Democrats ended up paying $5.5M of the $7M owed for having the DNC at Fiserv ForumGETTY IMAGES
The owners of the Bucks recently "played hardball with top Democrats over unpaid rent for the upcoming Democratic National Convention" at Fiserv Forum, and "nobody walked away happy," according to Daniel Bice of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. In late May, "struggling to raise money amid the global pandemic, the Milwaukee 2020 Host Committee failed to make a $1 million installment payment under its $7 million contract to use Fiserv Forum to host the convention." Bucks President Peter Feigin "responded by threatening to declare the Democrats in default and take them to court over the delinquent payment." Also, during the "acrimonious talks in early June, Democrats sought to have the contract amended and their total payment reduced." But Feigin "asserted the Host Committee had to pay the full amount of the contract whether the convention was held at Fiserv or not." Feigin also "suggested Bucks owners might pull $3 million in donations to the convention." Sources said that in the end, the Democrats paid a total of $5.5M to the Bucks for the rights to a building they "will not be using" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/30).
