"Stadium" at Mile "last chance"

As much as I keep hoping I will win the lottery so I can be the investor and build us the stadium we need to get a team here, I don't like this idea. At all. (At least as far as I can imagine it from the tiniest sliver of information available.)

Do they literally mean the field will move and that is all? In other words, we would use the current stadium stands and the field would just roll in for games? If we really "use the infield", that puts the field AT LEAST 30-40 yards away. From the front row. And you're looking through a fence. And you could (essentially) only sit along one sideline. And there can't be much more 10-12,000 seats along that sideline. And while it's ACTUALLY more convenient for most people than Uihlein, I think it will seem RELATIVELY just as inconvenient as that site.

Looking at Crew Stadium and using basic measurements of it from Google
Earth, there's plenty of room in the infield for an entire stadium... if
the road track is re-routed. But if you can fit an entire stadium, why
do you need to remove the field? I have to imagine this is because we can't obscure views of the far side of the track... which leads me back to us being stuck half a field away in the Grandstand. I don't see success in that.

 

Agreed. This seems a bad idea all around. It's hard to see how a franchise would succeed in a racetrack with the fans so far away.

I can't wait to hear what Peter has to say about this.

 

I've never been to the Milwaukee Mile, so I don't know what the sightlines are like currently from one side of the track to another. However, if a soccer field ran east-west, then (based off the satellite images) it doesn't seem like two stands running the length of the field would inhibit the race track views too much. I think the most important thing from a race track's perspective would be to keep the view of the 4th turn, and this would be one way to do it. It could also mean that the Grandstand on the west side (are there seats on the east side?) could be a used behind the west goal. In my perfect world, MPS would get a soccer only stadium reminiscent of Craven Cottage and sit along the Milwaukee River in Riverwest or Glendale. However, I don't see that ever happening, and this idea intrigues me more than any I've heard about besides the Park East.

 

I Think anything to get an MLS team to my hometown is good.
they would already have restroom and food areas,parking is already in place
not to mention plenty of tailgating room, throw in a yearly game during the state fair to turn on some non-believers i think it could work.
not to mention when it does work people will be stepping all over eachother to get a stand alone stadium in milwaukee city of.
oh yea, they also have busses , the freeway flier bus and park and ride.
this idea should be aplauded for its vision. If people really want a team they need to put up or shut up!! buy the season tickets show up and make it a success.Then, id be willing to bet a stand alone stadium would be built in the future!! Of course thats just MHO.

 

in case you didn't read it in the other thread, the field would NOT be in the middle of the infield. It would roll up to the edge of the grandstand (with approx. 10k sideline seats) and be surrounded by an additional 10k seats in modular units, which along with the field, could be moved and stored for race activity. The stadium would be created by adding $40M of improvements including a canopy roof to cover most of the main grandstand,20+ luxury suites, a stadium club overlooking the field, permanent structures to house locker rooms, concessions, restrooms and merchandise stands that would also provide rooftop hospitality areas. The corners would all be closed in to create an intimate stadium feel that would be superior to Toronto's BMO Field.

peter

 

Greenberg has a ton of credibility in this area. The Mile and Fair Grounds had been a constant source of worry for state leaders as the facilities constantly operated in the red. Greenberg was appointed by Governor Doyle (if I'm not mistaken) and fixed a problem that no one else had been able to handle. For at least a decade the fair grounds were a drain on state coffers and due to a deal that Greenberg put together in late 2005 he estimated (at the time) that the fairgrounds could be profitable by this year.

If you read the article from December, 2005, it's very positive but you also have the sense that the fairgrounds "aren't out of the woods yet." If Greenberg believes that a soccer stadium would be an additional, positive revenue source I'd venture to say that state and local leaders would have to listen to him.

See the full article here and not the comment about how land in the middle of the park played into the equation:

Mile Deal Reaches the Finish Line
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=378935

 

Is this plan in any way associated w/ Peter Wilt's efforts? If not, somebody should get these guys together and we'll have a greater chance at getting a stadium w/ them working as a team (Greenberg's cred in Milwaukee, Wilt's in the soccer community)... I always thought the acres of land east of Miller Park would be ideal, everything is set up besides a stadium... Just an idea, I haven't looked into it at all, but I think it's decent

 

To me, what makes this intriguing is the location near the Pettit Center. It's public knowledge the Pettit is bleeding red ink all over the place. If the Pettit Center goes under, and you replace some ice with a few indoor soccer fields, you have a pretty nice regional training center...

 

Funniest thing I read all morning.

 

Thank you, Peter! I hadn't seen or heard all those details so your information is helpful and appreciated. Your explanation also makes this sound much more feasible and promising than the inch of copy available from the Journal.

I assumed I was wrong to express my doubts... but this is the internet, aren't we all supposed to spout indefensible opinions?

 

No way this happens. Its too off the wall for Milwaukee. I can't see the State Fair funding it. I can't see an investor investing millions on this arrangement. There is no related commercial development to offset the cost of the stadium. Too bad. It would have been nice to have an MLS team in Milwaukee.

To me, the only way this project could work is partnering with third party who could reap the benefits of structure. For example, your site by Valley Fields made some sense, if the Native Americans got involved. Having an extra 10,000+ people next to the casino would be nice little perk for them. It would help their planned hotel business too. Also, maybe having a stadium in their own backyard would have put pressure on MU to restart non-scholarship football. Again, another 6 or so dates with 2000-5000 people by the casino. Add plan some condos on the river and some commercial development and you have a chance to get some developers involved.

 

You shouldn't jump to conclusions. Exactly where did you hear or see that there was no related commercial development and where did you hear or see that State Fair was funding it? i know i shouldn't pay attention to bs on BS, but i do want to make sure that misinformation is not spread about this project.

We are not far enough along to present the whole plan publicly, that is why i was disappointed that a part of the plan leaked yesterday. It forced us to put out some fires caused by people like you spreading misinformation. As i've said often, this is still a real long shot, but it makes more economic sense at this site than any of the others.

It's certainly not perfect and if it comes through, it won't please everyone 100%, but please don't criticize aspects of the project that aren't true.

peter

 

Never said State Fair was funding it, just that they would not fund it. In additon, given Marty's conflict of interest, there is no way the Fair could fund it. So, what options does that leave? The State? Fat Chance. The county? After they announced the trimming of the bus routes? No way. West Allis? Come on. Their residents would revolt. That said, why would any private enitity fund a stadium on the Fair grounds? I don't see why anyone would do it, unless they could make a buck on the private develop surrounding the site. How can you have any commercial development on the site? Remember the furor over the hotel/dorm on the grounds. It would be shocking if the state allowed any private development on the grounds, especially of this sort. Sorry to sound so negative, but I can't see how this project has any hope.

The only way this project has a chance is by taking a similar approach that the Blue Bombers are taking. Even that project requires some Canadian government monies, along with the private investment. However, the stadium is significantly more expensive than what would be required in Milwaukee. So, maybe the lack of government funds could be overcome.

 

i totally understand why you would be unaware of many of the issues, but if you have any knowledge on this you would know that there are already eight acres of WSFP property under option for private development and there will be another 30 or so acres for development in the near future.

 

One last point, you should be able to build a 20,000 seat stadium for $40 million. I refer you to the stadium being built on the UCF campus (it opens in September). The 45,000 stadium w/24 boxes, roads, infrastructure, football and baseball practice fields cost less than $60 million. I have been there and its a beautiful stadium. Given new technology, stadiums can be built more cost efficiently than in the recent past. For example, poured concrete is significantly more expensive than a steel structure.

 

Wait till it becomes public knowledge. Just like when the residents of our fair city realize that the bankrupt museum bought a $500,000 skeleton that won't be displayed to the public. Only a fiberglass replica will be displayed. The real one will be used for research. Outrage will occur.

 

Have you seen the price of steel lately? Steel's no bargain anymore. i think BMO was $65M Canadian plus land and DSG was about $60M US plus land and of course Toyota Park was $98M plus land. Even if we could build a full stadium for $40M, we don't have a better place to put it. This site is potentially rent and tax free, has parking for 6,000+ vehicles and permits retention of most revenue streams. Building a decent stadium downtown would cost $120M including the necessary parking facilities, plus you have taxes and land acquisition. i don't think this is a slam dunk by any means, but conceptually this can work and it can provide one of the best fan experiences in MLS. If you have a thought on a better location, please suggest...though i have to let you know....it's not like we haven't been thinking about alternatives for the last 24 months.

 

perhaps....but both the I-94 development and the fiberglass replica have been publicized prominently in the J-S and there hasn't been any outrage yet. If the public prefers a 30 acre parking lot to a soccer stadium and a major retail and entertainment complex that generates significant revenue for the state, then maybe they deserve the empty parking lot. To this point, there hasn't been any outrage about either the I-94 development or the imitation wooly mammoth....though i am thinking of picketing the MPM tomorrow. Who else is in? "REAL BONES" "REAL BONES" "REAL BONES"

 

Let's see.

Nickname is "MU88"
Wants site by Valley Fields
Wants pressure put on MU to restart football

Hmm. No agenda here.

 

FC Mammoths - lock it in.

 

Hhhmmmmm . . .

Potential positives? Industrial/commercial acreage that could use an economic and beautification boost. Freeway access. Numerous taverns within walking distance. Smack dab in blue-collar territory. Residents used to high-traffic and noise at various times of the year. No Whitney Gould to worry about. Potential negatives? Lack of local, State or government funding (It just ain't gonna happen in this day and age). No deep-pocketed private investor identified to date.

 

Not everyone's as knowledgeable as you, Zak. Try to keep that in mind.

 

Didn't the Packers play the 1939 NFL Championship game at the Mile? And isn't the Chairman of the mile Stoer a fan of soccer?