Those of you who went to the Packers' pre-season game Saturday, or watched it on TV, saw the start of the renovation project to Lambeau Field.
The venerable old stadium will be transformed into a state-of-the-art football facility in the next couple years. It will join Miller Park as two of the best sports entertainment facilities in the country.
Camp Randall also is being spruced up in Madison. It is a great college football stadium that will get better with the renovation.
A report by the Bradley Center board is expected soon on plans to update and perhaps expand that facility.
Tied in with that report could be the future of a proposed 20,000 capacity soccer stadium that could bring a Major League Soccer team to Milwaukee.
We've seen what a new venue can do with the phenomenal attendance at Brewers' games this season, despite another poor performance by the team. Hopefully, the increased revenue from the park will also lead to a better team in the future.
Certainly, these sports facilties are expensive to build, and often include tax dollars. Also, I have heard the resentment from people who feel these venues are being built for an industry in which millions already flows.
But, the truth is that the facilties are built for us, those fans who go to watch the games and events. Fans will be going to Miller Park, Lambeau and the BC well after the current players have retired. These venues are civic facilities, just like museums, art galleries, concert halls, etc.
They also are essential to the survival of big time sports in Wisconsin, since we will never have the big TV market that brings in so much revenue in modern sports.
You can argue that spending millions on sports indicates a skewed, misplaced priority. But, if you have ever been to Rome, you notice that the Coliseum, where sporting events were held, is a prominent remaining landmark. These priorities have been with human beings for a long time.
Built it, renovate it, expand it...and they will continue to come.
Big Dog Trade Rumors
It's that time of the year when trade rumors about the Bucks' Glenn Robinson inevitably start. The latest has Robinson going to Portland for Dale Davis and Bonzi Wells.
Don't hold your breath. As coach George Karl has said when asked about other Big Dog rumors, it's not easy replacing a player "who can score 20 or more points night in and night out" in the NBA.
Davis would be a nice addition to the Bucks, but maybe could be had for Scott Williams and Darvin Ham. The rumor about acquiring Anthony Mason probably has more credence.
By the way, the Bucks finalized their pre-season schedule last week. The game previously listed as ‘TBA' will be played against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Mankato, Minn., on Wednesday, Oct. 17.
The Bucks eight-game preseason schedule - which includes two Bradley Center appearances - is now finalized. Six of the eight games will be carried on WTMJ Radio (620 AM), the most ever aired by the team's flagship.
The Bucks make their 2001-02 Bradley Center debut on Monday, Oct. 15, against the Denver Nuggets at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 20, the Bucks host the Timberwolves at the Bradley Center in the 24th Annual MACC Fund Game. The Bucks open the regular season on Oct. 30 at Utah and play their home opener against the Boston Celtics on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
A Survivor Of Change
I ran into the Admirals' Phil Wittliff at a jazz concert recently. He is genuinely excited about the Admirals' entry into the American Hockey League, which is replacing the International Hockey League.
Phil has done everything from play to coach to sell programs for the Admirals over his long association with the franchise. He now serves as GM and VP. He really has been the glue to the Admirals' organization through changes in leagues, affiliations, even ownership.
One of the most refreshing things about him is that he maintains his enthusiasm through all the changes.
Navigate Those Whitecaps
The Milwaukee Rampage has moved to within two points of the first place Vancouver Whitecaps in the Western Conference and play the leaders in two of the last three games of the regular season. The first game is at Vancouver on Aug. 31. The second is Sept. 5 on the Rampage's home field.
Gregg Hoffmann writes the Milwaukee Sports Buzz every Monday on OMC.
