Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos yesterday said that it was "time for the city and the county to do more" to aid plans for a new downtown Bucks arena and development project, according to a front-page piece by Walker, Stein & Daykin of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. Vos said, "When you look at the impressive development plans unveiled today, it's clear that the city and county need to step up their game and make more of an investment in the project than what they have initially put forward." Asked whether Bucks ownership or Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett "needed to do more, the governor focused on the city." Walker said, "I think there's a clear sentiment from the speaker and the (Senate) majority leader who have pointed out they want to see a strong commitment from the city and the county. We've talked with them and we're hopeful that we'll get there." Walker, Stein & Daykin note a financing plan that is "palatable to state legislators, the city and the county has not materialized." Barrett "is backing" Walker's original $220M state bonding proposal. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has said that he is confident his $150M bonding plan "has the support of GOP senators" and the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. Bucks co-Owner Wes Edens last night said that there is a "100% chance this will happen." Edens: "We'll figure it out. Compromise is what moves things along." Meanwhile, Bucks President Peter Feigin yesterday said that the renderings of the proposed $500M Bucks arena "provide something tangible for policy-makers to consider as they meet to forge a plan to get the arena built" by fall '17. Another $500M "is planned in related development" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/9). Feigin said, "We’re extremely confident we’re going to get this done in partnership with our friends at City Hall, at the County Courthouse and at the Capitol." He added, "This is one of the steps that gets us much closer to having a plan and having an agreeable next step" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/8).
GETTING THE BALL ROLLING: In Milwaukee, Rich Kirchen noted building a new arena "would take two years, so the Bucks want to start work by this fall to meet an NBA-imposed deadline" of the '17-18 season for a venue upgrade. Feigin said, "If we went on best-laid plans and we have a state budget ratified at the latest June 30, we’d look to get a shovel in the ground by early fall." Bucks investor Mike Fascitelli, who is a leader of the arena project, said that while it is "still in the planning and funding stages, the Bucks are on a very tight time frame" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/8). Populous Senior Principal Brad Clark, the lead architect on the project, said that the proposed arena and its "transparent glass facade and curved rooftop attempts to draw inspiration from the region's rivers, lakes and forests." Bucks officials said that while the arena and entertainment plaza is "expected to take 2 years to build," the mixed-use development "could take more than 10 years to materialize." Feigin added that they "hope the arena will be an incubator for the additional development, but there are no guarantees." Team officials said that naming rights for the arena "is an issue to be addressed down the road" (AP, 4/8).
