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.

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – The IceHogs are enjoying their home opening win with a six-day break before once again returning to the ice of the BMO on Friday. Rockford opened up their season with a dominant win against Grand Rapids last Saturday, beating their divisional rival 4-1.

This Friday brings a nice test for the new-look IceHogs, starting a home-and-home against the defending Central Division Champions. Rockford will host the Milwaukee Admirals at 7:00 p.m. Friday at 7:00, followed by their first away game the next day at 6:00 p.m. in Milwaukee.

Copyright 2024 WIFR. All rights reserved.

A Milwaukee woman faces multiple felonies after authorities say she intentionally crashed her vehicle into two pedestrians ― one the father of her child ― in West Allis.

Shakeena Howell, 33, is charged with two counts of hit-and-run, causing great bodily harm; two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment (one count is domestic violence related); two counts of operating a vehicle with a suspended license causing bodily harm; and one count each of criminal damage to property and domestic abuse.

If convicted of all charges, Howell faces up 63 years in prison and fine up to $181,000.

Howell believed the father of her child was having relations with one of his temp agency employees

According to the criminal complaint:

On Oct. 4, around 6:45 a.m., West Allis police responded to 7447 W. Greenfield Ave., for reports of a vehicle striking a pedestrian. When officers arrived, they observed two injured people, who were subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment. Both victims, two men, suffered fractures as a result of the crash.

Officers spoke to five witnesses who saw the crash and learned that four of them ― and one of the victims ― are employees of a temp work company of the other man who was injured in the crash. They were all gathered in a parking lot waiting to leave for a job when one of the victims pulled up in his vehicle with Howell and parked on South 75th Street ― south of where the rest of the crew was preparing to leave to be picked up by the victim and Howell.

Howell and the victim ― later revealed to be the father of her child ― were arguing about the victim’s alleged infidelity with one of the female crew members who also was in the parking lot. Howell used to be employed by the victim’s temp agency as well.

After the argument was assumingly resolved, Howell got into the victim’s vehicle, drove it through the parking lot where the crew was standing and accelerated toward the vehicle of the woman Howell is accused of having relations with, striking it on the passenger’s side.

The crash pushed the woman’s vehicle into the two victims, causing both men to be thrown into the street.

After hitting the vehicle, Howell left the scene and continued driving eastbound on West Greenfield Avenue. She did not stop or return to the scene to check on the two injured men.

Officers later discovered Howell didn’t have a valid driver’s license

Officers later discovered Howell didn’t have a driver’s license and had been cited for driving without one on three occasions.

Howell was arrested several days later. As she was being arrested, she told the officers, “It’s not a hit-and-run. I didn’t hit anybody; I hit a car. I hit the side of her car … they sleepin’ together.”

Howell’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 18. Additionally, she was ordered to have no contact with the victims or the other temp company employees.

Contact Adrienne Davis at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.