The Bavarian Soccer Club announced that it has closed on its acquisition of the Bavarian Complex property in Glendale at 700 W. Lexington Blvd.
The purchase, completed by the Friends of BSC LLC, includes the soccer facilities and buildings, including the Bavarian Inn, as well as the Old Heidelberg Park outdoor events area.
The soccer club said it will recapitalize and plans to improve all areas of the property to create a family-oriented activity destination for the North Shore and metropolitan Milwaukee and promote the region’s German cultural tradition.
“The purpose of this acquisition is to preserve and enhance the 80+ year tradition of the Bavarian Soccer Club and to solidify its future at its home in Glendale,” said Cathy Shaw, president of the Bavarian Soccer Club. “Our membership is committed to retaining and preserving the unique character of this property as a haven for exceptional soccer and German gemutlicheit in Milwaukee.”
The Bavarian property is best-known for its annual Oktoberfest festival, which will again be staged this year on four successive weekends immediately after Labor Day.
“Oktoberfest will be bigger and better than ever going forward,” Shaw said. “It’s an event that people look forward to year after year, and where all of our clubs come together to celebrate and volunteer countless hours to create an atmosphere that can’t be found anywhere else.”
The property was acquired from Deutsches Land Inc., an entity comprised of five German clubs including the Bavarian Soccer Club. Due to economic hardships experienced throughout the restaurant/hospitality industry during the Great Recession, Deutsches Land was unable to remain profitable operations.
With the acquisition by the Bavarian Soccer Club, the property will avoid a sheriff’s foreclosure sale that had been scheduled for Monday, March 14.
Thomas Schmid, vice president of the club, said, “The club’s convenient location and nearby amenities make the Bavarian property a very special destination for our members, families, and guests.”
“The City of Glendale will continue to work cooperatively with the Bavarian Soccer Club and the other Bavarian clubs in an effort to maintain and enhance the great history and culture that the clubs have provided to Glendale and the Milwaukee Metro area,” said Glendale Mayor Jerome Tepper.
