In a poll conducted by The Tarrance Group for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce that surveyed 600 “likely” voters in Wisconsin, 64 percent of respondents said that it would be a good investment for the state if it borrowed money to help fund a new arena in downtown Milwaukee for the Milwaukee Bucks.
The results of the poll, released today, stand in stark contrast to a recent Marquette University Law School poll that indicated that 79 percent of respondents statewide oppose borrowing about $150 million to support a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks, with 17 percent supporting the proposal.
An executive summary of the Tarrance Group poll said that voters are more supportive of the arena proposal if they are given more information about it.
“The question in the Marquette poll about the proposal only focused on one specific aspect, borrowing money, and not providing voters that complete picture of the proposal,” the Tarrance Group poll summary said.
Nevertheless, the support for a new arena proposal picked up an endorsement from Marquette University on Friday.
Marquette is calling on its basketball fans to support the proposed downtown Milwaukee sports and entertainment development.
In an emailed letter to fans from university president Dr. Michael Lovell and athletic director Bill Scholl, the leaders call on recipients to contact elected officials about the importance of the project to the local and statewide economies.
The pair indicated the school is staying in close contact with leaders at the Bucks and other stakeholders about the project to create a “forge a public-private partnership so we can get this done.”
“When it comes to building a new arena in downtown Milwaukee, the position of our university is clear: The new arena is critical to the growth of Milwaukee as a first-class city that will attract and retain the bright young minds who will lead us into the future,” the letter says. “Marquette University has a valued strategic partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks and we remain committed to being their top tenant in the new arena.”
