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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 (The Milwaukee Exposition Convention Center and Arena) from 1974 until the 1995 opening of the Midwest Express Airlines Center.

History[]

It opened in 1950 and was one of the first to accommodate the needs of broadcast television. It was folded into the MECCA complex when it 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.

It was home to the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA from 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.

In 1994, the Wisconsin Center District (WCD), a state organization, was created in order to fund the Midwest Airlines Center, and, in 1995 the MECCA complex was folded into this, including the Arena (the BMO Harris Bradley Center is owned by a separate authority). Following a major overhaul in 1998, the arena is now home to the Milwaukee Wave of the Major Indoor Soccer League (including the 2006 MISL All-Star game) and is the Milwaukee venue for Disney on Ice. It has also hosted professional wrestling events, including WCW SuperBrawl II in 1992, WWF King of the Ring 1996, WCW Clash of the Champions in 1997, WWF Over the Edge in 1998 and WCW Mayhem in 2000.

The WCD added the Wisconsin Athletic Walk of Fame alongside the U.S. Cellular Arena in 2001. At the end of this public promenade is a Wisconsin Historical Marker noting the location where Christopher Sholes invented the first practical typewriter, featuring the QWERTY keyboard layout.

As the MECCA, the building hosted the 1984 NCAA Mideast first and second round games. The U.S. Cellular Arena also hosted all or part of every Horizon League men's basketball conference tournament from 2003 to 2011.

In 2008 and 2009, it was home to the Milwaukee Bonecrushers of the Continental Indoor Football League.[4]

On August 7, 2010, the arena hosted an Arena Football League playoff game between the Milwaukee Mustangs and the Chicago Rush. The Iron played its 2010 regular season home games at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, but the ongoing installation of the new center court scoreboard in that venue forced the home playoff games to be played at the U.S. Cellular Arena, where the Milwaukee Mustangs would go on to win.

It is also home to the Brewcity Bruisers roller derby league.

Milwaukee Panthers connection and renaming[]

The arena has been the home of the Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team from 1993 to 1998, 2003 to 2012, and 2013 to current. The Panthers played their 2012-2013 home games at the 3,500-seat Klotsche Center on UWM's east side campus. The move generated complaints from some UWM fans and attendance lagged as the team limped to its worst record since the 1990s. After Amanda Braun was named UWM’s athletic director in March 2013, she said she would re-examine the decision to move games from the U.S. Cellular Arena. In July 2013, UWM officials reached a 5-year contract with the arena owner, Wisconsin Center District, that runs through the 2017-2018 season.[5]

U.S. Cellular's naming rights expired on May 31, 2014, and they did not renew their contract.[6] On June 26, 2014, it was announced that the Arena would be renamed the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena, as part of an agreement which would run at least through 2024, with UWM having an option to extend it through 2029.[7] The deal additionally makes the arena officially the major site for UWM events such as graduation ceremonies, a role it had already taken for years before.

Ryan Maiuri

Milwaukee Bonecrushers' Quarterback Ryan Maiuri taking a snap against the Chicago Slaughter on March 21, 2008 at U.S. Cellular Arena.

Seating capacity[]

The seating capacity for basketball has changed as follows:

  • 11,046 (1950-1961)[8]
  • 11,138 (1961-1968)[9]
  • 10,746 (1968-1973)[10]
  • 10,938 (1973-1980)[11]
  • 11,052 (1980-1998)[12]
  • 11,358 (1998-2004)[13]
  • 10,783 (2004–present)[14]

See also[]

  • MECCA Great Hall - a convention center and part of the MECCA complex

References[]

  1. Jones, Robert F. (April 10, 1960). "Arena Opening in 1950 Like Dream Come True". The Milwaukee Sentinel: p. 9. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EvojAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ew8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5243,4622904&dq=en. Retrieved March 5, 2013. 
  2. On This Day in Wisconsin History
  3. "Arena Bonds Draw Only One Bid; Offer Rejected". Milwaukee Journal. December 16, 1948. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aE4aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xiMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2565,3847341&dq=en. Retrieved March 28, 2012. 
  4. Walker, Don (July 17, 2007). "Arena Football is Back in Milwaukee". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. http://blogs.jsonline.com/businessofsports/archive/2007/07/17/arena-football-is-back-in-milwaukee.aspx. Retrieved July 17, 2007. 
  5. Kirchen, Rich (July 15, 2015). "UWM men’s basketball returning to U.S. Cellular Arena". The Business Journal. http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2013/07/15/uwm-basketball-returning-to-us.html?ana=e_mil_bn&u=qFiE8P2yEomZlPQXUFK0BVCh1uw&t=1373906809. Retrieved July 15, 2013. 
  6. Michele, Michele. "Name change in the works for US Cellular Arena". http://www.cbs58.com/news/local-news/Name-change-in-the-works-for-US-Cellular-Arena-257744201.html. Retrieved 2014-05-27. 
  7. Walker, Don. "Former U.S. Cellular Arena to be named for UWM Panthers" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel June 26, 2014
  8. Breslin, Jimmy (February 19, 1959). "Hawks Too Big In St. Louis So Hickey Lifts Marquette". Star-Banner (Ocala, FL): p. 9. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QoFPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9AQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2041,2279823&dq=en. Retrieved March 5, 2013. 
  9. Bledsoe, Terry (December 26, 1962). "Luncheon, Clinic Are Extras For Classic Tournament Fans". The Milwaukee Journal. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wGEaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1yYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5028,1633847&dq=en. Retrieved March 5, 2013. 
  10. Kupper, Mike (February 26, 1970). "MU to Set Record, Despite New Math". The Milwaukee Journal. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N1MaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WSgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2549,2942305&dq=en. Retrieved March 5, 2013. 
  11. "Seating At Arena Increased To 10,938". The Milwaukee Journal. August 23, 1973. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2vojAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fX4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2541,4436358&dq=en. Retrieved March 5, 2013. 
  12. "Arena Will Get 114 More Seats". The Milwaukee Sentinel. September 25, 1980. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=V4BQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ABIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5557,4301248&dq=en. Retrieved March 5, 2013. 
  13. Dabe, Christopher (January 3, 2004). "Eagles Anxious to Put Down Roots". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aSwqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E0UEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6384,752339&dq=en. Retrieved March 5, 2013. 
  14. "Panthers Open Home Slate With Upper Iowa". UW-Milwaukee Athletics. November 20, 2005. http://www.uwmpanthers.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/112005aaa.html. Retrieved March 5, 2013. 

External links[]

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