The Milwaukee Bucks will most likely outdraw their baseball
counterparts, the Brewers, in average home attendance this
season, according to Bob Wolfley of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL
SENTINEL. The Bucks averaged 16,359 in 41 dates at the Bradley
Center in '94-95. With nine home dates remaining, the Brewers
are averaging 15,724. Wolfley notes the Brewers are on track for
their worst season at the box office since '77, and seventh worst
since the team moved from Seattle in '70 (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL
SENTINEL, 9/15).
LOSING FANS, LOSING MONEY: The Brewers have lost nearly
$39M since '90, according to WI State Auditor Dale Cattanach, who
presented his findings to a special committee of the WI Assembly
yesterday. Amy Rinard of the JOURNAL SENTINEL reports that
Cattanach's findings are from financial information supplied by
the team and reviewed by the state's legislative audit and fiscal
bureaus. The figures indicate the Brewers lost $6.2M in '90, $7M
in '91, $6.4M in '92 and $15.7M in last year's strike season.
The team showed a profit of $2.7M in '93, thanks to additional
revenue from expansion and a national broadcasting contract.
Cattandach said the team is in the process of restructuring its
debt and does not project a profit until it moves into a new
stadium -- that would be in '99 if the legislature approves
financing. A vote on new hotel and sales taxes to fund a stadium
is expected to be brought before the legislature in the coming
weeks. Assembly Speaker David Prosser said the motion, which had
been set for a vote next Monday, will be postponed until enough
votes can be lined up to pass the measure. Prosser said he did
not have enough votes as of yesterday (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL
SENTINEL, 9/15).
