Bucks investor Mike Fascitelli yesterday said that the team will complete its downtown arena project "one year later" than expected and is now targeting an opening to coincide with the start of the '18-19 NBA season, according to Rich Kirchen of the MILWAUKEE BUSINESS JOURNAL. Fascitelli also said that the team "will start construction" in '16. Until Fascitelli’s remarks, Bucks execs "had maintained the team still planned to break ground this year" on the $500M project. The Bucks front office has said for months that it "planned" to open by fall '17. Fascitelli: "We’re shooting for the ‘17-18 season but I’m telling you the reality is we’re going to get it in for the ‘18 (through spring 2019) season." Kirchen noted the spring '16 construction start "gives the Bucks and public officials more time to work through the details of the arena plans and financing." The Bucks have been "working under an NBA deadline to open a new arena" by the '17-18 season. However, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has said that the league "could extend the deadline if the project was underway" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/15). Suski said opening the arena by the fall of '17 "will be challenging, but we're focused on moving as quickly as possible" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 9/16).
