"I hope they stay:" Proposed arena has Admirals CEO speaking out on the fate of the team in Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- For months now, the Milwaukee Bucks new home has served as a hot topic of discussion. But little has been modified about the organization sharing the Bucks current space -- the Milwaukee Admirals.
When folks talk about the proposed new arena in downtown Milwaukee, the discussion is almost always about the Bucks.
"Nobody seems to want to talk about the Admirals," said Nicky Lebakken, Milwaukee Admirals fan.
Well now, not nobody!
"I'd like to see them be part of the new arena, and if not, I hope they stay," said Richard Lebakken, Milwaukee Admirals fan.
Fans of the American Hockey League team, which shares the basketball squad's current home, the BMO Harris Bradley Center, they're focused on the fate of their frozen favorites.
"It's important to Milwaukee to have them. I know they don't draw as big as the Brewers, or Green Bay. But it's still one more spoke in the wheel of us being a major sports city that we can be proud of," said Richard Lebakken.
"It's great that people have suddenly focused on the Admirals. We love the attention. It's nice to be talked about and thought about," said Milwaukee Admirals CEO, Harris Turer.
Turer explains he and his staff have been talking and thinking for some time now.
"We gotta be proactive, and so we have to take care of Admirals and we're looking at our options and what we're gonna do about it going forward," said Turer.
What they're going to do, Turer explains, will be in the best interest of a team which he says currently splits revenue from the sale of its merchandise with the Bradley Center. They do not get any money from the sale of its concessions, while the Bucks do.
"I know there's been some concern that people think, 'oh my god the Admirals are going to leave if they're not part of the new arena!' And, I can assure everybody, we are gonna be a part of the community as long as I am the owner for the long term," said Turer.
When Turer mentions looking at other options, he may not have to look too far. Right across the street from the BMO Harris Bradley Center is the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena -- and that option, Turer says, is already being explored.