UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, one of the city’s oldest sports complexes, will play a critical role in the Republican National Convention this month.

The arena is one of three main venues for the four-day event, alongside Fiserv Forum and Baird Center. All three are part of convention security’s “hard zone,” meaning the area will be controlled by the Secret Service and require credentials to enter.

But Panther Arena is no stranger to major events, including presidential speeches. Here’s everything you need to know about the venue ahead of the RNC.

Where is the Panther Arena?

The arena is in downtown Milwaukee, at 400 W. Kilbourn Ave.

Has Panther Arena hosted political events before?

Though former president Donald Trump will likely deliver his convention speech from Fiserv Forum, the Republican presidential candidate has actually spoken at Panther Arena previously.

In January 2020, Trump hosted a campaign rally at the arena as part of his re-election bid. His remarks at the time largely focused on national security.

On top of thousands attending the rally, Trump’s speech also drew a few hundred anti-Trump protestors outside the venue. Ahead of the event, Trump’s visit sparked campus controversy at UWM, given the arena bears the university’s name. The school’s chancellor eventually issued a statement clarifying that UWM neither owns nor controls booking decisions at the Panther Arena, beyond its own events.

How old is Panther Arena?

Panther Arena is Milwaukee’s original sports and entertainment complex, according to the arena website. 

Built in 1950, it was initially named Milwaukee Arena. It became the Milwaukee Exposition, Convention Center and Arena in 1974 and the U.S. Cellular Arena in 2000. The arena got its current name in 2014, when UW-Milwaukee bought the naming rights for the venue.

Alongside 8,910 permanent seats, the arena has a total capacity of 12,700 people — about two thirds of the size of Fiserv Forum, which has a total of 17,500.

Which teams play at Panther Arena?

The Panther arena is currently home to basketball, hockey and soccer teams: the Panthers, the UWM men’s basketball team; the Milwaukee Admirals, the city’s National Hockey League team; and the Milwaukee Wave, the Major Arena Soccer League team.

But the arena’s history in professional sports goes far beyond these three teams, according to its website. It has also hosted international sporting contests, including a 1998 Davis Cup semifinals match, part of the international men’s tennis tournament, and a Golden Gloves Boxing match versus Russia in 1996.

Closer to home, it hosted the U.S. National Gymnastics Championships in 2003.

What are concerts like at Panther Arena?

According to its website, the arena was “born in the era of rock ‘n’ roll” — and celebrated it hard.

The venue has hosted stars including Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, Green Day, the Beastie Boys and Run DMC, among others. Iconic singers, like Frank Sinatra and Neil Diamond, have also played the venue. 

Panther Arena still regularly hosts live music events, from the Milwaukee Public Schools music program’s annual festival to R&B artists KEM and Ledisi earlier this year.

TyTy Washington Jr. is coming off his first season playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The former Kentucky star finished the year with averages of 1.3 points per contest while shooting 30.0% from the field and 33.3% from the three-point range in 11 games.

According to Evan Sidery, Washington Jr. will now become an unrestricted free agent.

Via Sidery: “The Bucks did not extend a qualifying offer to TyTy Washington.

Washington averaged 18.5 points and 8.5 assists while shooting 42.6% on threes for the Wisconsin Herd.

The former Kentucky guard could be an intriguing development signing for a team in unrestricted free agency.”

Washington Jr. was initially the 29th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

He has played two seasons for the Houston Rockets (and Bucks).

His career averages are 3.8 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per contest while shooting 35.6% from the field and 24.4% from the three-point range in 42 games.

Washington Jr. has also spent a lot of time in the G League.

His career averages are 22.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.3 steals per contest while shooting 44.9% from the field and 37.2% from the three-point range in 32 regular season games (31 starts).

At just 22, some teams will likely be interested in bringing him in for training camp.

The Bucks finished the 2023-24 season as the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 49-33 record.

They lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.

The Milwaukee Police Department District 7 will hold its monthly crime and safety meeting from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 8 at 8424 W. Center St. Several topics will be discussed, including crime statistics, traffic stops and more. More information here. 

VIA Community Development Corp. will hold a neighborhood meeting from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9 at 3730 W. National Ave. The meeting will focus on the reconstruction of West National Avenue. Click here to register.  More information here.

The African American Roundtable invites young people, ages 13 to 24, for a day filled with activities and conversations. The Youth Hangout will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10 at Uihlein Soccer Park, 7101 Good Hope Road. Lunch will be provided. Click here to register. More information here.

Kids, from newborn to 6, can come to Alice’s Garden Urban Farm to spend the morning learning shapes, numbers and more in the garden. Drop-in hours are from 9:30 a.m. to  11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 11 at 2136 N. 21st St. More information here.

Sixteenth Street Community Wellness and Wehr Nature Center are partnering to lead a forest bathing.  Individuals, 14 and up, will spend time connecting with nature in a therapeutic way. The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 11 at Jackson Park, 3500 W. Forest Home Ave. Click here to register. More information here.

Amani United will hold its first Saturday meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 13, due to the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The meeting will take place at the Dominican Center, 2470 W. Locust St. Click here to join virtually, or watch at www.amaniunited.org. More information here.

Young people, ages 6-17, can receive free meals at over a dozen Milwaukee Recreation summer playground locations. Milwaukee Rec staff will serve two free meals to youth every weekday through Aug. 16.  Click here to see a list of playground locations and free meal times at each site. More information here.