Bucks Senior VP/Communications & Broadcast Jake Suski yesterday confirmed that the team's new arena "will not be completed" until the '18-19 season, according to Tom Daykin of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. The club "had initially hoped to have the arena completed" by the start of the '17-18 season. The later date "had been expected after Mike Fascitelli, a Bucks co-owner and leader of the development effort, said in September that the team plans to start arena construction" in spring '16. Bucks President Peter Feigin said that the club "found the design and zoning approval process to be 'a little more onerous than we probably thought it would be.'" Feigin: "We are starting the phase instantaneously of building a parking structure, demolishing a parking structure, building an arena, building a plaza and building a practice facility -- all that should be completed in 24 to 36 months." Daykin notes along with council zoning approval, the Bucks "also must negotiate a lease with the Wisconsin Center District, the state-created agency that will own the arena" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 10/28).
BUCKS, THE TREND: In Milwaukee, Sean Ryan reported the Bucks' ownership group "submitted its first arena development plan to the city for review late Monday, laying out plans" for about $1B in development on almost 25 acres. It "includes construction of the six-story arena and demolition of the BMO Harris Bradley Center and its neighboring parking structure to the west." The Bradley Center property, "along with almost 10 acres in the Park East corridor, would be redeveloped." The ownership group "would lead the overall development, but plans to recruit other developers to participate on individual projects and buildings." The overall project "is expected to last more than 10 years." City "approval for the overall plan is required before work can begin." The blocks around the new arena "would have a variety of buildings, including offices, apartments, restaurants and retail, a grocery, seasonal market, parking decks, and a hotel" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/26).
