Bucks President Peter Feigin yesterday said the team has been "around the world pitching naming rights" for its ongoing arena project because securing a deal will be the "cornerstone" of the team financially going forward. Feigin, appearing on CNBC's "Squawk Box," said the deal will be $7-10M "over 20 years," and it is "not a local deal.” Because the NBA is a “global game, this is international.” Feigin: "It might be a U.S. company with international reach or vice versa. ... We want to transition to one of those NBA teams that really is one of the world’s teams" ("Squawk Box," CNBC, 10/9). In Milwaukee, James Nelson notes Taiwan-based Foxconn, which is building a campus in Racine County, "never came up." However, Feigin's comments "sounded like a pitch to the Taiwanese company." Feigin said that his appearance was "part of a strategy to raise awareness about the Bucks and the naming rights." Feigin: "This was a big opportunity to create some urgency. Right now, we don't have a deal done with Foxconn or anybody else." Feigin has said in previous interviews that the Bucks have "been talking with Foxconn" about partnerships, including naming rights. Other local companies seen as "potential candidates for naming rights -- including Johnson Controls, Miller Brewing and BMO Harris -- have signed on as partners with the Bucks, but not for the name on the arena" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 10/10).
