Milwaukee, WI
Budget nears $70 million for FPC Live’s Milwaukee music venue, opening late in 2025
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Bookings are expected to begin early in 2025 for the 4,500-person-capacity live music venue in Milwaukee’s Deer District, with the under-construction venue on schedule to open by late 2025.
Construction began in late May on the vacant Bradley Center lot, land owned by the Milwaukee Bucks, for Madison-based concert promoter FPC Live’s venue.
A little less than five months later — including a pause ahead of and during the Republican National Convention anchored at adjacent Fiserv Forum in July — the foundation and footings have been set and an elevator shaft has been erected, said Joel Plant, CEO of FPC Live’s parent company Frank Productions.
The goal for construction firm Miron is to construct the building’s steel skeleton and get the structure enclosed as quickly as possible ahead of winter weather, Plant said.
Frank Productions offered construction updates and tours to media and constituents Wednesday, in lieu of a groundbreaking ceremony that was skipped to make as much progress as possible before the RNC.
A naming rights sponsor has yet to be announced for the ballroom-style venue, which is projected to host 100 events a year, primarily concerts but also private function, Plant said.
Live-music industry behemoth Live Nation owns a majority stake in Frank Productions; FPC Live primarily serves as the Milwaukee promoter for Live Nation concerts. The venue’s first shows are expected be announced by the middle of next year, Plant said.
Initially, the venue, first proposed in 2021 for the Third Ward before moving to the Deer District, was planned with two rooms, including an 800-person-capacity club since cut due to rising costs. Then, the development had a price tag of $50 million.
This week, Plant said the final cost is now projected to be near $70 million, and that it will take years for FPC Live to make their return on investment.
“We’re in this for the long haul,” Plant said. “Milwaukee is an incredibly strong market, and we’re looking at this as a viable place for fans of all genres of music in Milwaukee to enjoy for the next several decades.”
Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on X at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.