Dive Brief:
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The Bucks will stay in Milwaukee now that the Wisconsin State Assembly has voted to spend $250 million to help build the basketball team a new stadium. The bill now heads to Gov. Scott Walker, who has said he supports it.
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The measure easily passed this week as Republicans and Democrats agreed the investment would reap the city and state financial benefits, including income taxes paid by NBA players and staff. "It is cheaper for us to pass this bill than defeat it and have the team leave," Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos told ESPN. Bucks president Peter Feigin had said he planned to move the team to Las Vegas or Seattle if a new stadium were not approved this year.
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The team also will contribute $250 million toward construction of the 17,000-seat arena.
Dive Insight:
In April, Feigin unveiled a plan to surround the new stadium with a large entertainment plaza and practice facility in a largely vacant area. Preliminary designs for the stadium — by local architecture firm Eppstein Uhen Architects and international firm Populous — refer to the design as an "Atomic-age swoop."
Feigin has promised to start “a transformative economic development project that will help revitalize our community and region,” according to a statement from the team.
However, there has been increased scrutiny recently on claims that sports arenas positively affect surrounding businesses and neighborhoods, as reports have shown new stadiums don't always benefit the local economy.