NBA Board of Governors approves Bucks investors; Who they are, we still don't know

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- FOX6 News has learned the NBA's Board of Governors on Tuesday, July 15th in Las Vegas approved new investors for the Milwaukee Bucks. The names have now been submitted and approved, but we still don't know who exactly, the investors are.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver, in a press conference Tuesday evening in Las Vegas did not release the identity of the investors and the Bucks made no immediate statement Tuesday night.

The new owners of the Milwaukee Bucks targeted Tuesday as the day to unveil the names of the team's additional owners. So far, none of them have been publicly identified -- but the NBA's Board of Governors is said to be considering some of the biggest names in Wisconsin sports.

"It shows there's some people in Milwaukee or Wisconsin who have skin in the game -- not just these rich investment guys from New York City," Rich Kirchen with the Milwaukee Business Journal said.

While it isn't yet clear who the new investors are, several names have been floated as possibilities.

One intriguing possibility is Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers -- a fixture at Bucks and Badgers basketball games and an avowed fan of all Wisconsin sports teams.

"Other athletes from Wisconsin, it's fun to be a part of it. Fun to be a proud resident of the state," Rodgers said.

Brewers owner Mark Attanasio has expressed interest in financing the new arena project.

"Look, I want to do anything I can do to make life in the city better," Attanasio said.

Another name is Junior Bridgeman -- a former Bucks player who has made a fortune in food -- operating more than 160 Wendy's restaurants across the country. He was coy about his interest in investing when asked last season.

"I can`t even touch it without probably having my tongue cut out," Bridgeman said.

The NBA is reportedly asking that investors contribute at least $5 million to the team now owned by New York investors Wes Edens and Marc Lasry.

"If they can bring in $25 million to $50 million, that's that much less money that Marc Lasary and Wes Edens need. They might be able to put that toward a new arena," Kirchen said.

The chairman of the Wisconsin Center District says the new investors could bring both cash and cache to the new arena debate.

"I think one of the outgrowths of having high-profile people invest in this team, is I think that might be an additional contribution to the capital required to build a new arena," Frank Gimbel with the Wisconsin Center District said.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says he's willing to help facilitate negotiations over a new arena.

"The next thing we have to do obviously is once we know who the local investors are, is really roll up our sleeves and deal with the facilities issue," Mayor Barrett said.

Now, Bucks fans are waiting on word from the team or the NBA on who these new investors are.

At the same time, the rest of the community waits -- given the impact these new investors might have on a replacement for the Bradley Center.

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