The B.C. The Fortress on 4th Street | |
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Address | 1001 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave. |
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Location | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Coordinates | 43°2′37″N 87°55′1″W / 43.04361°N 87.91694°W |
Owner | Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation |
Capacity | Wrestling: 18,800 Concerts: 20,000 College basketball: 18,850 Basketball: 18,633 (1988–97) 18,717 (1997–2018) Ice hockey: 17,845 Indoor soccer: 17,800 |
Scoreboard | White Way |
Construction | |
Broke ground | October 20, 1986 |
Opened | October 1, 1988 |
Closed | July 25, 2018 |
Demolished | January–May 2019 |
Construction cost | $91 million ($253 million in 2023 dollars[1]) |
Architect |
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Structural engineer | Thornton Tomasetti[3] |
Services engineer | M-E Engineers[4] |
General contractor | Huber, Hunt & Nichols[5] |
Tenants | |
Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) 1988–2018 Milwaukee Admirals (IHL/AHL) 1988–2016 Marquette Golden Eagles (NCAA) 1988–2018 Milwaukee Wave (NPSL/MISL) 1988–2003 Milwaukee Mustangs (AFL) 1994–2001 Milwaukee Mustangs (AF2/AFL) 2009–2012 |
The Bradley Center (also known as the BMO Harris Bradley Center under sponsorship agreements) was a multi-purpose arena located on the northwest corner of North Vel R. Phillips Ave. and West State Streets in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States.
It was home to the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA and the Marquette University men's basketball team. It was also the home of the Milwaukee Wave of the MISL, from 1988 to 2003, the original Milwaukee Mustangs of the AFL from 1994 to 2001, along with the second incarnation of the team from 2009 to 2012, the Badger Hockey Showdown from 1989 to 2002, and the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL (and formerly of the IHL) from 1988 to 2016.
The arena employed about 50 full-time employees, mostly tradespeople, and about 700 part-time employees to help during events.[6]
Following the opening of the new Fiserv Forum in late August 2018, the Bradley Center was demolished to make way for future development.[6] Assets from the arena, including display boards, scoreboards, equipment and sports and concert memorabilia were auctioned off.[7]