A proposal for a new NBA D-League arena in Oshkosh has been submitted by an group of investors, signaling interest in landing a Milwaukee Bucks franchise.
Last week, it was reported that Oshkosh officials were targeting the site of the former Buckstaff Furniture building for a redevelopment plan that could include an arena. Though the tear down of the building and cleanup of the site is not complete, officials want to move forward so that the investor group can pitch the plan to the Bucks.
That group, Fox Valley Pro Basketball Incorporated, has now submitted a concept for a 3,500-seat arena on that site. It is not expected to be considered by the city’s planning commission until January, but some officials are already intrigued by the project’s potential. More from Fox News 11:
“The day the Buckstaff is completely torn down will be a day this community remembers for a long time, because it will mean the community has turned the page and its gone on to the next stage of redevelopment,” said Jason White, CEO for Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation.
A Planned Development Review application has been submitted to the city to build the arena. It would be built on the south half of the Main Steet property, with a 590-spot parking lot to the north.
“Looked at a variety of other high traffic, high visible areas, but we really believe this project is perfect for downtown,” said White.
The plan is part of a larger vision for more than $100 million in new development for a new district called the Sawdust District.
“There is stuff going on right now, but not to the magnitude that will happen when the Bucks come here, if the Bucks come here,” said Steve Cummings, Oshkosh’s mayor.
Fox 11 also has a gallery of preliminary arena renderings.
Aside from Oshkosh, the Bucks have also considered proposals in Racine and Sheboygan, the other two finalists for the franchise. Racine has discussed the possibility of an arena/hotel development in its downtown, while Sheboygan is weighing a renovation plan for the Sheboygan Armory.
Rendering courtesy City of Oshkosh.
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