Attorney Paul Swanson has been appointed receiver of the Oshkosh Arena in a foreclosure claim filed by the arena’s builder.

OSHKOSH – Future Bucks LLC, the Wisconsin Herd’s management team, has filed as a creditor of defendant Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. in a recent court document in Bayland Building’s ongoing foreclosure claim against the Oshkosh Arena owner.

In a document filed July 18 in Winnebago County Circuit Court, Future Bucks LLC requested to be added as “an interested third party” in the case because it’s a creditor of arena owner Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. and “is a counterparty to a contract” with the defendant. The Herd is the G League affiliate of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.

The document was filed one day after the court gave notice attorney Paul Swanson was appointed receiver of the Oshkosh Arena in the foreclosure case with Bayland Buildings, which is the company that built the facility.

A receiver is a neutral third party appointed by a court to temporarily manage finances, property, assets or business operations. When a receiver is appointed, the company is said to be “in receivership.” Receivership can be an alternative to bankruptcy and can help companies avoid it. The receiver’s goal is to stabilize the company and return it to profitability while protecting the interests of creditors, shareholders and the public.

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According to the court document, Future Bucks LLC requested permission to appear in the case “to receive filings in this matter” because its interests may be affected by “the receiver’s exercise of his duties.”

The request came two months after an inside source revealed to the Northwestern that the Herd could possibly leave Oshkosh as it “no longer wants to work” with the Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. over claims of a violation of the current lease.

It’s not exactly certain how Fox Valley Pro Basketball is suspected to be in breach of the lease agreement, which runs to 2026, but the source explained the Herd has opt-out provisions that could release the team from that lease.

Fox Valley Pro Basketball listed the 3,500-seat arena for sale two months prior amid a series of financial difficulties, but Bayland Buildings subsequently filed a foreclosure case.

In the suit filed in June, Bayland Buildings alleges Fox Valley Pro Basketball owes an outstanding balance of $12,417,464.82 and has been “consistently delinquent” in making payments.

Fox Valley Pro Basketball responded to the case by saying it “lacks knowledge and information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegation and therefore deny and put Plaintiff to its burden of proof.”

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The arena owner also denied the claim of being consistently delinquent in making payments despite stating it has not made a payment to Bayland since March 2024.

Swanson, the court-appointed receiver, also filed a document relating to this case July 17 stating the defendant’s legal counsel has refused to provide him with a list of the owner’s creditors and the amounts owed. Swanson then listed 37 possible creditors “to cast a wide net” and include all the parties from Fox Valley Pro Basketball’s previous bankruptcy case.

The next court date in the foreclosure case is a motion hearing at 10 a.m. Aug. 5 before Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge John A. Jorgensen.

How did we get here?

Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. has faced a number of financial challenges since first building the arena in 2017.

A general contractor sued the area owners for $21.5 million in 2019 before Fox Valley Pro Basketball filed for bankruptcy, reporting more than 100 creditors. Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. eventually reached settlements with the creditors.

The Northwestern obtained records from the city’s finance department this May showing the Oshkosh Arena owner owed more than $619,000 in combined personal property and real estate taxes.

Fox Valley Pro Basketball stated it did not pay its 2023 real estate tax obligations, but said it lacks “knowledge and information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining allegation” that the total amounts to $625,575.69.

Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com.

As the trade deadline approaches, the Brewers face the Chicago Cubs for a series that could influence the outcome the fate of Chicago’s season.

The Cubs sit last in the division, but still within reach of a Wild Card spot. Given the crowded competition for those final playoff spots, this series could ultimately cause the Cubs to sit out of major additions if the Brewers take a commanding series victory.

It’s an opportunity to capitalize on a disappointing opponent, but the Cubs have been playing better lately. That’s part of what drives the narrative home for this potentially playing a role in the Cubs’ deadline plans. Over the past 30 days entering Sunday, according to FanGraphs, the Cubs rank 18th in runs scored and sixth in team ERA. That pitching performance could prove vital to how this three-game set plays out.

Although the Cubs have been hovering around the middle of the pack offensively, Ian Happ is a key performer who has stepped up recently. After a slog of underperformance, Happ has bounced back with a .261/.376/.543 (156 wRC+) slash line that includes 12 doubles and nine home runs since June 1.

Probable Pitcher Matchups

Monday, July 22 @ 7:05 p.m: Tobias Myers (3.13 ERA, 4.16 FIP) vs. Javier Assad (3.27 ERA, 4.51 FIP)

This series has quite a few pitchers starting with ERAs significantly lower than their underlying peripherals suggest, but this could prove to be one of the more fascinating matchups of the week. Tobias Myers’ 3.13 ERA has been vital to the Brewers’ success. His most recent performance was one of his most impressive, an eight-inning shutout against the Pirates. As the season has progressed, he’s been walking fewer batters, giving up fewer home runs, and inducing more groundballs. Will that formula carry over against this Cubs lineup?

Javier Assad hasn’t been the most convincing pitcher, especially in recent weeks. After a solid start to the season, Assad had a 1.49 ERA after nine starts. In eight starts since then, Assad’s 5.59 ERA has been accompanied by a rising walk rate and a growing tally of home runs allowed. He usually doesn’t go deep in games, only pitching at least five innings in four of those nine recent starts.

Tuesday, July 23 @ 7:05 p.m: Colin Rea (3.77 ERA, 4.48 FIP) vs. Jameson Taillon (3.10 ERA, 3.81 FIP)

Colin Rea has been a steady presence for the Brewers this season, working a 9-3 record and a 3.77 ERA. There have been a few unsightly pitching lines, but in his eight most recent starts, he has allowed more than two runs just twice. That’s a model of consistency the Brewers are grateful for as Rea has even tapped into some more strikeouts lately. He doesn’t give away many free passes and he’s done a great job of forcing groundballs, feeding into the team’s defensive strength.

Jameson Taillon might not be an ace, but he’s a practical, effective pitcher when he’s at his best. He has a 3.10 ERA this season, which would be the best mark of his career. Taillon has expertly limited hard contact this season. His 35.6% hard-hit rate is in the 74th percentile, according to BaseballSavant. Taillon made significant improvements to his cutter, his second-most used pitch. The pitch allowed a .521 SLG last year, compared to .267 in 2024.

Wednesday, July 24 @ 1:20 p.m: TBD vs. Justin Steele (3.07 ERA, 3.18 FIP)

Joe Ross hasn’t pitched for the Brewers since May 20, but this could be the time for his return as he wraps up a rehab assignment. Although he isn’t the flashiest pitcher, he had been on a solid run before his injury. In his last four games, he had a 3.18 ERA over 17 innings. Ross had made one appearance this year against the Cubs, going six innings while allowing one run on May 3.

Justin Steele’s 2-4 record is deceptive given his actual performance. Over a nine-game span from May 27 to July 11, Steele pitched to an impressive 1.48 ERA. His most recent start, however, was much less dominant. In 4 ²⁄₃ innings against the Diamondbacks, he allowed five runs. Steele generally doesn’t give up many home runs or even surrender much hard contact, so it will be an important test in the series finale for the Brewers to face one of last year’s Cy Young candidates.

Prediction

The Cubs are at the bottom of the division for a reason. Although they aren’t quite in the “bad” category, they haven’t been the most impressive of the Brewers’ NL Central rivals. Still, they’ve been much better lately. I have more faith in the Brewers offense, but the Cubs bullpen has been the best in baseball over the last 30 days with a 1.86 ERA. If Milwaukee’s offense can’t create many leads, it could lead to a coin flip of a series. With that said, I think the overall quality of Milwaukee’s team is slightly higher, leading to a 2-1 series victory.

After the Bucks added Gary Trent Jr. last week, we thought we’d do them one better and add a new face to our team too! We’d like to welcome Jack Trehearne as our newest contributor, who comes to us from a Land Down Under (don’t worry, the only plundering Jack does is of Raptors shooting guards) and is a former member of the Eastern Mavericks of the NBL1. That’s right: he’s a certified hooper. and we’re excited to have him aboard. We hope you’ll join us in welcoming him to the site and are looking forward to his content to come! Let’s let him introduce himself…

G’day Bucks fans! Sorry, you just know I had to start with some cheesy Aussie slang. I recently graduated from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Professional Writing. I have formerly written for my university’s publication On The Record, Racing and Sports, as well as for my own Bucks-related blog from time to time. I am super excited to be joining the awesome team at Brew Hoop and have been welcomed with open arms. Thanks so much and Fear The Deer!

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