The UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena is a major sports and entertainment venue, built in 1950. With no obstructed-view seats, the Arena’s configuration puts every patron close to the action; it enjoys a reputation as highly conducive to spectator fervor. It has hosted college and professional basketball, hockey, circuses, concerts, motorsports, banquets, ceremonies, and assemblies of all kinds. The venue has an extraordinarily strong ceiling with a 450,000 lb. live load capacity – enough to support the heaviest shows on the road, and “ready to rig” for almost any conceivable configuration of lights, speakers, banners, props or other equipment. It is technologically up-to-date and equipped to support high volume power requirements, satellite links, and telephone and data transmission lines.

$10.5 million in renovations to the UW-Milwaukee Panther 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 – an all-around superior environment for both patron and show needs.

In 2000, ice-making ability was restored, and bold new outdoor lighting, signage and electronic messaging systems were added. Subsequently, a new, outdoor, public promenade was built alongside the building – the Wisconsin Athletic Walk of Fame.

In 2014, the Wisconsin Center District installed a new, state-of-the-art scoreboard system and began a three-year project to replace all permanent seats. By November 2016, WCD had put the finishing touches on the seat replacement and an additional $6.3 million set of improvements funded in part through a $2 million contribution by the Milwaukee Admirals AHL hockey team; in total, the 2014-2016 upgrades represent some of the greatest investments made to the building since it opened.

The UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena is home to the UW-Milwaukee Panthers men’s basketball team (Horizon League), the Milwaukee Admirals professional hockey team (American Hockey League), the Milwaukee Wave professional indoor soccer team (Major Arena Soccer League), and the Brewcity Bruisers amateur roller derby league (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association).