There are eight reasons why the Bradley Center must remain the namesake of the Bradley family.
There are 213 octagons on the building, grounds and on the dedication plaque dated Oct. 20, 1986.
The A-B (Allen-Bradley) octagon has the word quality in it – the Bradley Center is built with quality material to last 75+ years, just like the plant on South Second Street in Milwaukee.
Jane Pettit knew quality in marble, glass and stainless steel. The A-B clock tower was dedicated Oct. 31, 1962. The company’s first building on Greenfield Avenue was built in 1916.
Let’s look at eight-sided reasons to maintain the Bradley name on the Bradley Center.
- The Bradleys have given the city donations of millions of dollars to support arts, education, sports, health, etc., etc., over the last 100 years.
- The Allen Bradley Company is a symbol of Milwaukee with its world record octagon clock tower lighted at night.
- In 1941 during World War II, Lynde and Harry Bradley built a world-class basketball gym on the eighth floor of the plant. It became the home court for the A-B Basketball Team and the NIBL (National Industrial Basketball League), with games broadcast live on Channel 12. The gym is still enjoyed by the employees of Rockwell Automation, formerly A-B, today.
- The shape of the Bradley Center is an elongated octagon with 213 octagons in the building and grounds, very symbolic of quality.
- If we change the Bradley Center name, why not the Bradley Pavilion at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, the Bradley Art Collection at the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Bradley Building at Milwaukee School of Engineering, Bradley Tech School and various programs at Marquette University, Junior Achievement and the Boys & Girls Club of Milwaukee.
- If cash is the issue, why not try selling the naming rights for the east lobby, west lobby or the basketball floor, but not the building? It is the Bradley Center.
- Just because a building is the third-oldest in the NBA doesn’t make it old or obsolete – quality construction like in Rome or Greece will stand the test of time.
- The "Bucks” stop here – let’s work on a quality team with quality players to compete in a quality house built by quality people the way Jane, Harry and Lynde always did it.
Are there 8 reasons or 213 reasons to keep the Bradley Center name to honor a family and company that has been Milwaukee for 100+ years? There must be more creative cash alternatives to keep the "Bucks" flowing and not have to "dunk" the Bradley name.
Go back to the playbook and design a new cash play that is not out of bounds!
Ted Hutton is community activist and a retired executive of Allen-Bradley Co. and Rockwell Automation Inc. in Milwaukee.
