The BMO Harris Bradley Center plans to raise the facility fee for tickets to athletic events to boost its revenue as a long-term solution for the aging arena continues to be debated.
The elevated fees, which will take effect in the 2014-15 season, will impact attendees of Milwaukee Admirals and Milwaukee Bucks games as well as attendees of Marquette Golden Eagles men’s basketball games.
For tickets running at $12 or less, the facility fee will cost $1.50, up from $1.25. The facility fee attached to tickets priced above $12 will be $2, up from $1.60.
The increase is projected to generate an additional $250,000 per year, according to the Bradley Center, which collected approximately $1.2 million in revenue from team ticket facility fees in 2012-13.
The uptick in facility fees is mean to be a “moderate” one that will help the arena tackle its major funding challenges, said Steve Costello, president of the Bradley Center.
“We are working hard to ensure the center remains a viable economic driver, job creator and community asset, and this modest increase in fees is essential to doing that,” Costello said. “We have had some excellent and important support from the city, the state and the metro Milwaukee business community through the Champions of the Community effort. We are very grateful, but we need to do more to address the significant challenges we face with the building. We don’t have the luxury of a great deal of time, and it’s essential that we do everything we can to keep the BMO Harris Bradley Center going as strong and as long as possible.”
The Champions of the Community effort consists of area business partners that have invested in the Bradley Center to ensure its future success and sustainability.
