It may make economic sense for the Bradley Center and the Wisconsin Center District to merge and promote downtown Milwaukee's sports, entertainment and convention venues with one voice, but it won't happen anytime soon. In an era of taxpayer revolts, the stage is now set for a debate over the future of the downtown venues and who will pay for them.

Milwaukee will soon need to replace the Bradley Center and expand the Midwest Airlines Center, according to the speakers at the Milwaukee Press Club Newsmaker Press Conference today. The debate will be over how the venues are managed and who pays for the costs.

Franklyn Gimbel, chairman of the Wisconsin Center District, said the district must soon launch the third phase of its expansion of the Midwest Airlines Center to help Milwaukee compete for convention business that the city is losing to other markets that have larger facilities. Furthermore, tax dollars will need to fund the expansion of the Midwest Airlines Center, Gimbel said. "The only way it will happen is through taxes," Gimbel said. Gimbel said the expansion would be justified by the public benefits the community will realize from hosting larger conventions.

Ulice Payne, chairman of the Bradley Center board of directors, acknowledged at the Newsmaker Press Conference that the home of the Milwaukee Bucks is the oldest arena in the National Basketball Association. Payne said the Park East Corridor north of Juneau Avenue "might be a great place for a new arena."

Payne said the Bradley Center board is continuing to negotiate for the "last long-term lease" for the Bucks at the building, and he said the community must soon be engaged to discuss the options for replacing the Bradley Center. Given today's politically charged taxpayer climate, "There's got to be a private sector solution … No one's asking for public dollars," Payne said. Regarding the notion of taxpayer dollars being used to finance a new building to replace the Bradley Center, Payne said, "I don't think it's going to happen. Now, Frank, (maybe) he's smarter than me …" However, a tax incremental financing (TIF) district or some other type of public financing for roads and sewers to accommodate a new facility would be justified, Payne said.

Payne and Gimbel said discussions of a merger between the Bradley Center and the Wisconsin Center District have stalled. "Ultimately, there has to be a grand solution. Maybe it's the creation of a new (entity)," Payne said. Gimbel suggested an eventual merger between the Bradley Center, the Wisconsin Center District and the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts may be the ultimate solution. That way, Milwaukee could market facilities of all sizes to conventions and concert promoters, Gimbel said.