New Bucks arena opening delayed? Here's what the team is saying

MILWAUKEE -- The NBA has set a deadline for the Milwaukee Bucks to build a new home by the 2017 season. On Tuesday, September 15th, one of the Bucks' co-owners tells the Milwaukee Business Journal, they will likely miss the deadline by a year.

At an afternoon forum, Mike Fascitelli says the Bucks would likely start construction in 2016 -- and open for the 2018-19 season. That comment had the team back tracking just hours later.

In a statement, team spokesman Jake Suski writes:

The Bucks would likely be granted a deadline extension by the NBA if their project is already underway.

Meanwhile, the last financial hurdle came Tuesday afternoon -- approval from the Milwaukee Common Council to hand over $47 million. But before the vote, aldermen flexed their political muscles.

"They said the alderman are just going to put their rubber stamp on this deal.  We take this stuff very seriously.  We have one big mayor, and 15 little mayors in this city," said Alderman Robert Bauman.

Aldermen made last-minute changes to the arena plan in a committee meeting Tuesday. New to the project, requirements that 40 percent of construction workers must be from the City of Milwaukee. Aldermen also rejected a plan to hand over a portion of 4th St. to the Bucks to create a pedestrian walkway.

The Bucks are not happy with the changes. They hope to change minds before a final vote is cast next week.

"It forces us to sit back down.  It forces us to collaborate some more because we are not on the same page," said Peter Feigin, Milwaukee Bucks President.



Alderman are not happy the Bucks met with the mayor behind closed doors to draft this financing plan. They reminded the team on Tuesday, it is the Common Council, not the mayor, which will vote on this project next Tuesday.