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

[MickeyDavis]

Pretty mild weather last winter really helped the schedule. And it will be totally enclosed this winter. I'm hoping for an open house when it's done as they did with the BC and Miller Park. I don't really want to buy tickets for anything, game or concert, without being in the building and checking out sight lines.

[MickeyDavis]

In the event that the new four-story LED message board on the new Milwaukee Bucks parking garage didn't grab your attention, perhaps this will: You'll be able to tailgate on the top level.

The 1,250-space ramp opens Wednesday and is the first piece of the Bucks downtown development project that will be open to the public.

The ramp is on N. 6th St., just north of Juneau Ave. The message board greets drivers as they exit I-43 at McKinley Ave.

Yes, it's just a parking ramp, but it's packed with details and amenities that underscore what the Bucks say is their commitment to a top-shelf experience for basketball fans and those simply looking for a place to park their cars. It also reflects the quality experience that will be included in the new arena, the Bucks say.

Start with the top level. It's a sprawling space, large enough for at least 150 cars.

"This could be really good for tailgating," said Mike Abrams of Icon Venue Group, the team's representative for the various arena construction projects, during a recent visit on a blustery afternoon.

"We've got extra power up here."

It's easy to imagine a few hundred people gathering up there for a rooftop party enjoying panorama views in advance of, say, a home opener, concert or NBA playoff game.

Bucks President Peter Feigin says they'll give tailgating a shot, but you probably can leave your grills at home.

"We might have some grills up there," he said.

For now, the goal is to get drivers to use the ramp, and finding tenants for four ground-level commercial spaces.

That will be a little tricky with the massive arena construction site that faces the south side of the ramp along Juneau Ave. Although Juneau is closed to traffic because of the arena construction, there will be a protected walkway that will make it easy for people parking in the new ramp to navigate around the work site to events at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, Abrams said.

The ramp cost about $47 million and is a large chunk of the City of Milwaukee's contribution to the $250 million in public support for the $524 million arena project. The city and the Bucks will split parking revenue. The Bucks will operate and provide security for the structure.

The city is also paying for work on the public plaza outside the main entrance to the new arena on a closed portion of N. 4th St. That plaza will connect to the entertainment block that the Bucks are constructing, a complex that will include a brewery, outdoor beer garden and three commercial buildings.

The arena is scheduled to open in the fall of 2018, and some parts of the entertainment block will be ready about that time.

For now, the new parking ramp gives a taste of the up-to-date customer experiences that the Bucks are promising.

Some details:

Traffic will flow into the new ramp off N. 5th St. Three lanes of traffic flow into the ramp and they can be reversed. The pay stations are on the second level, to minimized backups onto city streets, Abrams said.

There's "tons of security" throughout the ramp, he said. That includes cameras, motion-activated lighting and glass walls on stairwells and elevators that make it easy to see inside and around corners.

The ramp can be emptied in about 30 minutes.

There's no car parking on the entrance and exit lanes, preventing delays from drivers backing out into traffic.

For arena events, the Bucks anticipate that most parking will be paid in advance. Other parkers will pay at walk-up stations. That reduces delays at the entrance/exit gates.

A skywalk connects the third level with the new arena. Suite holders can park and walk across to their seats.
There's a ground level space with racks for about 55 bicycles.

Parking for Bucks games and other evening events will cost $15 to $25.

Monthly rates for parking between 5 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. is $125 to $150. Monthly rates for 24-hour parking, including events, is $250.

There's a grand opening special for 60 days: $5 a day for parking before 9 and out by 5:30 p.m.

[0BobLobLaw0]

That's awesome. I wonder if that allows alcohol as well? Technically it was illegal at brewer tailgates up until about 6 or so years ago.

[SkilesTheLimit]

I sure hope they realize 75% of the season is unbearably cold. For as awesome as the arena and surrounding plans seem, I feel like they did not do a good enough job planning for inside walkways for the parking structure (only 1?) and from the Live Block area.

They will look foolish if they think it will be like Packers games. For multiple reasons:

1) Sunday games for Packers and during daylight hours typically (afternoon games)
2) No history of tailgating for Bucks games
3) Freaking cold during the winter with most games being at night time for 7 or 7:30pm start times. People won't feel like tailgating as they leave work on a Tuesday night at 6pm for the Bucks game.

[trwi7]

Not only is it cold but doesn't this take away from the Live Block? Are the grills charcoal or gas? If they're charcoal, do you have to bring your own? Are people really going to want to haul everything from the 2nd or 3rd level to the top level and then bring it back down? I know there's an elevator but still. Seems like more trouble than it's worth.

[ReasonablySober]

Read on Twitter

Terrible.

[afroblackarican]

It's a cool opportunity in my opinion. Sure it'll be cold weather but this is also a small area for tailgating. 150 cars max and most of those folks won't tailgate. This will be a small extreme fan group who can get down with this. This state is huge on snowmobiling and ice fishing so not everyone will be afraid of the cold. Throw on some snow pants and winter coat and enjoy some brats and beer. Then at game time, throw your warm clothes in the car and take the skywalk in. I think this could be a ton of fun!

[MickeyDavis]

Too bad about the guy dying. It was on the news Saturday that he had chest pains and was taken to the hospital

[MickeyDavis]

I suppose for concerts during decent weather tailgating before could be a thing. As said above its a small area and will be a niche segment of people. I get enough tailgating at Miller Park, I doubt I'd ever do it here.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

It's a cool opportunity in my opinion. Sure it'll be cold weather but this is also a small area for tailgating. 150 cars max and most of those folks won't tailgate. This will be a small extreme fan group who can get down with this. This state is huge on snowmobiling and ice fishing so not everyone will be afraid of the cold. Throw on some snow pants and winter coat and enjoy some brats and beer. Then at game time, throw your warm clothes in the car and take the skywalk in. I think this could be a ton of fun!

I assume this is just a small little addition for summer/playoffs. It was a drop in the bucket to add 3-4 grills to the top floor of a parking lot. I will be really surprised if this is used at all during the season.

Do you put on your winter pants, heavy jacket, and other winter clothes to walk over to an indoor arena? I think it's more likely a few people will use it before a John Mayer concert.

[trwi7]

I suppose for concerts during decent weather tailgating before could be a thing. As said above its a small area and will be a niche segment of people. I get enough tailgating at Miller Park, I doubt I'd ever do it here.

I'm not really a tailgater so I could be totally wrong on this but is anybody really going to be like Let's go fill up on various meats and beer and then go the Lady Gaga or Maroon 5 concert or whatever? That doesn't really seem like something that people would do.

Also, what happens if all the grills are in use and there's a line to use them or something? If it's a limited area, there are obviously going to be a limited number of grills. That would be a nice way to piss a lot of people off.

[afroblackarican]

It's a cool opportunity in my opinion. Sure it'll be cold weather but this is also a small area for tailgating. 150 cars max and most of those folks won't tailgate. This will be a small extreme fan group who can get down with this. This state is huge on snowmobiling and ice fishing so not everyone will be afraid of the cold. Throw on some snow pants and winter coat and enjoy some brats and beer. Then at game time, throw your warm clothes in the car and take the skywalk in. I think this could be a ton of fun!

I assume this is just a small little addition for summer/playoffs. It was a drop in the bucket to add 3-4 grills to the top floor of a parking lot. I will be really surprised if this is used at all during the season.

Do you put on your winter pants, heavy jacket, and other winter clothes to walk over to an indoor arena? I think it's more likely a few people will use it before a John Mayer concert.

You would take that stuff off before heading over to the game and leave it in the car. You're car is right there if you're going to tailgate there.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

It's a cool opportunity in my opinion. Sure it'll be cold weather but this is also a small area for tailgating. 150 cars max and most of those folks won't tailgate. This will be a small extreme fan group who can get down with this. This state is huge on snowmobiling and ice fishing so not everyone will be afraid of the cold. Throw on some snow pants and winter coat and enjoy some brats and beer. Then at game time, throw your warm clothes in the car and take the skywalk in. I think this could be a ton of fun!

I assume this is just a small little addition for summer/playoffs. It was a drop in the bucket to add 3-4 grills to the top floor of a parking lot. I will be really surprised if this is used at all during the season.

Do you put on your winter pants, heavy jacket, and other winter clothes to walk over to an indoor arena? I think it's more likely a few people will use it before a John Mayer concert.

You would take that stuff off before heading over to the game and leave it in the car. You're car is right there if you're going to tailgate there.

I'm usually a ball of sweat in snow pants and winter jackets. Maybe people will be ok with it but I wouldn't feel good going into an indoor arena after that. Need to air out.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

I suppose for concerts during decent weather tailgating before could be a thing. As said above its a small area and will be a niche segment of people. I get enough tailgating at Miller Park, I doubt I'd ever do it here.

I'm not really a tailgater so I could be totally wrong on this but is anybody really going to be like Let's go fill up on various meats and beer and then go the Lady Gaga or Maroon 5 concert or whatever? That doesn't really seem like something that people would do.

Also, what happens if all the grills are in use and there's a line to use them or something? If it's a limited area, there are obviously going to be a limited number of grills. That would be a nice way to piss a lot of people off.

Depends on the alcohol rule. As a representative of Milwaukee, we are cheap as hell and love to drink. If you allow me to drink on a roof top for the cost of a 12-pack of Miller for 2 hours before a game I am taking advantage of it.

ETA: I think we are talking about this more than the thought given into it. i don't think its a major part of their plan but more of a gimmicky ploy. I doubt they will ever have enough people where 3-4 grills won't be enough. Its limited to a small group of people when the weather is nice.

[Black_Dragon]

Awful news on that electrician.

Tailgating? In a parking ramp? Nah, makes zero sense with how much money they're investing in the live block and plaza

[HaroldinGMinor]

I would tailgate on that roof for no other reason than to throw things on the SKYWALK

[BradMKE]

A skywalk connects the third level with the new arena. Suite holders can park and walk across to their seats.

Can we assume the skywalk can be used by anyone and it's not just a private thing for those with tickets on the suite level?

[HKPackFan]

A skywalk connects the third level with the new arena. Suite holders can park and walk across to their seats.

Can we assume the skywalk can be used by anyone and it's not just a private thing for those with tickets on the suite level?

MOAR SKYWALKS!

[0BobLobLaw0]

Have there been any updates/rumors on naming rights? I'm pretty sure they wanted it done about a year ago.

[engelmartin]

A skywalk connects the third level with the new arena. Suite holders can park and walk across to their seats.

Can we assume the skywalk can be used by anyone and it's not just a private thing for those with tickets on the suite level?

MOAR SKYWALKS!

I'll be the first one in line at the post office to get my Skywalk Pass. I hear they are going to connect all of downtown Milwaukee. I wish they'd add underground pneumatic tubes to quickly transport people from anywhere in Milwaukee to the new stadium, (after testing for safety of course.)