Bucks ink deal to stay at Bradley Center for five years

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MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Bucks will play at the Bradley Center for at least five more years. Arena officials said today that they’ve reached an agreement with the Bucks for a six-year lease that’s retroactive to last October.

Arena board chairman Marc Marotta said the new lease offers security, as the Bucks and the community continue to explore the possibilities for a new arena. In the meantime, the current facility is getting more revenue opportunities with additional seating options, new restaurants, and valet parking. They’re funded by new naming rights for both the arena and each of its four main entrances, plus other sponsorships. Without them, Marotta said the 24-year-old Bradley Center would not have been stable enough to support a multi-year lease.

He calls the new lease an important step forward, as it maintains the arena which was Jane Bradley Pettit’s gift to the community – and the building will stay safe and enjoyable for at least the next several years. The Bucks have not paid rent at the arena, and that will continue. Other terms basically remain the same. The Bucks get part of all concession revenues and food sales in the suites – plus 30-percent of all merchandise sales at Bucks games and a share of all luxury suite revenues.

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The Milwaukee Bucks lost their fourth straight exhibition game last night, 104-95 at Toronto. The Bucks were up by three going into the final period, but they couldn’t hold on. Starting point guard Kyle Lowry had 10 points in the final five minutes, as the Raptors improved to 5-and-1 in the pre-season. Lowry ended up with 15 points, six assists, and five rebounds – and he’s expected to be a valuable addition for Toronto after he was traded there from Houston this summer. Monta Ellis led all scorers with 26 for Milwaukee. The Bucks only shot 40-percent from the floor, and the Raptors shot 45-and-a-half percent. Milwaukee was also out-rebounded 49-40. The Bucks were without forward Larry Sanders, who was suspended by the team for one game – apparently due to a skirmish in Saturday night’s Milwaukee loss to Washington. Milwaukee is now 2-4 in the pre-season. They’ll play at Charlotte on Thursday.

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