March 7, 2013

Marquette Law School, Journal Sentinel conference will examine the debate surrounding a new sports and entertainment arena

Event Information:
Date: Monday, April 8
Time: 8 a.m.
Place: Eckstein Hall, Appellate Courtroom
           1215 W. Michigan St., Milwaukee
          
MILWAUKEE – Marquette University Law School and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Monday, April 8, will convene a conference that focuses on key questions in the debate over a new sports and entertainment arena in Milwaukee. Supported by the Law School’s Lubar Fund for Public Policy Research, the event will begin at 8 a.m. in Eckstein Hall.

The conference is free and open to the public. Registration is required and available online.

Titled “A New Milwaukee Sports and Entertainment Arena? Divining the Benefits and Dividing the Costs,” the conference will address whether a new sports and entertainment facility is necessary, who would ultimately pay for it, and whether a new arena might be part of a larger plan that addresses other community or regional interests.

The city’s current facility, the BMO Harris Bradley Center, opened in October 1988. Now, 25 years later, discussions have begun about possibly replacing one of the oldest arenas in the National Basketball Association.

Supporters of a new sports and entertainment facility say it is critical to the city’s future. Without an arena that provides new revenue-generating features, they argue, Milwaukee risks losing not only an NBA franchise but also major concerts and popular special events, thus lessening the city’s quality of life and damaging its reputation as a major league market. Critics say the impact of new arenas and stadiums on communities is overstated and taxpayer money should go toward more-pressing needs.

Conference participants will also examine the economic and psychological impact of sports arenas on cities, how other communities have financed similar facilities, and the public and political appetite for a new arena.

“As with other public policy issues, Marquette Law School has no position on the question whether a new arena is necessary or desirable,” said Dean Joseph D. Kearney. “But I am delighted that once again Mike Gousha, distinguished fellow in law and public policy, in collaboration here with Marty Kaiser, editor of the Journal Sentinel, and Dave Haynes, editorial page editor, has assembled business leaders, academics, journalists, and politicians to promote discussion of an important and timely topic.”

Confirmed participants include:
•    Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive
•    David Boardman, executive editor, Seattle Times
•    Marina Dimitrijevic, chair, Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
•    Craig Leipold, majority owner, Minnesota Wild (and former owner, Nashville Predators)
•    Greg Marcus, president and CEO, Marcus Corporation
•    Marc Marotta, chair, Bradley Center Board
•    Michael Murphy, alderman, City of Milwaukee
•    Cory Nettles, managing director, Generation Growth Capital, Inc.
•    Matt Parlow, associate dean for academic affairs, Marquette Law School
•    Tim Sheehy, president, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
•    David Shribman, executive editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
•    Robin Vos, Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly
•    Roy Williams, president, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber
•    Andrew Zimbalist, Robert A. Woods Professor of Economics, Smith College

Media interested in attending the conference should contact Christopher Stolarski, senior communication specialist, at (414) 288-1988 or christopher.stolarski@marquette.edu.