The Bucks are "pitching Foxconn as a sponsor for the team's new arena -- including a possible high-profile naming rights deal," according to Rich Kirchen of the MILWAUKEE BUSINESS JOURNAL. Bucks President Peter Feigin on Friday confirmed that he "discussed sponsorship with Foxconn representatives," including Founder & Chair Terry Gou, when they visited the Bucks arena construction site earlier this month. Feigin said, "We're continuing to work on the pitch. We are collaborating. As you can imagine, the prospect of working together is a very layered, complex big deal." Feigin added that the Bucks and Foxconn are "continuing to hold conversations, which have been underway for 'about three or four weeks.'" Asked whether Foxconn could be the overall naming-rights sponsor for the new arena, Feigin said, "I'm hopeful that they can be a great partner." Feigin and the Bucks have "increased the target amount for a sponsor willing to place its name on the new arena in downtown Milwaukee." Previously the Bucks said that the price was in the $4-6M range. But a spokesperson on Friday said that the Bucks now are "seeking 'considerably more' without giving a dollar figure" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/28). Gou on a potential naming-rights deal with the Bucks said, "We (are) working with them, but it's not final yet. Do we want the whole building or just one section? I don't know" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 7/28).
CRAZY EIGHTS: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Don Muret cites sources as saying that the Bucks are in talks with Foxconn to "supply their new arena with sports' first 8K video system." Sources said that the discussions have "taken place over the past five weeks" and cover a "comprehensive cutting-edge 8K network tied to all televisions and video screens in the arena." It would "extend to include broadcast cameras and data storage." Foxconn does "not now have any sports sponsorships" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/31 issue).
