Of all the moves made by Bucks co-Owners WES EDENS and MARC LASRY since they bought the team in '14, the "smartest thing they did" was hire President PETER FEIGIN, a "high-energy, low-maintenance executive who arrived three years ago as an outsider but already is so ingrained in the culture of Milwaukee that he might as well be the Fonz," according to a profile by Gary D'Amato of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. He moves "just as easily among the city’s power brokers as he does its down-and-outers." Rare is the person in his position to whom "nobody is insignificant and everybody is worth five minutes of his time." He is as "popular in some circles as are the Bucks’ players -- and much more accessible." People "approach him because they sense they can." Feigin was the "driving force" behind getting a $524M arena deal done and is "overseeing the arena development" and entertainment live block being built in front of the arena. He has "led a re-branding of the franchise and has been praised for enhancing the team’s community presence." Last week, he announced that the Milwaukee Bucks Foundation would give $1M in "grants to 15 local organizations." Milwaukee County Exec CHRIS ABELE said, "It’s one thing to be a cheerleader, but Pete backs it up." Feigin has "taken to Milwaukee so quickly that if you didn’t know better, you’d think he grew up" in the area. Feigin said, "I love Milwaukee, and I love Milwaukee with all its quirks. This is a city that just has so much promise." Bradley Center Sports & Entertainment Corp. BOD Chair TED KELLNER said, "He fights for everything. He’s a tough negotiator but he’s fair. The Bucks needed that" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 7/23).
