Milwaukee NHL Team

[Warning Track Power]

With Seattle apparently getting a new NHL team, it got me to wonder why Milwaukee doesn't have an NHL team. While I am not a huge NHL fan, I think this would change if Milwaukee were to get one. I know the Admirals are there but am unfamiliar if they draw well. With me not living in Wisconsin, I am curious as to why there isn't a team in Milwaukee. It seems that the sport would thrive there.

 

Any thoughts?

[tmwiese55]

I've always just assumed they feel like MKE isn't large enough to support another team with them already having MLB and NBA. I think I just saw the Bucks are 25th in attendance in spite of having Giannis. To the best of my knowledge, the new Bucks arena is not being built to host hockey either. I could be wrong there, but if so you'd need to build a new arena and with the fight the Bucks went through that doesn't look easy.

[brwrsfan]

The Bradley Center was actually built with the NHL in mind and they had an expansion franchise setup to come here. Then the NHL asked for something like an additional $100 million and the city balked. Probably our one and only chance at getting one.

 

Initially, the new arena wasn't going to include ice, but I believe they changed their minds on that - as they want to host the Frozen Four and things like that - at least keeps the NHL door open, but I highly doubt it ever happens.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2016/04/25/milwaukeebucks-arena-will-include-ice-rink-to-host.html

[JohnBriggs12]

With Seattle apparently getting a new NHL team, it got me to wonder why Milwaukee doesn't have an NHL team. While I am not a huge NHL fan, I think this would change if Milwaukee were to get one. I know the Admirals are there but am unfamiliar if they draw well. With me not living in Wisconsin, I am curious as to why there isn't a team in Milwaukee. It seems that the sport would thrive there.

 

Any thoughts?

 

It's my understanding that the Blackhawks have territorial rights that include Milwaukee and that they would have to waive them to allow a team in Milwaukee. I believe old man Wirtz blocked Lloyd Pettit back when Bradley Center was built from applying for an expansion franchise. Maybe someone can confirm that.

[homer]

The Bradley Center was actually built with the NHL in mind and they had an expansion franchise setup to come here. Then the NHL asked for something like an additional $100 million and the city balked. Probably our one and only chance at getting one.

 

Initially, the new arena wasn't going to include ice, but I believe they changed their minds on that - as they want to host the Frozen Four and things like that - at least keeps the NHL door open, but I highly doubt it ever happens.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2016/04/25/milwaukeebucks-arena-will-include-ice-rink-to-host.html

 

 

You are close. The guy that owned the Admirals and who donated the money to get the Bradley Center built is the one who balked. MKE was in line for an expansion team but the entry fee was more than almost every team in the league was worth at the time.

 

I agree that the NHL would probably do really well in Milwaukee but I don't see it happening as long as the Bucks are around. I just don't see the population (or more importantly corporate dollars) to support both.

[brwrsfan]

Ah. Well I was close at least. I knew it was something like that.

 

I've always wondered if I'd care about hockey if Wisconsin had an NHL team when I was growing up (I'm 36). I really only watch the playoffs and don't really cheer for anyone in particular. But I remember hearing the story from my dad about how close it was to happening - just couldn't remember the exact details.

 

While not impossible, I just see it as very unlikley. And if the Blackhawks thing is true (which seems completely an utterly ridiculous, see as we're 100 miles away, different state and we have several other pro teams), but if its true, it's incredibly hard to imagine they'd allow that - though MLB went through it with the Nats/Orioles I'd imagine too?

[FVBrewerFan]

Lots of hockey fans in Madison. I think the best chance for success with NHL team in WI would be to have the arena out in western Waukesha county. Will never happen, but I think in order for it to work they would need to draw a lot of fans and corporate sponsorship from Madison.

[brwrsfan]

Lots of hockey fans in Madison. I think the best chance for success with NHL team in WI would be to have the arena out in western Waukesha county. Will never happen, but I think in order for it to work they would need to draw a lot of fans and corporate sponsorship from Madison.

 

I would probably tend to agree with you, but that would require ANOTHER state of the art arena to be built specifically for hockey. I have a hard time seeing that happening unless it's like 95% privately funded.

[pacopete4]

Yeah, Madison would be ideal for an NHL team. There is probably enough support and it would have that Green Bay like feel to it. I do agree though that trying to fund a stadium might be almost impossible for it to happen. It is a shame that the NHL isn't in a great hockey state in Wisconsin.

[FVBrewerFan]

Lots of hockey fans in Madison. I think the best chance for success with NHL team in WI would be to have the arena out in western Waukesha county. Will never happen, but I think in order for it to work they would need to draw a lot of fans and corporate sponsorship from Madison.

 

I would probably tend to agree with you, but that would require ANOTHER state of the art arena to be built specifically for hockey. I have a hard time seeing that happening unless it's like 95% privately funded.

 

Actually, if it was Waukesha County, they may be willing to pony up a bigger percentage than that. But again, will never happen for a whole variety of reasons.

[KeithStone53151]

It surprises me that the new Bucks arena will be set up for NHL/NCAA hockey event, but the Admirals were not invited to the new arena. The amount of hockey-related use the setup would get seems minimal unless there was a goal to try and bring in an NHL team. I've mostly read reports of people denying that we are trying to bring an NHL team to Milwaukee, but who knows.

[LouisEly]

I've always just assumed they feel like MKE isn't large enough to support another team with them already having MLB and NBA.

Not only that, but partially have a NFL team as the Gold ticket package (the season ticket holders from when three games were played at County Stadium) has a lot of Milwaukee owners as well as some for the Green ticket package too. Add in the many UW alumni in the Milwaukee area who have Badgers football/basketball/hockey season tickets and you are competing for $$ with a lot more than just the Brewers and Bucks.

 

In terms of MSA rankings, Milwaukee is 39th (for reference, 30-38 are Kansas City, Austin, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, San Jose, Nashville, Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, and Providence). KC couldn't support basketball, Cleveland lost the NFL once (and may do so again if they don't turn around). Nobody else has three, much less three plus a fourth nearby plus a major college program with three very successful sports nearby.

 

(Pop quiz - what's the largest MSA that does not have any NFL, MLB, NBA, or NHL franchise?)

[homer]

I've always just assumed they feel like MKE isn't large enough to support another team with them already having MLB and NBA.

 

(Pop quiz - what's the largest MSA that does not have any NFL, MLB, NBA, or NHL franchise?)

 

Raleigh Durham? Does that count?

 

I was thinking about this earlier. Kind of amazing that Pittsburgh is able to support three major league teams.

[paul253]

I have no doubt Milwaukee would support an NHL team. I think the competition from the Wave and UWM is overstated. The Admirals would be gone. And the Packers only play 8 home games a year. Really the NHL would only be competing with the Bucks and to a lesser extent Marquette. Yeah the Bucks attendance hasn’t been great but if you think about it it’s an NBA team that hasn’t really had a consistency winner since the mid 80s and who are playing in an outdated hockey arena. I think you’d see a lot of support from Waukesha and Ozaukee Counties.

[BallFour]

Carolina Hurricanes play in Raleigh,

 

my guess would be Louisville???

[FVBrewerFan]

Tough question. Technically Riverside/ San Bernardino CA. But I count that as LA, so throwing that out. (Even though LA would never consider them part of LA.)

 

As of today Vegas. But not counting them either since Raiders arte moving there.

 

So next up would be Austin, TX.

[trwi7]

Austin

[Yount19]

I would say Austin too

[homer]

Carolina Hurricanes play in Raleigh,

 

 

Well that's dumb

[ZBTMP]

I have no doubt Milwaukee would support an NHL team. I think the competition from the Wave and UWM is overstated. The Admirals would be gone. And the Packers only play 8 home games a year. Really the NHL would only be competing with the Bucks and to a lesser extent Marquette. Yeah the Bucks attendance hasn’t been great but if you think about it it’s an NBA team that hasn’t really had a consistency winner since the mid 80s and who are playing in an outdated hockey arena. I think you’d see a lot of support from Waukesha and Ozaukee Counties.

The only smaller (2) sport market is Buffalo (who only has to support 8 football dates and lower revenue hockey). Milwaukee is already supporting 81 baseball dates a year and 41 Bucks games.

Furthermore, Hockey just isn’t very big in the Milwaukee area. Dave Steckel and Drew Stafford are about the only 2 NHL players I know of with any ties to the area. A part of that is a lack of a local NHL franchise sure, but youth participation isn’t strong considering the climate and abundance of frozen lakes. Also, I don’t know that people in Waukesha and Ozaukee Counties are that interested in driving downtown in the winter.

[patrickgpe]

Milwaukee cannot support anymore sports teams. I think for a city with 1MM in the metropolitan area, we are cashed out. The admirals cannot get 5000 a night, how would one figure that Milwaukee could continue to get 12-14k a night for the bucks, 10k a night for MU, 30k a night for the brewers, and still have some support for the Wave, UWM, not to mention how many people in the area regularly attend events in GB and Madison.

 

Do not forget that Milwaukee has a very large art scene for a city its size. Most cities the size of Milwaukee do not have 5 median sized concert venues (Riverside, Pabst, Turner, Rave, Milwaukee Theater) not to mention UWM arena and the new one.

 

Throw in the Marcus Center for the Arts the symphony, ballet, etc.

 

Everyone only has so much money to spend on entertainment, I honestly I surprised we have as much to do in Milwaukee as we do.

[stoutdude04]

Tough question. Technically Riverside/ San Bernardino CA. But I count that as LA, so throwing that out. (Even though LA would never consider them part of LA.)

 

As of today Vegas. But not counting them either since Raiders arte moving there.

 

So next up would be Austin, TX.

 

Vegas has a hockey team.

[jerichoholicninja]

I can't imagine there's enough disposable income in the area to support a team. I would guess Wisconsin's hockey supporters live in the northern and western parts of the state. And those people probably aren't going to drive 2 to 4 hours in the middle of winter for a hockey game.

[trwi7]

not to mention how many people in the area regularly attend events in GB and Madison.

 

People from there come to Milwaukee for the Bucks and Brewers. Why couldn't they for an NHL team? It's not a one way street.

[brwrsfan]

Tough question. Technically Riverside/ San Bernardino CA. But I count that as LA, so throwing that out. (Even though LA would never consider them part of LA.)

 

As of today Vegas. But not counting them either since Raiders arte moving there.

 

So next up would be Austin, TX.

 

Vegas already has an NHL team as of this year...so yeah, Austin