Top Wisconsin Republicans say they don’t think owners of the Milwaukee Bucks need to chip in more for a new arena being built with the help of state government.
The last time plans were made public, the current Bucks owners, who are among the wealthiest Americans, had pledged $150 million for a new arena. Former owner Herb Kohl promised another $100 million of his own. That left the state of Wisconsin, the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County to come up with the other $250 million. Asked whether the owners should pay more, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said they were already paying enough.
“The private sector is contributing half already,” Vos said. “So I think that’s something that we should laud and say thank you. It’s important to make sure that we look at what’s happening in other places. Most arenas rely much more heavily on public investment than the one that we’re looking at in Milwaukee.”
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Gov. Scott Walker echoed those comments to reporters in Milwaukee. Vos and Walker say they want the city and county to pay more for the arena.
Editor’s note: An earlier headline mentioned Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald instead of Gov. Scott Walker. It has been updated.
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