UWM to move basketball games back to campus at Klotsche Center

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men’s basketball team will move its home games back to the on-campus Klotsche Center.

UWM director of athletics Andy Geiger said the move back to campus, starting with the 2012-13 season, is designed to trigger greater student engagement in athletics and add to the campus life, culture and atmosphere while providing the Panthers with a better homecourt advantage.

The University is also launching a strategic plan that will continue the examination of options for building a convocation center/arena on-campus.
“We’re coming home,” Geiger said. “College games belong on college campuses. We’ll be closer to our student body and be adding to the college experience and the life and culture of our campus. We can engage our students while at the same time creating a great atmosphere for all of our fans.”

“We’re very excited to be returning to campus,” Milwaukee men’s basketball coach Rob Jeter said. “What a great opportunity to bond with our students and campus community and to create an unbelievable atmosphere for all of our supporters. I know everyone is committed to making this move work and making it something great for our program now and in the long-term.”

While some details of the setup of the Klotsche Center are still being finalized, the facility will have a seating capacity approximately 3,400 people, including nearly 1,200 chairback seats both behind the benches and courtside.

The Panthers have played the majority of their games at the U.S. Cellular Arena in downtown Milwaukee for the past nine seasons.

“From all accounts we have had a positive experience downtown and playing there helped raise our profile and create a lot of great memories,” Geiger said. “But now is the time to move back to campus and begin to create a culture of support and enthusiasm on campus, which can only help us grow and become even better moving forward.”

With the loss of another major tenant, the decision casts another shadow upon the future of the U.S. Cellular Arena.