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UWM Panther Arena

UWM Panther Arena
400 W. Kilbourn Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53203
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One of the most storied venues in the Midwest, UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena serves as the home to the Milwaukee men’s basketball program. Built in 1950 at a cost of $7.6 million, the Arena seats 10,783 for basketball and has been the site of some of the greatest basketball moments in the city of Milwaukee.

UWM acquired naming rights for UWM Panther Arena in 2014, but does not own or control the facility, which is located in downtown Milwaukee about three miles from campus. Outside of men’s basketball games and commencement ceremonies, UWM does not schedule or sponsor the multitude of events that take place at the arena each year. Questions about the arena and events there should be directed to the Wisconsin Center District.
 
A Milwaukee record crowd of 10,783 turned out to see the Panthers knock off Detroit 59-58 on March 8, 2005, in the title game of the Horizon League Championship to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Milwaukee wound up reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 that season.
 
The Panthers have played a total of 256 games as the home team at Panther Arena, compiling a 185-129 (.589) mark and have racked up a 143-74 (.659) record there since returning for the 2002-03 postseason. On December 13, 1971, Milwaukee played its first-ever game at the Arena, then known as the MECCA, falling to UTEP, 57-41. An 88-77 victory over Southern Illinois on January 10, 1972 was the Panthers’ first in the facility.
 
Some of the greatest moments in Milwaukee men’s basketball history have taken place inside Panther Arena, including three Horizon League Tournament championship game victories – in 2003, 2005, and 2006 – which earned the program berths in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Milwaukee moved its basketball games to the downtown facility for the 1992-93 season, two years after returning to the NCAA Division I and proceeded to win all of its home games that year. The Panthers continued to play their home games at the Arena through the 1997-98 campaign before coming back to campus for the next five seasons. Milwaukee returned to the downtown facility for the 2002-03 postseason and called the Arena home until moving back to the on-campus Klotsche Center for the 2012-13 campaign. The Panthers returned to the Arena for the 2013-14 season.
 
In 2000, ice-making ability was restored at the Arena, and bold new outdoor lighting, signage and electronic messaging systems were added. More recently, construction of a new, outdoor, public promenade alongside the building – the Wisconsin Athletic Walk of Fame – was completed.
 
The University secured naming rights to the facility in June 2014 and that summer, new seats were installed in the lower bowl of the Arena, new video boards, including a state-of-the-art overhead board, were put in place and new, branded interior and exterior signage was erected. The second phase of new seat installation took place prior to the 2016-17 season, as well as an updated concourse that includes new concessions areas with updated food and beverage options as well as a brand new, on-site team store. Also updated at that time; the team locker rooms were also completely renovated, lighting throughout the arena were updated and WiFi service throughout the building was improved.
 
Once popularly known as the MECCA, the Milwaukee Bucks won the 1971 National Basketball Association championship while playing at the Arena. The Bucks also advanced to the NBA Finals in 1974 and reached the conference finals four other times while calling the building home. Marquette played its home games at the Arena during the 1976-77 campaign, when it won the NCAA championship.
 
Basketball legends have showcased their skills at Panther Arena, with nearly all of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History having taken the floor there. In addition, the 1977 NBA All-Star Game was played at Panther Arena, with Julius Erving earning Most Valuable Player accolades in a contest that also featured NBA legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Havlicek and Pete Maravich, among others.
 
UWM Panther Arena has also hosted a number of concerts over the years, including The Beatles, The Doors, Rolling Stones, Earth, Wind and Fire, The Commodores, Clay Aiken, Lil’ Wayne, Prince, Frank Sinatra, Alan Jackson, Elvis Presley and Ludacris, among others.