The Milwaukee Bucks recently unveiled much-anticipated renderings showing what the new arena that will be built in downtown Milwaukee will look like.
It is a bold, unique design created by Kansas City-based Populous and Milwaukee-based Eppstein Uhen Architects. The most striking feature is a swooping-roof structure with a hand-crafted zinc exterior.
Perhaps not surprisingly, reviews have been mixed. While some say they like the design, others have been critical, comparing the arena to: a beer barrel, a bratwurst, an upside-down toboggan, BelAir Cantina and Donald Trump’s hair. The brown roof color makes some think the building will only reinforce Milwaukee’s rust belt reputation. “Ugly” and “embarrassment” are terms I’ve heard.
Of course, some who are upset with taxpayers funding half of the $500 million cost of the building are using the design as one more thing to criticize about the arena.
An unscientific poll of BizTimes.com readers found that 52.8 percent like the arena design, while 47.2 percent don’t like it.
Put me in the camp that likes the arena design. Actually, I like it a lot. It will truly be a one-of-a-kind building and will be a major local landmark that will be seen nationally, and even internationally, on Bucks and Marquette game broadcasts.
I really think the design is going to grow on people. With a unique design, some people just have to get used to it. In time, most Milwaukeeans will embrace it. The zinc roof will look different in various levels of sunlight, which should be interesting.
The east side of the building has a huge number of windows that will look great lit up at night and will offer cool downtown views from inside. There are numerous windows on other sides of the building, as well.
Of course, the design is not perfect. The arena has massive exterior walls that will create dead zones on the adjacent sidewalks, especially when the arena is not in use.
But the interior design is the most important aspect, and that is where this arena will be at its best, especially compared to the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Bradley Center was designed primarily for hockey in hopes of bringing an NHL team to Milwaukee. That never happened. The Bradley Center seating configuration has too many seats in the upper deck and the seats behind the basket are way too far away from the court.
The new arena will be designed primarily for basketball, which makes sense because the main tenants are an NBA team and a big time college basketball team. The lower bowl will have a lot more seats, there will be fewer seats (about 17,500) overall and they will be closer to the court.
Some Admirals fans are disappointed that the hockey team is not included in the new arena and will have to move to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panther Arena. But I think that could work out great for the Admirals. On some nights they will be able to pack that small, old arena, which could create a great atmosphere.
