Milwaukee alderman skeptical of study that could recommend demolition of two downtown buildings

The study commissioned by the Wisconsin Center District (WCD) is examining what the long-term future could hold for the six-and-a-half acre space currently occupied by both the UWM Panther Arena and the Miller High Life Theatre. Both buildings are owned by WCD, and the arena currently is home to the Milwaukee Admirals hockey team, Milwaukee Wave indoor soccer team, and the eponymous UW-Milwaukee Panthers men’s basketball team.

4th District Alderman Bob Bauman, who represents most of downtown Milwaukee, says he believes the study will recommend the land be used for a large hotel development. He opposes that idea, saying the Admirals, Panther basketball and Wave leaving the downtown area would be a “huge mistake”.

“Those are important amenities in Milwaukee…there’s a lot of spending that’s associated with those sporting events, and I think most significantly they’re affordable and family friendly,” Bauman tells WTMJ.

The current lease for the Admirals expires following the 2026-27 season, though WCD is currently working to extend that least until at least 2029, when UWM’s lease and naming rights agreement both expire.

“In assessing the length of a future agreement, we need to consider what is the best and highest usage of the facilities in the WCD’s real estate,” said WCD President and CEO Marty Brooks at a board meeting on May 16. “If we aren’t growing, we as an organization are dying.”

While the Wave have not publicly commented on the study, both Admirals owner Harris Turer and UWM Athletic Director Amanda Braun told the Milwaukee Business Journal September 25 they would be opposed to the building’s demolition.

“The will do their study. We will see where that takes them,” Admirals president Jon Greenberg told WTMJ. “We [have been] an important asset to this community for more than 50 years and intend to be here for many more.”

The arena, formerly known as the Milwaukee Arena, opened in 1950 and last saw renovations between 2014 and 2017 that included new seats, a new scoreboard and refurbished locker rooms. The theatre, originally known as the Milwaukee Auditorium, opened in 1909 and underwent major renovations between 2001 and 2003 at a cost of $41.9 million; WCD still is in debt around $20 million dollars for the theatre renovations.

Bauman is one of the 17-member WCD Board of Directors, along with fellow alders Milele Coggs and Common Council President Jose Perez. Also on the board is Marcus Corporation CEO Greg Marcus, who announced September 17 the west wing of the Hilton Milwaukee hotel just south of the Baird Center would be reopened in 2026 as The Marc, a 175-room independently-operated hotel.

Bauman said hotel operators on the board would likely be “pretty concerned” about a convention hotel receiving a public subsidy.

While the study’s findings aren’t expected to be publicly shared until a board meeting in January, Bauman tells WTMJ he believes Brooks already has received a preliminary report from the Hunden Partners firm about their recommendations for the site. Brooks told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Bauman’s concerns about the study were “pure conjecture”.

The WCD board meets again on September 26, and while discussion on the study is not on the agenda for the meeting, it could come up in Brooks’ “CEO Report”, similar to how the conversation initially began in May.