UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena Could Be Redeveloped

The future of sporting events at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena is uncertain, as a new study may recommend redeveloping the arena and neighboring Miller High Life Theater for uses like a large convention hotel.

The 75-year-old arena, once home to the Milwaukee Bucks until 1988, currently hosts the Milwaukee Wave of the Major Arena Soccer League, the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League, and the UW-Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team. Each tenant maintains a lease, with the Panthers' lease set to expire in July 2029.

The arena and theater sit across the street from the Baird Center convention facility, and all three are operated by the Wisconsin District that recently hired a consulting firm to create a master plan for the site. The plan, along with the long-term maintenance cost of the arena and theater, was finalized in January. It is this time that a convention-oriented hotel could be presented on the site for construction.

While the city has long wanted a convention hotel to boost event hosting, the potential redevelopment raises questions about where the arena's current tenants could go. Relocating the Milwaukee Wave and Milwaukee Admirals to the nearby Fiserv Forum would complicate scheduling during busy seasons.

​The UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena has a capacity of between 9,500 for hockey and indoor soccer, and 11,000 for basketball. The Fiserv Forum has a capacity of 15,000 for hockey and soccer, and 17,000 for basketball, much larger than what would be expected for these three teams' attendance figures.

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