Milwaukee Arena
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| Former names | Milwaukee Arena (1950–1974) MECCA Arena (1974–1995) Wisconsin Center Arena (1995–2000) U.S. Cellular Arena (2000–2014) |
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| Location | 400 W Kilbourn Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203 United States |
| Coordinates | 43°2′32″N 87°55′1″W / 43.04222°N 87.91694°WCoordinates: 43°2′32″N 87°55′1″W / 43.04222°N 87.91694°W |
| Owner | Wisconsin Center District |
| Operator | Wisconsin Center District |
| Capacity | 12,700 (maximum) 10,783 (basketball) 9,500 (indoor soccer) 9,652 (Hockey) |
| Surface | Maple basketball floor, concrete, ice, or Astroturf |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | November 3, 1948 |
| Opened | April 9, 1950 |
| Renovated | 1998, 2016 |
| Construction cost | US$7.6 million ($75.7 million in 2017 dollars) |
| Architect | Eschweiler & Eschweiler |
| General contractor | Hunzinger Construction Co. |
| Tenants | |
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Milwaukee Hawks (NBA) (1951–1955) Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) (1968–1988) Marquette Warriors (NCAA) (1974–1988) Milwaukee Admirals (IHL/AHL) (1977–1988, 2016–present) Milwaukee Does (WPBL) (1978–1980) Milwaukee Wave (MASL) (1984–1988, 2003–present) Milwaukee Panthers (NCAA) (1992–1998, 2003–present) Brewcity Bruisers (WFTDA) (2005–present) Milwaukee Bonecrushers (CIFL) (2008–2009) Green Bay Chill (LFL) (2014) |
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UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena (originally Milwaukee Arena and formerly MECCA Arena, Wisconsin Center Arena and U.S. Cellular Arena) is an indoor arena located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The arena, which seats as many as 12,700 people and offers 41,000 feet of floor space, is part of a larger downtown campus, that includes the Milwaukee Theatre and Wisconsin Center.
The arena was part of the MECCA Complex from 1974 until the 1995 opening of the Midwest Express Center.
It opened in 1950 and was one of the first to accommodate the needs of broadcast television. It was folded into MECCA (The Milwaukee Exposition, Convention Center and Arena) when the complex opened in 1974. It is also known for its former unique basketball court painted by Robert Indiana in 1978, with large rainbow 'M's taking up both half-courts representing Milwaukee.
Since the 1960s, the Arena has held a number of concerts by high-profile performers. On September 4, 1964, The Beatles played their only Milwaukee concert, at the Arena, to a sold-out crowd of screaming fans. Folk-rock icon Bob Dylan played a two-night stand there in mid-October as part of his Fall 1981 tour.
It was home to the Milwaukee Hawks (1951–55) and the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA (1968 to 1988), and hosted the 1977 NBA All-Star Game before an audience of 10,938. The venue was also home to Marquette University's men's basketball team along with the International Hockey League Milwaukee Admirals. These teams all moved to the BMO Harris Bradley Center upon the newer arena's opening in 1988.
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