Conner O’Malley
Mr. Rueter
Economics
11 Nov 2014
Can the Milwaukee Bucks stay in Milwaukee?
The Milwaukee Bucks have been a team that has its ups and downs. In the past 10 years, the Bucks have only been able to make it to the playoffs 3 times, and they lost in the 1st round for all 3. Fans don’t find it enjoyable anymore to come and watch their home team get pounded over and over. It’s actually embarrassing saying that you’re a Bucks fan. Could the next few years finally be the key to turning this franchise around?
Financial issues for the team and in the city of Milwaukee shocked everyone when the city threatened to release the Bucks and accept another city to buy the Bucks (which would most likely be Seattle). Seattle left because of the same reason Milwaukee is faced with. The lack of demand for a new stadium caused the team to move to Oklahoma City. The BMO Harris Bradley Center was built in 1988 making it 27 years old. The Bucks are ready to build a new stadium, but they need the cities help. Estimated costs for a new arena would be between $400 to $500 million. The Bucks can build a new arena at anytime, but they don’t have the financial stability to do it. If private investors don’t cover the rest of the expenses, then taxpayers will have to pay for the rest which would be a little of $100 million dollars. Marc Lasry already made plans to start building a new arena in the year of 2015, but if private investors or taxpayers don’t pay up, the NBA will buy the Bucks in 2017 and take them somewhere else.
In the 2014 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee selected the best player in the draft Jabari Parker. This was a huge success for Milwaukee because Parker is a very well known player that was born and raised in Chicago and played his college career at Duke University. He’s also sponsored by Jordan, a very famous basketball brand. Other noticeable players that bring more and more fans to the games are Larry Sanders who is known for his big body and somewhat anger issues, Giannis Antetokounmpo or “Greek Freak” is what some call the next Kevin Durant and the next superstar in the near future. With the new faces that are showing up in Milwaukee, the crowd attendance at the BMO Harris Bradley Center will continues increase from previous years. Plus, the amount of gear bought for the players will help the Bucks financial as well. Instead of forcing friends to come to games before, now they know that they won’t waste any opportunity cost because they’ll be a exciting game that they can watch. 
Last season for the Bucks was horrible, but it was a rebuilding season hoping to get a good pick in the draft which they did. The main theme for the Bucks is “Own the Future” which is a very accurate and appropriate words to use because of the youth of the Bucks. The Bucks only have three more years till the NBA buys the team, but with the talent that we have right now, I believe that the money will be made and the fan attends will increase dramatically. The Bucks will make it to the playoffs this year and the city of Milwaukee will yet again believe in there team. Go Bucks Go!
Possible spot for new Bucks arena
Works Cited
Ramde, Dinesh. "Alderman: New Arena Might Need Regional Sales Tax." FOX 11 Online WLUKTV. N.p., 17 Apr. 2014. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Watson, Phil. "Report: Milwaukee Bucks Closing In On Land Deal For New Arena."Dairyland Express Report Milwaukee Bucks Closing In On Land Deal For New Arena Comments. Fansided, 8 Nov. 2014. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Powell, Michael. "An Arena Fairy Tale With Blurred Morals." The New York Times. The New York Times, 16 Oct. 2014. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Kacner, Krystle. "New Investors Could Mean a New Arena for Milwaukee Bucks."FOX6Nowcom. Fox 6, 17 Oct. 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Conner, this was very cool to learn about how the bucks are gaining new players and are also looking into the future to become a better franchise. I didn't realize until now just how much money it would cost to build a new bucks arena and just what consequences are to come if we are not willing to pay the money for a new arena.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why taxpayers are the ones that have to pay for the new arena, because a good portion of the taxpayers are people who could care less about the Bucks. If the Bucks wanted to make a new arena to increase their fan base, the money should come from their own sources instead of the common people, or at least selective taxing so that way the people who don't care to spend their own money on the team's arena don't have to. But, that's just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good topic because it hits close to home, and something that should be a help to our economy is actually partly the reason for our economy as a state to decrease. Clearly having a huge basketball stadium and fan base will bring in a lot of revenue if it is something that keeps up it’s interest level, but unfortunately this economic downfall due to the Buck’s losses is slipping out of our reach. It is interesting that the NBA will just take away a team if they are not bringing in a large fan base, but makes complete sense, because relocating the team could keep the current fanbase, and increase interest in the city they would move to. This could have a positive impact on the overall economy and a positive impact for the NBA, but a negative impact on Milwaukee’s local economy. It is good that the current fan base is getting larger again and the Buck’s are getting more popular, so hopefully it’ll bring in enough economic impact to allow them to stay where they are.
ReplyDeleteConner,
ReplyDeleteAside from some lapses in spelling and grammatical errors, I believe that you did a good job capturing the essence of the financial hardship that is going to be faced by the Milwaukee Bucks. I myself am not a Bucks fan--because of the lack of motivation in previous years and lack of results--but I do believe that the new draft will intrigue me to once again be a Bucks fan. Looking from an economics standpoint however I still do not see the need for a new stadium for the Bucks. In my personal experience the Bradley Center accommodates the bucks pretty well. Along with this I also doubt that the citizens of Milwaukee will approve of another added taxation just to create a new stadium for a sports team that has not been living up to their coda. However this is yet to be seen throughout the 2014 season. Fingers crossed.
I've always been the type to root for my home team so it would be sad to see the Bucks move someplace else. I have also watched a lot of footage on Jabari Parker and he looks incredible. Hopefully he will attract more attention towards the bucks (which I'm sure he will) and save the franchise for Milwaukee. You are right about the bucks having a rough patch recently. I really don't think building a new stadium should have to if necessary be put on the taxpayers. Is the Bradley Center really that bad? It is after all only 27 years old.
ReplyDeleteOverall I believe the bucks are starting to die down a little bit, Milwaukee isn't the best place for a NBA team. Baseball is the main big sport around here, basketball isn't as popular anymore. You don't see much advertising for Bucks games, and you don't see much people wearing bucks attire anymore either. I believe if the bucks want to stay relevant and keep their financials up, they need to boost their marketing or something.
ReplyDeleteThere have got to be some people who are Bucks fans that are willing to invest the money into the team so they could build a new stadium. The investment into the company could give them some extra income from the Bucks and overall be a good investment into them. I don't get why people would not invest into the Bucks to help a team they enjoy to watch and can have a part of.
ReplyDeleteColin Marks
ReplyDeleteConnor as you know I am a fellow Bucks fan, and that I too think that a new stadium is a must for the state of Wisconsin. It will also be able to host many other big attractions, such as concerts, Monster Truck Rallies, and WWE events. Also building a new stadium will help create jobs, a it will need workers to construct the stadium.
The bucks have been doing pretty bad lately, I agree. I have heard more about admirals and people going to those games than my friends going to the watch the bucks. The only person in school that I've seen be a fan of the bucks is Michael Conrad. If they built a new stadium, would it really make a difference? would people actually go to these games?
ReplyDeleteYou did a pretty good job illustrating the financial situation that the Bucks are in. I can personally attest that I am not a fan of the Bucks or basketball in general, mainly because of the lack of support and the overall dismal performances of the Bucks in the past year. I do hope that the Bucks are able to pull together the money for a new arena, because I personally believe that said arena will be the key to them staying in Milwaukee.
ReplyDeleteConner, I did hear about this issue in the news but did not know much. I had previously heard the Admirals side to this as well. If the bucks were to be bought and moved, the revenue would go to fixing up the Bradley Center to continue the Admirals play out of that stadium. But I am pretty sure that there is also a possibility that the Admirals could move out of Milwaukee as well. If both teams stay, do you think they will continue to share a building? But overall, this topic kind of intrigues me. Why can places like L.A. and Boston hold professional teams of multiple sports and still bring in revenue, while we in Milwaukee cannot hold a minor hockey team and an NBA team. It has to be something more than just the lack of talent on the teams. I'm curious as to if there is some marketing pull that could get more fans to the games bringing in more revenue or if we are forever doomed to not have good fans for our sports teams.
ReplyDeleteWith the bucks needing a new stadium there has been a lot of controversy on whether or not we should build a new stadium. Some people think that we shouldn’t build a new stadium and spend the money on other things like parks. But what those people don’t realize is that bucks contribute a lot to the community, with them helping our community and bringing the people of Milwaukee closer together. Building a new stadium would be expensive, but in the long run it could really help the community and economy.
ReplyDeleteIt is so interesting to read this in that the past Sunday Larry Sanders and seven other players came into Skyzone for a birthday party. It was interesting to see the team together and how much fun they were having even though they were with a team that isn't known to be the best. I have to say that I am one of those people who don't believe in the Bucks and have never watched one play of their games. However there would be a lot of benefit into having a better sports team and a nice arena. The arena would help create jobs and people would be going there and spending money there. All of this would be good for our own Wisconsin economy and the nations economy. But the thing is, a new stadium can be built but we have to fill it with winning teams to get money.
ReplyDeleteGreat job writing this article! I also hope that the Bucks can stay in Milwaukee and I do think the franchise is turning around. The Bucks' new owners have made it clear that it is their goal to get this team to a championship level. Along with young players like Giannis promising to never leave until we have won a championship. To me it is clear that the Bucks are heading in the right direction and it will be financially wise to keep the Bucks in Milwaukee. People will begin to realize their potential and with a new arena, people will be flooding through the gates to watch this new and improved Bucks squad.
ReplyDelete#OwnTheFuture
It’s weird to think that a team we have known for so long to be represented by Milwaukee, could so easily get bought out by a different city, but after all the examples you gave, it all makes sense. With their not so good record, fans don’t want to invest their money, and cheer on a team that isn’t going to win. This results in money not only lost from ticket sales, but even merchandise because why wear a jersey you’re embarrassed to wear? But with the new players that have been added to the roster this year, maybe the Bucks can not only make a breakthrough with their record, but financially too, trying to get back to where they were many years ago. This was a really interesting post to read about, nice job!
ReplyDeletePersonally, because the bucks haven't made it past the play offs in quite some time, I feel there is no need to build another stadium. The stadium would consume a lot of resources--taking up land and consuming building goods. Even though building a new stadium would create a lot of jobs for Wisconsin--thus decreasing our unemployment rate, the resources could be used more effectively. For instance, we could use the resources to build housing districts and stores. On another note, because not many people are going to bucks games, building a new stadium wouldn't be a wise investment. If the bucks cut into their yearly profits and not enough people visit the new stadium, they could go bankrupt. Overall, building the new stadium would not be a good idea, we would be waiting resources and risking bankruptcy on unwise investments.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting post Conner, I didn't know that the Bucks would be taken from Milwaukee if a new stadium couldn't be provided. I'm not a big Bucks fan or anything, but I believe that no longer having the Bucks in Milwaukee would be bad for our city. Having a professional sports team in Milwaukee benefits bars, restaurants, and maybe even hotels. It's also something that brings the community together, if the Bucks get better this coming year, hopefully there will become a larger fan base and more people will start coming to watch the team play. Hopefully enough money can be provided so that the new Bucks arena can be built.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the Bucks have no need for a new arena until they increase the amount of seats they filled. Sometimes building a bigger and more extravagant arena doesn't bring in people, in my opinion if there is nothing good to see there why bother. However their season has just begun and it seems to be getting off on the right hand. If they continue to do this well there should be no reason for them to be bought out. I agree that their brand new players could do a lot for them, but it will all have to translate to play-offs...that is if they make them.
ReplyDeleteYour post really illustrates the position that the buck’s are in with whether or not they can or should build a new arena. Since the Bucks are a team that isn’t doing so well right now it could be very difficult for them to get the $400-500 million plus, if their popularity goes down does it even make sense to build a new arena for a them? If they can get the money then that could lead to a turn around because more people may want to go to the new place to see the team but at the same time it could just lead to taxpayers paying more.
ReplyDeleteIt’s weird to think that a team that has represented Milwaukee for so long could possibly be bought by a different city, all because Milwaukee wouldn’t update their stadium! But it makes sense because the Bucks are a part of the NBA, who has a reputation they need to up hold. However, I think the NBA needs to take into consideration that Milwaukee Bucks fans and tax payers don’t want to invest their money into a team that isn’t winning. I say give the team a few years to change their act and then ask for a new stadium.
ReplyDeleteConnor, I think the Bucks can surely only go uphill from here. Having just won their second consecutive game for the first time in 105 games, the Bucks are definitely heading into a direction of success on the court. The primary issue that faces them in the future, however, is the off-the-court events that may trouble them. The finances required to rebuild a stadium will require much help from the surrounding community, and the motivation to do so for a team that is not performing satisfactorily is relatively low. Therefore, it’s obviously essential that they improve their win count each successive year, which would likely increase the demand for purchasing basketball tickets, which would in turn result in an increased revenue in order to later finance more improved products such as a new stadium. It will be very interesting to see how the Milwaukee Bucks make decisions in the near future, as their distant future could be great.
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