Potential Sites for the New Basketball Arena

[thegreengull]

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the strategic plan for the athletics department is scheduled to be released sometime in March, 2012. The strategic plan is being conducted by Brailsford & Dunlavey, a national consulting firm based in Washington, D.C.

www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/138582114.html

I was wondering what are the possible site locations that are being considered for the new basketball arena? We’ve all heard about the Norris Health Center site, but are there any other sites being considered as well?

I think a potential site for the new arena could located be on North Avenue. One specific site is located one block west of the intersection of North Ave. and Oakland Ave., where the McDonald’s and the Small Animal Hospital is currently located.

The benefits of this specific location would be that it’s situated on a main thoroughfare, North Ave., which is easily accessible for people coming to games. There are a lot of restaurants and bars in the vicinity of the arena on North Ave. Also, there is plenty of parking opportunities in the area too.

Another positive, is that this location is very close to Cambridge Commons Residence Hall, Riverview Residence Hall, and Kenilworth Square Apartments. And it’s located about 12 blocks from the main academic campus. Shuttles could also be utilized from the union and/or Sandburg to the arena depending on the demand.

I think this location utilizes the best of both worlds from the current location of the U.S. Cellular Arena and the location of the Klotsche Center and/or Norris Health Center site. By having the arena located on North Ave. it’s more accessible, and parking should be more available than directly on campus.

Plus, there will be a lot more options for restaurants and bars with the arena being located on North Ave than if it was located at the Norris Health Center site. I personally know a lot of people like the current U.S. Cellular Arena location, because of all the bars and restaurants located nearby and there’s nothing like that directly on campus. The North Ave. site would definitely provide a happy medium for people wanting to go to nearby eating and drinking establishments before or after games.

Also, this specific location is very close to university residence halls as well as a university owned apartment building. There are literally thousands of students living within one mile of this proposed site for the arena. Also, it’s about 12 blocks from the main academic campus, making it easily accessible for students to get to, and by having it located on North Ave. its situated near a lot of other entertainment options, restaurants and bars.

[PantherU]

PantherU article

Forum discussion on the article

[thegreengull]

That’s a very interesting article. It’s very well written, and there’s a lot of good points and insight. It’s definitely a good read about the current arena situation.

I definitely agree about the arena being the face of the university. The importance of the overall facility and it’s location cannot be understated. For many people of the community and prospective students and fans this will be their first impression not only of Milwaukee Panthers Athletics but of the university itself.

An impressive, state-of-the art building, with all the fixings in a prime, visible location would be ideal. A prime location would ideally be located either on North Ave or near North Ave, (i.e. the WPC site which is a block north of North Ave). North Ave has many bars and restaurants and other entertainment options in its vicinity and is located near Cambridge Commons Residence Hall, Riverview Residence Hall, and Kenilworth Square Apartments and its only 12 blocks from the main campus.

I think an arena located directly on North Ave would be ideal but an arena located on the WPC site is a very good option as well. As BP illustrated in the article the WPC site is a very intriguing opportunity. The WPC site consists of a significant amount of land that can be used for a variety of university uses, including the arena and/or other athletic complexes as well, and it’s only one block from North Ave.

The university definitely has a tremendous opportunity to obtain a substantial presence on North Ave, and the surrounding area, i.e. The WPC site. The university has an opportunity to develop a new informal quadrant of its campus which would be focused around North Ave… a Southwest Quadrant.

[mwu]

The Site you outline for the arena footprint is not very practical. It incorporates 4 different sites and a portion of the Oak Leaf Trail. Realistically, your site would end at the bike path. It's a taboo to build over it and that boundary could lead to an interesting building form. Then you'd to need buy out 3 sites that are currently in use (the buying price will be higher) McD's, the Animal Hospital, and 1 of WPCs lots.

The block to the west would be much easier to conceive an arena since there's only 2 existing uses, RC's crappy bar, and another WPC lot. The rest of that block consists of the vacant LaPiazza and Mandel property to the east. and a defunct and decommissioned Weenergies power substation.

Mind you that should the WPC choose to move, more variables and opportunities arise. Should they be content to stay, we'd likely need to come up with a solution for their parking needs if we are to buy either or both of their lots.

[PantherU]

I think you'll find the WPC more than happy to sell. They occupy high-tax land that is logistically difficult for them.

[BBFran]

I have heard that there is some new thinking taking shape as to the future home of the Panthers. Think a little bigger and more multi-purposed. I have argued for a long time that the University suffers not only from the lack of a good athletic venue, but from the lack of any on-campus venue that is capable of hosting events like convocations, commencements, concerts, etc. That thought is gaining currency.

While I have no idea what sites are being considered, I do know that it will probably take a few years longer, that it will potentially open new pathways for fundraising, and that the 5,000 seat idea is behind us.

Let's do it right.

[PantherU]

Thank god we killed the 5k idea.

[Hack]

Feb 29, 2012 14:43:49 GMT -6 BBFran said:

I have heard that there is some new thinking taking shape as to the future home of the Panthers. Think a little bigger and more multi-purposed. I have argued for a long time that the University suffers not only from the lack of a good athletic venue, but from the lack of any on-campus venue that is capable of hosting events like convocations, commencements, concerts, etc. That thought is gaining currency.

Should've been the thinking from the start. Look at what the Nutter Center has hosted throughout the years. A variety of events, not just university related.

[uwmplanner]

Feb 29, 2012 15:12:48 GMT -6 PantherU said:

Thank god we killed the 5k idea.

+1

The WPC site would be awesome but remember if they sold it there would probably be alot of interested parties trying to get that piece. And of course it depends on what the City will allow there.

[thegreengull]

In terms of “on campus” sites is the Northwest Quadrant a possibility? I think a great location could be located on the southwest portion of the Northwest Quadrant. I’m not sure of the feasibility, but in this scenario Northwest Quadrant Building D and Building C would have to be demolished.

This location could be an ideal location directly on campus. The arena would have ample parking available, and an existing parking structure is located directly behind this Arena site. Also, Engelmann Field is literally across the street, and Oakland Ave is only 1 block away. Plus, a connection between Building B and the existing parking garage could be built to connect to the Arena as well.

[BBFran]

If in fact we intend to make it a multi-use center, I'd guess there is very little chance it will be anywhere but on the Kenwood Campus. Where on the campus is a different question. Your guess is as good as mine. Putting a multi-use center a mile away on North Avenue would not make much sense.

The bar and restaurant thing is a complete non-issue to me. If there's a venue on campus that is regularly attracting large crowds, then private money will naturally flow into establishments on Oakland or Downer. Or the places on North will run buses like bars do everywhere.

Also, I want to emphasize I'm just hearing rumblings, although I trust the source.

[mwu]

Great to hear Fran.

As for the NWQ...

There isn't much room for new building development. Building C will be housing the new Daycare center, for the time being, so the Kunkle can be razed for the Kenwood IRC. Bldg C also was the former home of CSM's Cancer radiation treatment rooms. So there is an existing (and expensive) infrastructure already in place for either Nursing or engineering to jump on.

Bldg D is the most modern of the towers on the site and most easily converted into offices and classrooms.

The only space to build an arena on our new acquisition would be in the surface parking lot and drop-off circle.

[PantherU]

My point that I will continue to drive home about the WPC site isn't that it is the best site, it is that it is far superior to the Norris Center site. The reason is you have all the amenities right there, within 2-3 blocks, and you also have high visibility.

So as long as the site provides the amenities and visibility of the WPC site, I don't care where it is.

[thegreengull]

Here are two maps of prospective areas, the Kenwood Campus area and the North Ave area, for the new arena. The sites within both these areas are just possibilities stemming from educated guesses and speculation. I would definitely be interested in hearing about other possible sites as well.



Kenwood Campus Map:




North Ave Area Map:

[Super King]

For those of you worried about restaurant/bar accommodations, the UWM Union renovation model that's being floated around apparently has a three-level Gasthaus that faces right out onto Spaights Plaza as part of its plan.

twitter.com/#!/UWMUnion/status/180036079951413248/photo/1