. People will come out when it's brand new because they want to see what it looks like. Once they see what it looks like though, you need to give them a reason to keep coming back.

Like pp said with Miller Park opening

2001 - 2,811,041 (68-94)
2002 - 1,969,153 (56-106)
2003 - 1,700,353 (68-94)
2004 - 2,062,382 (67-94)
2005 - 2,211,023 (81-81)

If the Bucks go 35-47 after the new arena opens and then say 26-56, 39-43, 40-42 and 37-44 it's basically going to be a new Bradley Center because nobody is going to show up no matter how many fancy things they put out front for people to take pictures with. That was the only point.

I understand the point, I just disagree. The Brewers "only" drew 1.97 million in 2002 because the team lost 106 games. Even so, they didn't draw 1.97+ million at County Stadium since 1989. If the Brewers had been at County Stadium in 2002, they wouldn't have drawn anywhere near 1.97 million. My point is the boost this team gets from its new arena can be permanent if the arena is actually as good as they are telling us it will be.

[0BobLobLaw0]

Year two of Miller Park was the 56-106 Brewers, the worst season in franchise history. That was one of only two seasons where the Brewers drew less than 2 million fans at Miller Park. Despite being a very mediocre franchise, the Brewers have averaged 2.6 million fans since they opened Miller Park. The Brewers drew 2 million fans at County Stadium exactly one season.

The point is you're only guaranteed one year of strong attendance when opening a new arena/stadium. People will come out when it's brand new because they want to see what it looks like. Once they see what it looks like though, you need to give them a reason to keep coming back.

Like pp said with Miller Park opening

2001 - 2,811,041 (68-94)
2002 - 1,969,153 (56-106)
2003 - 1,700,353 (68-94)
2004 - 2,062,382 (67-94)
2005 - 2,211,023 (81-81)

If the Bucks go 35-47 after the new arena opens and then say 26-56, 39-43, 40-42 and 37-44 it's basically going to be a new Bradley Center because nobody is going to show up no matter how many fancy things they put out front for people to take pictures with. That was the only point.

I understand the point, I just disagree. The Brewers "only" drew 1.97 million in 2002 because the team lost 106 games. Even so, they didn't draw 1.97+ million at County Stadium since 1989. If the Brewers had been at County Stadium in 2002, they wouldn't have drawn anywhere near 1.97 million. My point is the boost this team gets from its new arena can be permanent if the arena is actually as good as they are telling us it will be.

Tailgating is underestimated in brewers attendance. If they had a stadium similar to Wrigley, I doubt they have numbers anywhere near what they have now.

People go to brewers game for an all day party experience that ends with a great stadium. You cant get that in Milwaukee for basketball.

[trwi7]

Year two of Miller Park was the 56-106 Brewers, the worst season in franchise history. That was one of only two seasons where the Brewers drew less than 2 million fans at Miller Park. Despite being a very mediocre franchise, the Brewers have averaged 2.6 million fans since they opened Miller Park. The Brewers drew 2 million fans at County Stadium exactly one season.

The point is you're only guaranteed one year of strong attendance when opening a new arena/stadium. People will come out when it's brand new because they want to see what it looks like. Once they see what it looks like though, you need to give them a reason to keep coming back.

Like pp said with Miller Park opening

2001 - 2,811,041 (68-94)
2002 - 1,969,153 (56-106)
2003 - 1,700,353 (68-94)
2004 - 2,062,382 (67-94)
2005 - 2,211,023 (81-81)

If the Bucks go 35-47 after the new arena opens and then say 26-56, 39-43, 40-42 and 37-44 it's basically going to be a new Bradley Center because nobody is going to show up no matter how many fancy things they put out front for people to take pictures with. That was the only point.

I understand the point, I just disagree. The Brewers "only" drew 1.97 million in 2002 because the team lost 106 games. Even so, they didn't draw 1.97+ million at County Stadium since 1989. If the Brewers had been at County Stadium in 2002, they wouldn't have drawn anywhere near 1.97 million. My point is the boost this team gets from its new arena can be permanent if the arena is actually as good as they are telling us it will be.

Attendance was up compared to County Stadium because Miller Park is climate controlled. You can make the drive and know the game is going to be played. You can go in early April when it's 25 degrees out and not freeze your balls off. That's not a luxury this new arena is going to provide.

[Clemenza]

Of course the Bucks need to win to keep the fans coming BUT if you have a new arena in a downtown area it could start a major chain reaction. You could have a scenario of new condos popping up, hot restaurants, bars, clubs, lounges, shopping/retail, investors/big corporations take notice and buy boxes to schmooze potential clients... for the guys- maybe hotter woman start to frequent the arena or the new amenities nearby and in turn the women want to be around guys with disposable income... And yeah a nice percentage of people go to games just for that element. Nothing wrong with that, it is what it is. You will need that crowd as well. etc etc.. Yes a winning team is the bottom line but if you get that new arena synergy going it'll carry you through good and bad years.

Downtown LA was a ghost town for decade and the Staples Center project was laughed at when proposed and during construction. There's nothing funny about it now. Its a beast and has completely transformed DTLA into a monster. Not comparing LA to Milwaukee but don't underestimate a new arena in a urban setting. The Pistons are even leaving the burbs for downtown Detroit. You got Giannis and company so you guys will be good for years to come but if things go right with the new arena it will be more factors involved than just wins and losses for a successful project. My Clipps choke in the post season and the Lakers have been trash for like four years now but Staples is packed/souled no matter what for both teams. Kings included

Build that bad boy.. don't even think twice about it

[VooDoo7]

Watch on YouTube

[LittleRooster]

Watch on YouTube

That's really cool

[humanrefutation]

Watch on YouTube

That is really interesting. I like the concepts, especially that much of concourse has direct views of the court. That can be really energizing when you've got a packed house. But it seems that they've focused on creating more revenue-generating spaces for group outings. I'm more interested in what the fan experience will be like for the average casual who will be showing up.

[Triple 7]

Jabari should be ready for full time action by the time this arena opens! Likely back before that but at reduced minutes.

[VooDoo7]

Jabari should be ready for full time action by the time this arena opens! Likely back before that but at reduced minutes.

I say hold him out all of next year and bring him back on opening night of the new arena. Man, can't even imagine how crazy the crowd will be that night.

[paulpressey25]

Downtown LA was a ghost town for decade and the Staples Center project was laughed at when proposed and during construction. There's nothing funny about it now. Its a beast and has completely transformed DTLA into a monster.

He's 100% correct on the impact of Staples on downtown LA. It really was the anchor that transformed everything there.

The difference though is that the LA market has always had at least one of the basketball teams as a title contender for every year of Staples and the LA market also has the Kings and every concert act under the sun coming through. The pool of entertainment dollars out there is endless.

That said, no question the Bucks arena project could be a huge home run. Think people driving down McKinley each day are in awe of all that development. Not often you see $750 million going up all at once when you add in the practice facility, parking deck, etc.

[CountMe3Outs]

That is really interesting. I like the concepts, especially that much of concourse has direct views of the court. That can be really energizing when you've got a packed house. But it seems that they've focused on creating more revenue-generating spaces for group outings. I'm more interested in what the fan experience will be like for the average casual who will be showing up.

For those of us among "the masses", the greatest improvements in the WI Entertainment & Sports Center 'WESC' will be to seating comfort (enhanced legroom & seat width) and the fundamental seating geometry being oriented toward viewing basketball. Frankly, WESC will be a vast improvement viewing ANY type of event over the BC. From the little public detail available & until they finally decide to publish these data, I estimate the lower bowl rows will be 1.5 inches deeper (from 33.5" in the BC to 35" in WESC) and those of us now crammed into the BC's upper deck, 2.5" deeper (from 31.5" to 34" in WESC). Your WESC seat will not require you to strain your neck, nor cut off blood circulation, to view a live event.

[0BobLobLaw0]

How far out are we from naming rights? I would imagine they're having trouble getting the money they want I'd it hasn't happened yet.

[MickeyDavis]

How far out are we from naming rights? I would imagine they're having trouble getting the money they want I'd it hasn't happened yet.

Agreed. Instead of referring to it as WI Entertainment & Sports Center 'WESC', the future rights holder could be having their name out there now. But I guess there's no reason for LED to rush into it, maybe they'll get their price.

[MadBlueEdwards]

Sorry the quality sucks, but you can see they just started the back of the "swoop" that will face Juneau.

[Gianstoppable]

Jabari should be ready for full time action by the time this arena opens! Likely back before that but at reduced minutes.

I say hold him out all of next year and bring him back on opening night of the new arena. Man, can't even imagine how crazy the crowd will be that night.

This is a catch 22 for me. On one hand I dont want Jabari rushed back, 1 year is longer than what he did last time and they said they wouldnt rush him back, however, I would like to see that he is able to play before the Bucks have to make the decision on how much money to pay him.

To be fair though, if he comes back and lights it up his price will go way up again

[Gianstoppable]

I could probably find all the info but does anyone know projected dates on the entertainment district and hotel?