UWM and the U.S. Cellular Arena
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is proud to call the historic U.S. Cellular Arena its home for men's basketball.
The University and the Wisconsin Center District are involved a multi-year agreement to allow the Panthers to play at the Arena, which has hosted some of the most memorable basketball events in Milwaukee history. The Panthers played all of their exhibition, regular season and postseason games at the Arena over the last three seasons, and will do so until at least 2011-12 thanks to a new five-year agreement signed this summer.
Until playing nine of its 12 regular season games downtown in 2003-04, UWM had not called the U.S. Cellular Arena its permanent home since the 1997-98 season. But the return downtown was sparked by a highly-successful 2003 Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament. After drawing more than 7,000 fans for the semifinal round, UWM drew a then-record 10,115 for the title-game win over Butler.
The combination of UWM and the U.S. Cellular Arena is proving to be a winning one for all involved.
"It's exciting to be playing our games downtown and we feel the timing for this has certainly been right," UWM Athletic Director Bud Haidet said. "The feedback we received from our fans and alumni about the move to the arena has been tremendous and we are thrilled to be getting the chance to call the renovated U.S. Cellular Arena our permanent home. This has provided us with increased opportunities for ticket sales, marketing and publicity and provided a positive experience for our growing fan base."
"It's an unbelievable experience to be downtown at the Cell," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "Our students, combined with the rest of our fans, really make it a tremendous homecourt advantage. We have a nice base of fans with season-ticket holders, our students and others that regularly attend throughout the year. They are lively and excited and have helped create a venue that is second-to-none in our league. When you look behind our basket and see that sea of gold - it's really created a great atmosphere for college basketball. The Cell is always going to be home for us as long as I have something to do with it."
The Arena became even more of a homecourt advantage for the Panthers prior to the 2004-05 season, when the basketball floor took on some new permanent colors - black and gold. The floor, which was new in 2001, now has a black border with gold lane lines to reflect UWM's presence as a permanent tenant at the U.S Cellular Arena. The Horizon League is also recognized on the floor in front of the team benches. Previously, the floor has been blue with no team-specific markings or logos. UWM's championship banners are also permanently on display in the Arena.
It is all part of the commitment made by the Wisconsin Center District, which runs the U.S. Cellular Arena and the adjacent Midwest Airlines Center and Milwaukee Theater, to having UWM basketball call the Arena home.
"We are proud to host the UWM Panthers at the U.S. Cellular Arena," Dick Geyer, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Center District, said. "The team has established itself as a major Division I college basketball program and as such, they need a home court to reflect that prominence."
The Panthers actually have a fairly extensive history at the Arena, which has also been known as the MECCA and the Wisconsin Center District Arena over the years. UWM moved its schedule downtown for the 1992-93 season, two years after returning to the Division I ranks, and proceeded to win all 12 of its home games that season while drawing more than 8,000 fans for a contest with UW-Green Bay. UWM continued to play its games at the Arena through the 1997-98 campaign before moving back to the on-campus Klotsche Center for the next five seasons.
The storied building, originally built in 1950 and also currently the home for indoor soccer's Milwaukee Wave, has been the home to the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. In fact, the Bucks played their first game at the Arena on Oct. 16, 1968, falling to the Chicago Bulls, 89-84, in front of 8,468 fans. Just four years later, the Bucks were celebrating playing in the NBA Finals at the Arena, claiming the 1971 NBA title. The Bucks called the Arena home until 1988, when they moved across the street to the Bradley Center.
Marquette and coaching legends Hank Raymond and Al McGuire also called the Arena home during some of its finest moments. Then the Warriors, Marquette won the 1977 National Championship after playing in the 1974 Final Four. Now the Golden Eagles, Marquette has also played at the Bradley Center since 1988.
Since those days, the building has undergone extensive renovations in recent seasons and ranks as one of the finest facilities in the Horizon League. The Arena provides a number of amenities for players, media and fans that make it a first-class college basketball venue.
With no obstructed-view seats, the Arena's configuration puts every patron close to the action and the Arena is well-known for being spectator-friendly. $10.5 million in renovations to the U.S. Cellular Arena were completed in 1998. These include a new video scoreboard, totally-refurbished seats, improved access for people with disabilities, wider concourses, improved concession stands, new floors and finishes, new catwalks, better lighting and improved HVAC.
In 2000, ice-making ability was restored, 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.
A new media room provides ample workspace for members of the media before, during and after events, and the area rates as the best media-services area in the Horizon League. Plus, the renovated home locker room is truly a home away from home for the Panthers, including large wood lockers, a television, a separate coaches' room and a training room.
UWM has also put its own touches on the basketball setup at the Arena. Courtside seating provides some fans an up-close look at the action, with a second row of courtside seats debuting in 2006-07. Plus, UWM has also set up a club-seating section in the north end zone. The club seats made their debut in 2005-06 and will return again this season.
The Panthers have played a total of 159 games as the home team at the Arena, compiling a 94-65 mark. They have won 36 of their 42 contests downtown since returning for the 2002-03 post-season.
UWM has also played Marquette a handful of times as the road team at the Arena.
Landmark Dates For UWM At The U.S. Cellular Arena
Dec. 13, 1971
UWM plays its first-ever game at the Arena, then known as the MECCA. The Panthers fell to UTEP, 57-41. The Panthers beat Southern Illinois the next month for their first win downtown.
Dec. 1, 1992
UWM plays its first game downtown as a permanent tenant in the Arena, beating Western Michigan, 84-75.
Jan. 13, 1993
UWM and UW-Green Bay play an overtime contest in front of a then-record 8,631 downtown. The Panthers win, 75-68.
Feb. 21, 1998
UWM loses to Wright State, 75-65, in its final game downtown before moving to the on-campus Klotsche Center.
March 8, 2003
UWM plays at the Arena for the first time in five years, beating UIC, 75-73, in the Horizon League Tournament semifinals.
March 11, 2003
UWM beats Butler, 69-52, to win the Horizon League Championship in front of a national-television audience at 10,115 fans.
Nov. 22, 2003
UWM returns its regular season games downtown, beating Montana, 95-83, in the season opener.
March 9, 2004
UWM falls to UIC in the league title game in front of 10,254 fans.
Feb. 16, 2005
UWM beats Butler, 64-53, to clinch its second-straight Horizon League regular season championship.
March 8, 2005
UWM beats Detroit, 59-58, in a thrilling Horizon League title game in front of a sellout crowd of 10,783, giving the Panthers their second-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
March 7, 2006 - UWM beats Butler, 87-71, in the Horizon League Championship Game to earn its third NCAA Tournament berth in the last four seasons
UWM Attendance Records At The U.S. Cellular Arena
| 1. | 10,783 | Detroit | 3/8/05 |
| 2. | 10,254 | UIC | 3/9/04 |
| 3. | 10,115 | Butler | 3/11/03 |
| 4. | 10,021 | Butler | 3/7/06 |
| 5. | 8,703 | UW-Green Bay | 1/31/04 |
| 6. | 8,653 | Loyola | 3/8/05 |
| 7. | 8,631 | UW-Green Bay | 1/13/93 |
| 8. | 7,502 | Loyola | 3/4/06 |
| 9. | 7,411 | UIC | 3/8/03 |
| 10. | 6,630 | Missouri State | 2/18/06 |
