Milwaukee Arena opened downtown on April 9, 1950, built at a cost of about $7.6 million from a design by the local firm Eschweiler & Eschweiler. For decades it served as the city’s primary indoor venue, drawing crowds of up to 12,700 for sports, concerts, and civic events in an era when few arenas were purpose-built with broadcast television in mind.
The building never disappeared, but it has worn several names. It became part of the MECCA complex in 1974, then was renamed Wisconsin Center Arena and later U.S. Cellular Arena before taking its current name, UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, in 2014. The original 1950s structure still anchors the building that stands on the site today.
- Atlanta Hawks played here 1951–1955. See every Hawks arena →
- Milwaukee Bucks played here 1968–1988. See every Bucks arena →
Stats at a Glance
- Teams: Milwaukee Hawks (1951–1955), Milwaukee Bucks (1968–1988)
- Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Opened: April 9, 1950
- Capacity: About 12,700 (basketball configuration around 10,783)
- Cost to build: About $7.6 million
- Notable fact: Floor painted by pop artist Robert Indiana in 1978
Home Court for the Hawks and the Bucks
Before Atlanta, the Milwaukee Hawks called the arena home from 1951 to 1955 as one of the NBA’s early franchises. The expansion Milwaukee Bucks moved in for their inaugural 1968 season and stayed through 1988, winning the 1971 NBA championship while playing there. The arena also hosted the 1977 NBA All-Star Game in front of just under 11,000 fans.
In 1978, artist Robert Indiana repainted the court with oversized orange ‘M’ shapes filling both half-courts, a design that became one of the more distinctive basketball floors in league history and is still remembered by fans decades later.
Beyond Basketball
The arena’s reach went well past sports. The Beatles played their only Milwaukee concert there on September 4, 1964, and the building regularly hosted touring acts, conventions, and civic gatherings throughout the second half of the 20th century.
Folded into the larger MECCA convention complex in 1974, the arena kept operating under new names and ownership changes while the original bowl remained in use. Renovations over the years updated seating, scoreboards, and signage, and the venue continues hosting hockey, college basketball, and indoor soccer as the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.
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Milwaukee Arena FAQs
Is Milwaukee Arena still standing?
Yes. The original 1950 structure still exists in downtown Milwaukee, though it has been renamed several times and is currently known as the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.
Why did Milwaukee Arena change its name?
The building became part of the larger MECCA convention complex in 1974, then took on sponsor and institutional names over the decades — Wisconsin Center Arena, U.S. Cellular Arena, and finally UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in 2014.
What NBA teams played at Milwaukee Arena?
The Milwaukee Hawks played there from 1951 to 1955, and the Milwaukee Bucks called it home from their 1968 expansion season through 1988, including their 1971 championship run.
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Photo: Pepsiwithcoke / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.