Questions For Peter Wilt - M1

Discussion in 'Milwaukee' started by olderandwiser, Apr 16, 2007.

  1. Peter Wilt

    Peter Wilt Member

    Jun 11, 1999
    Whitefish Bay, WI
    Milwaukee Stadium: Approx. $2.7M plus any property taxes.

    Just guessing: 60% of the others.

    There are a lot of variables, but $250k to $500k annually is a reasonable range.

    peter
     
  2. maturin

    maturin Member

    Jun 8, 2004
    Worth every last penny.
     
  3. phxinferno

    phxinferno New Member

    Feb 11, 2007
    Downtown Phoenix
    Peter, Besides adding to the overall/general atmosphere of soccer in a community, what value now and in the future does collegiate soccer have towards professional soccer in a region and nationally? I ask this because many of the pundits say players are ill served going the college route if they want to become professionals, yet most of the "drafted" talent still comes from the NCAA.

    In Arizona, none of the three state universities have men's programs (ASU and UA are the only PAC 10 teams without one) and except for a small Div II team there are none - Yavapai Community College is our one redemption, but its not in Phoenix. All of our best players of course leave so that it leaves little if we wanted even a PDL team.
     
  4. Peter Wilt

    Peter Wilt Member

    Jun 11, 1999
    Whitefish Bay, WI
    Good questions. Am traveling today. I should have time tomorrow to try to address.

    peter
     
  5. cchchaplain

    cchchaplain Member

    UW-Platteville men and women
    Jan 30, 2006
    Manitowoc, Wisconsin
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    When the Fire and the Miami Fusion came into the league together, I was a bit torn between wanting to cheer for the team of the town in which I grew up, the Fire; or the team coached by my coaching rival and respected acquaintance, Cacho Cordoba (BTW-CC coached @ UW-Whitewater when I coached @ UW-Platteville). Eventually I went with my heart and became a Fire fan. Easy call then. If/WHEN Milwaukee gets a team, I really could see myself switching allegiance. My kids live near Sheboygan and if I am ever going to take my grandson to an MLS game it will probably be either in Milwaukee or in Winston-Salem since I now live in NC
     
  6. Peter Wilt

    Peter Wilt Member

    Jun 11, 1999
    Whitefish Bay, WI
    Playing collegiately vs. turning pro, much like playing in MLS vs. going to Europe is an individual decision that needs to take in many variables that differ for each individual.

    Players generally develop better and quicker when put in full time, high level, competitive environments - this means dedicating oneself to professional soccer as soon as possible, if the sole goal is to facilitate soccer proficiency.

    In general, however, since most 18 to 22 year olds are not prepared/willing to forego a college degree and its lifelong implications, playing collegiate soccer combined with off seasons in PDL represent the best choice for the MAJORITY of 18-22 year old players in the US. This will likely continue to be true for the foreseeable future. For the elite of the elite, however, it makes sense for most of them to forego college and begin the commitment to professional soccer as soon as possible. This doesn't mean that college soccer isn't an important channel for professional soccer as you indicate above. If all collegiate players suddenly became full time professionals, would they be better players in four years than if they had continued in college? Most of them, yes. Also, the structures aren't in place in this country to support that system yet. MLS is slowly developing the structure to support more professional development earlier, but i don't see it replacing college now or in the future.

    Having collegiate programs locally can provide a base of players for the local pro team. It's no coincidence that the Galaxy has had a ton of UCLA players over the years....or Columbus with Indiana players, but it's not imperative. The state of Minnesota, like Arizona, has no D1 NCAA men's soccer programs. The Thunder has usually managed to bring local stars back to the state to play professionally due to the players' roots in the area. i imagine, Phoenix could do the same.

    Having good collegiate soccer programs locally can help establish a base of support for a pro team - not only with fans, but also media and sponsorship support as well. Everyone things in terms of youth soccer players growing up to be ticket purchasers some day. While that is true, it is equally important that those kids grow up and become decision makers with media outlets and corporations, which impacts coverage and sponsorship. A strong local collegiate soccer team will generate alumni who someday will be in positions to help the pro team out in those ways.

    i guess that's all a long way of saying that of course it's a benefit to a pro soccer team to have quality collegiate programs locally, but it's not critical to their success.

    peter
     
  7. St. Patrick

    St. Patrick Member

    Mar 29, 1999
    Milwaukee, WI
    Read the piece in the Shepherd yesterday (good stuff). Hadn't heard anything on the expansion front since I moved back to Milwaukee in April until coming across that article and am glad its still an ongoing effort.

    1) How did you get to where you are? (I've been trying to land an entry-level sports management position in the few years since finishing my MA with no success) Any advice on how to get back into the game after being away for a while?

    2) What's most crucial in terms of building the expansion club on the field, the coach, a specific player to build around offensively (or defensively), a certain style/means of play?

    3) What is the honest truth about having additional entertainment venues around a stadium (meaning restaurants and bars, mainly)? Is this an outdated approach now that new stadia seem to be built in suburbia? Would a stadium in the city surrounded by additional venues for pre/post-match pursuits give the Milwaukee club/fanbase a different feel that that of other teams in MLS?
     
  8. Peter Wilt

    Peter Wilt Member

    Jun 11, 1999
    Whitefish Bay, WI

    1) Sports nut as a kid...got an usher job at County Stadium, because i went to Marquette and the guy hiring liked Marquette. Got a sportswriting job at UPI while i was in college, because they were desperate to pay a kid minimum wage to work Saturday nights calling around the state to get high school and college basketball and football scores. Led to some Bucks and Marquette hoops writing assignments. After college got my big break working for the Admirals, because Phil Wittliff thought my ushering job could help him get into Brewers games for free ;)....and i was probably the only candidate willing to work for $100/week plus commission. At the Ads i did everything, since it was a real small staff. That was my sports management education. Wojo was my boss and a GREAT teacher. He's still there in the same basic position. If i didn't go to the Milwaukee Wave, i'd probably still be working for him in the same basic job :). Wave hired me to head their business operations, because i showed their owners that i knew their business better than they did even though i never played soccer. Chicago Power (same league as the Wave) hired me as GM, because we had business success with the Wave (quadrupled attendance, quintupled sponsorship). Minnesota Thunder hired me to start up the pro version of their team in 1994, because i similarly showed them i knew their business and could grow it. Chicago MLS hired me, because i had a good track record in soccer with the Wave, Power and Thunder and i am from Chicago. Milwaukee MLS hired me, because i had a good track record in soccer and i've lived in Milwaukee the last 29 years.

    Once you've left, it can be hard to get back into the game for most people, due to compensation needs that change after a few years in the real world. The sports industry generally doesn't pay well, especially for entry level. You can try volunteering for sports teams and befriending decision makers. It's mainly about networking and being in the right place at the right time. You need decision makers to become aware of your skills and be top of mind with them when they make their hiring decisions.

    2) If i'm limited to one answer, it's the coach. He can take care of the other important ingredients - style of play, players, culture.

    3) No,it's not an outdated approach with stadia in the suburbs. Mixed-use development works in the suburbs, too. There's no single formula for economic success of a stadium. The common theme is that there must be additional revenue streams than just the stadium. Capture of revenues from an urban real estate development near a stadium is still an extremely attractive formula. Harrison, NJ and Washington, DC will have that model. Bridgeview is developing the east parking lot of TP with a waterpark, hotel, shops and restaurants to help fund the stadium. Soccer complexes are another form of ancillary revenue generation that can fund/justify stadium development. Pizza Hut Park used that formula. Colorado used a hybrid of soccer complex and mixed use development. KC and St. Louis are pursuing a similar hybrid model. Toronto is unique in that BMO Field stands alone. It was built inexpensively mainly with public funds and will have year round public usage to help justify the public investment.

    A downtown stadium in a mixed-use development would absolutely give the Milwaukee club/fanbase a different feel....though, if we get our stadium, i don't believe it will be downtown.

    peter
     
  9. the rodg

    the rodg New Member

    Dec 16, 2006
    Peter,

    As I watched the U.S. match on TV i couldnt help but notice the incredible fan turnout. There were probably more hispanic(Mexico) fans than Your Red White and Blue clad, Joe America (USA)fans.With that in mind I am wondering if that can help the milwaukee bid at all.?
    We do have quite a large hispanic community and being a natural cross town rival I could see some crazy packed stadiums for Milw. VS Chicago.
    Do you think the commish. or anyone else would take that into consideration
    when considering a Milwaukee team?Or Have they already?
    Also Hows things on the stadium front ? Will anyone be at summerfest trying to promote the outdoor game / Milw MLS/ Stadium ?
     
  10. Peter Wilt

    Peter Wilt Member

    Jun 11, 1999
    Whitefish Bay, WI
    It was a great crowd. I was in a group of 40 mainly Mexico supporters from Milwaukee and everyone enjoyed the game (if not the result for some).
    Ethnic support in general and Latin support in particuar can be an important ingredient to an MLS team's success in Milwaukee. First generation ethnic audiences are generally tied to their native team and country and will limit their support of their new hometown team. Signing high profile players from their country of origin and hosting international friendlies can temporarily spike local support. Real inroads demand creation of real connections with the ethnic communities - community relations, media, amateur soccer, civic, corporate etc. This takes time, money and effort and the results aren't as obvious as the attendance spikes caused by the addition of a star foreign player, but they are longer lasting.

    MLS recognizes Milwaukee's ethnic roots and current ethnic makeup.

    Milwaukee's European ethnic roots are just as important as the new immigrants, because their pioneering efforts throughout the latter half of the 20th century created the foundation for the current youth and adult soccer fan base in Wisconsin.

    Our chances of securing a team rely more on securing a stadium and owner than on MLS' confidence in Wisconsin as a soccer market however.

    On that end, I think we'll reach a critical stage later this summer. Our plans on the stadium are progressing more quickly recently and we'll soon be able to go to interested investors with details. If we receive support from the investors, we'll be in good shape for a team in 2009. If not, we'll probably call it a day before the end of the summer.

    Re: Summerfest, I believe Marquette will host a soccer demonstration at the sports are for one or more days. Milwaukee Pro Soccer is not in a promotion phase right now and will not be represented at Summerfest. Instead we are focused on developing the stadium plan.

    peter
     
  11. MilwaukeeStadia11

    MilwaukeeStadia11 New Member

    Jun 27, 2007
    peter-
    Im a big stadium fan- any sport, baseball, football, soccer, and arenas too and have studied as many pictures of as many stadiums as I can. It seems at this point not only is Milwaukee looking for a soccer stadium but also a new arena to replace the aging bradley center. I stetched out some ideas, and came up with a single building to house both. The original thought came from an idea to house both the wave and an outdoor team in the same building. The stadium when in soccer mode would have an open retractable roof and large open windows on both ends. (Much like the same shape and design as Lucas Oil Stadium, the Colts future home). For arena mode, the roof and windows would close, and the soccer field (on a platform) would drop a bit and simply slide away. (much like the arizona cardinal's new stadium) Under the soccer field would be a whole lower level of seating and the court or rink for basketball or hockey that would then rise a foot or so to become level with where the soccer field had been.
    Basically my question is- how feasible is this (more on the business side) Besides basketball playoffs that seem to go on forever, soccer would not interfere with the other scheduals of the other teams already in the bradley center. The main positive that i can see see is cost reduction. As opposed to two expensive sports venues, you now have something thats maybe just a bit more than one of those alone. This could also help with investors. Those who are already looking at a new arena and those at a stadium could join up. This also brings in bigger names to the picture like herb kohl and management of teams already in place. Would MLS be a little weary about this plan, although its mixed use, the ultimate goal of the design was to make it look like soccer when it was soccer, and an arena when it was arena sports. A couple other quirky things could also be brought in such as outdoor hockey or basketball with this idea. As a soccer stadium, it would house a little over 20,000, and as an arena would house over 30,000- big enough to house deep NCAA tourney games, or possibly events if the 2016 olympics come to chicago. The plan also includes more than twice as many suites as the bradley center currently has. Is this plan totally crazy- or a possible solution to kill two birds with one stone and secure a franchise for milwaukee?
     
  12. Zak1FCK

    Zak1FCK Member+

    Aug 23, 2005
    Milwaukee
    Club:
    FC Kaiserslautern
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The Bradly Center Board has already blocked a soccer stadium next door twice in the past 10 years. There is no way that they will allow this to happen. They are focused on building there own stadium to fit their own needs.
     
  13. Peter Wilt

    Peter Wilt Member

    Jun 11, 1999
    Whitefish Bay, WI
    You lost me at "large, retractable roof". What part of that phrase makes you think that the end result would be a "cost reduction"?

    Additional suites aren't useful as Milwaukee's corporate community can't even fill what they have at Miller Park and the BC. In general, multi-use facilities create compromises for all users. The Milwaukee Bucks, Admirals and Marquette University certainly would have no interest in facility compromises or shared revenue that would reduce their portions of the stadium/arena revenues.

    If i understand your suggestion, a new investor would come in to buy both the Bucks and the MLS team and achieve cost savings and maximize revenue retention by owning both teams and controlling the revenues from the venue. I'm very skeptical we could find someone interested in buying the Bucks, an MLS team and investing huge sums in a mega arena/stadium. Instead of looking for a $30M investor, we'd be looking for a $300M investor. I don't believe that is realistic.

    i do believe we have found a cost effective way to develop a stadium that will be soccer purposed, state of the art and not contingent on support from City Hall. It's still a long shot, but on paper, it's a plan that works.

    peter
     
  14. MilwaukeeStadia11

    MilwaukeeStadia11 New Member

    Jun 27, 2007
    I did not intend for one investor to buy both teams- i guess sports business is a little more complex than we'd all home for it to be- not as easy as just saying- alright, lets work together. o well
     
  15. mkecane

    mkecane New Member

    Sep 9, 2004
    Milwaukee
    MS11- I'm not sure what the current NBA arenas are costing right now (I'd guess ~$300m), and I believe a sss would be ~$100m (more than Pizza Hut Park, less than Colorado's new stadium). When you put in a retractable roof and a floor that slides in/out and up/down, I just can't believe you'd get anything close to $400m and keep the cost down. Nice idea in theory, depending on the design, but it seems very, very unrealistic to me.
     
  16. MilwaukeeStadia11

    MilwaukeeStadia11 New Member

    Jun 27, 2007
    guess u'd just need the right city with the right money and tight space for that- although any stadium that houses an mls team in milwaukee is a good stadium for me
     
  17. Peter Wilt

    Peter Wilt Member

    Jun 11, 1999
    Whitefish Bay, WI
    That's a fair point. Most states have more liberal TIF regulations than Wisconsin, which allow retention of incremental sales tax by the developer. Wisconsin only permits retention of incremental property tax. Other communities have also been more generous with other funding mechanisms as well. The Miller Park experience (and to a lesser extent Lambeau renovation) have soured the public (rightly so IMHO) on some of those mechanisms.

    peter
     
  18. MilwaukeeStadia11

    MilwaukeeStadia11 New Member

    Jun 27, 2007
    yah, after miller park- i dont think anyone will find public tax support to fund any major project for atleast 20 year. (By that time, enough people may have forgotten about it.) So if milwaukee ever plans on building another stadium for anything soon, its going to have to be all private, or a tax that does affect those living in the city such as hotel or car rental tax.
     
  19. Peter Wilt

    Peter Wilt Member

    Jun 11, 1999
    Whitefish Bay, WI
    ....or the third option, which is sharing of incremental taxes that are generated specifically by the development. I think it's unwise and unfair not to allow sales taxes, income taxes and other public revenues generated by a new development to be retained in part by the developer to offset some of the private investment and incentivize development in blighted or undeveloped areas.
    Most states with urban centers provide for this with either broader TIF regs or business enterprise zones - Wisconsin does not :(

    peter
     
  20. Fanaddict

    Fanaddict Member+

    Mar 9, 2000
    streamwood IL USA
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good luck with the stadium in Milwaukee. Any news on the women's team to play in the new WUSA.
     
  21. Peter Wilt

    Peter Wilt Member

    Jun 11, 1999
    Whitefish Bay, WI
    Thank you. We're assembling the investor group and expect to have a formal announcement sometime prior to the USWNT game vs. New Zealand August 12th in Chicago.

    peter
     
  22. phxinferno

    phxinferno New Member

    Feb 11, 2007
    Downtown Phoenix

    Or Arizona, which also just passed a new law that cities cannot use monetary incentives of any kind to bring new development to a city - this includes giving taxes back to have the developer improve infrastructure...
     
  23. TMDSoccer

    TMDSoccer New Member

    Dec 25, 2005
    Severna Park, MD
    Arizona is the only state not to have specific TIF regulation. The law you cite was enacted because of a backdoor TIF used to build the massive Glendale comlpex for the University of Phoenix stadium complex. It's no wonder Arizona's infrastructure isn't keeping up with growth.
     
  24. EconBallar

    EconBallar New Member

    Jun 15, 2007
    Peter,

    Does MLS or any clubs hire economists? I specifically ask this in the sense that other sports (Football, baseball, etc) employ economists. Often times they try to find what a player adds to wins, if a player is being over/underpaid, what are the major factors that can increase attendance, does a specific marketing strategy work, etc
     
  25. Peter Wilt

    Peter Wilt Member

    Jun 11, 1999
    Whitefish Bay, WI
    Not that i'm aware of, though i think all MLS team presidents/GMs are part-time economists and use both professional and amateur methods to seek guidance in their decision making.

    peter
     

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