A group seeking to build a new arena in Oshkosh for a Milwaukee Bucks D-League franchise made its pitch during an event on Wednesday night.
Oshkosh has openly discussed the prospect of building a new arena on the site of the Buckstaff Furniture building. With that structure set to be demolished, the site could be cleared for an arena this spring, as a groundbreaking could take place as early as March.
One week ahead of a meeting with the Oshkosh planning commission, Fox Valley Pro Basketball has offered its ideas on the proposal. The arena would be designed to host a broad range of events other than basketball, and would be part of an entertainment district. More from WBAY:
“That is absolutely the plan. The D-League only has 24 home games, so most of it, be have 300-plus open days so we would definitely be trying to fill it with concerts and other events,” said Greg Pierce of Fox Valley Pro Basketball.
Pierce is leading the effort to bring a D-league team to Oshkosh.
The arena, which would be a part of an area known as the Sawdust District, would have a capacity of 3,500 for basketball and more than 4,000 for concerts.
Greater Oshkosh Development Corp. CEO Jason White said, “We have a need in our community for more court space, for youth tournaments, basketball and sporting events of all kinds for youth, but beyond that convention conferences, fills up a place like this, but also other larger conferences as well.”
The $15 million arena would be privately financed but located in a TIF district.
The presentation adds another layer to the Bucks’ ongoing search for a city for its prospective D-League franchise. Last September, the Bucks narrowed their list of candidates to three Wisconsin cities–Oshkosh, Racine, Sheboygan. There is no certain timeline for the team’s announcement on which city it will select.
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