Great time watching the Admirals game with the fam! We had a little snag with concessions being short-staffed and a long line where we were but the in-game and overall experience was great, considering it is a historic, aged building. The seats were comfortable and the sight lines were great for watching the game. read more

UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena - Performing Arts Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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First time attending an Admirals game, or a Milwaukee hockey game in general, and it was a great experience! They were playing against Chicago, so we knew it would be exciting, and it definitely was. There were about three player fights--showing some serious passion, but nothing too wild. The seats were comfortable, and even from the side, we had a good view of the game. The energy from the crowd was fantastic, though the cowbells got a bit much after a while--can't fault the team spirit, though! We found street parking nearby, which was a nice bonus, and the arena itself was fun to be in. Seeing the balloon and fan tron added to the experience. Overall, a really entertaining night, and I'd definitely come back for another game! read more

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I'm a fan of all Milwaukee sports teams. The Milwaukee Admirals, Milwaukee Wave, and Milwaukee Panthers all have great fan bases and fan engagement activities for you to enjoy. Personally, I recommend the Milwaukee Admirals the most. The hockey energy is electric - you will want to buy a cowbell and join in on the action! The chant leaders in section 228 are heard throughout the entire venue. Panther Arena staff are friendly, approachable, and always looking for ways to improve your experience. Special shout outs to the ushers in 224 and 208 for making premier experiences for their season ticket holders. The food and drinks here are your typical arena food with some added Milwaukee flair. They offer local craft beers, including the Panther Pale Ale. If you're into trying something new every visit, you can definitely do that here. The building is easy to navigate; however, it has some accessibility concerns. If you're in need of accessible seating or have limited mobility, I recommend reaching out to a ticket representative before your visit to make sure your seats are on the ADA platforms. Some of the steps are steep, and some seats are smaller than others. If you have a problem on the day of your visit, speak to your nearest usher to address your concern. Overall, the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena is a must-visit if you're interested in hockey, soccer, or basketball. It's a great venue with staff dedicated to making a lasting impression and an unforgettable experience. read more

I recently came to the arena to watch a Admirals game. We had a great time! Like others have mentioned the arena is dated. Built in early 1950, it was home to the Bucks until 1988, and though Milwaukee has tried in earnest to get the NBA All Star game to be played in their new, sleek, Fiserv Forum to no avail--the All Star game was played here in 1977. Nothing too remarkable about the arena but it's functional and, at this point, historical. One thing I will mention is they have some of the comfiest seats I can remember at any arena ever. Bizarre, I know--but super cushy and comfortable all the same. It could use updating but at the end of the day, we were comfortable, had a great view of the game, and had a blast. Get to it! read more

UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena - Performing Arts Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

What a great vintage intimate stadium which is home to Milwaukee wave, admirals and UW Milwaukee basketball team. It has so much to offer and very easy to navigate around the stadium! Highly recommend any game at the arena especially admirals! Will be going at least every year! read more

UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena - Admirals game - Performing Arts Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I love going to concerts! Especially if they're seated ones. I came to see a concert not too long ago & bought some food before the artist came out. I hadn't eaten before hand , so I was glad I could get my hands on some food. I got some chicken tenders & french fries with ketchup, barbecue, & honey mustard sauces (I had already eaten some). Who doesn't like dinner & a show?? read more

UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena - Chicken tenders & fries - Performing Arts Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Came here for an Admirals game and had a blast! Was clean, easy to get around, and kind staff throughout the arena.

This place smells like gym socks lol I love it! Anywhere you sit you have a great view of the game :)

This is the worst downtown experience I've ever had. It's because of the arena's ticketing process, and the greedy parking garages. Can I give them less than one star? We had a group for a birthday party. Had to go online and buy the tickets. The email said we'd get another email 48 hours before the game to tell us the next step. Nope, didn't get it. Tried online to figure it out. Nope can't do it online. Finally figured it out which was pretty stressful. Now on to downtown beautiful Milwaukee. As we got close to the arena all we saw was event parking "only" $45. Sorry I'll never pay that. I was ready to abandon the game at this point. We found parking for $20. We had to walk a ways but the weather was nice and my knees and hips were doing good today. Back to the ticket situation. We purchased 11 tickets. The tickets are on the phone only. So I had to meet up with the parties as they arrived. Of course it was a nightmare chasing them down at the different entrances. Not very enjoyable. This is the stupidest ticket processing in the world. If the world is doing it this way then count me out. Any arena administrators reading this I hope you rethink ticketing. I suggest a printable ticket. My stress level would be non existent if I could have done that. read more

UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena - Milwaukee Admirals - Performing Arts Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Solid 4.5 star venue. Near perfect score except their dang seats, like all venues, leave a bit to be desired in regards to space. I've been to a handful of Admirals games and as many have echoed, there is not a bad seat in the house. The games are fun, affordable, and they do a lot of activities during intermissions and post game to involve the fans. They do ticket giveaways, gift cards to Potawatomi, free T-shirts, free autograph signings, etc. There's so much fan involvement that it's wonderful. A crowd favorite is the bowling. In regards to food, some of it is pricey, but considering you're at a venue I don't think it's too bad. I'm happy there is such a wide selection ranging from gyros, to nachos, to ice cream, to pizza. Here's some prices I recall: $5.50 regular fountain pop $6.50 large fountain pop $5 sour cream and chive french fries $12 fries, cheese curds, and mozzarella stick combo Staff is always friendly. Venue is always clean. read more

I haven't been to Mecca...er... Panther Arena in many, many years - going back to KISS concerts and Marquette basketball games when I was a young'un. That all being said, I must say that they've done a good job keeping the place up. I attended my son's graduation (UW-Milwaukee) the other weekend and was impressed. They've added some modern touches (LED boards, lighting, etc). The sound was good, and the staff were relatively organized. Great location, and a nice option for things happening downtown. Yeah, Fiserv is bigger and fancier, but the coziness of Panther Arena can meet the needs of many events. Nice job there! read more

Went to go see the Admirals play on Friday night. It was dog night ... you could bring your dog and have them enjoy the game with you. There was plenty of free puppy product samples, a playroom, and potty area set aside for them. Proceeds went to Haws Animal Welfare ProIt could've been a little bit better organized since it's not the first time, but fun was had by all. read more

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A-Okay, strong three stars. Those that grew up in Milwaukee before the Bradley Center was in use know this place as the MECCA, or as the Arena. I went to a few concerts and Bucks' games here back in the day...blah blah. I won't bore you with a history lesson, fast forward to 2017 and 2018: Nowadays, I come here often to see the UWM Panthers men's basketball team. It's a good little arena, the bathrooms are hella clean, and while it's not expensive to eat here by enormo-dome standards, I wish they offered more varieties of food and healthier options besides brats and pizza. My son and I saw the Bucks play here at "the MECCA" in fall 2017, and that was something! Since the place is smaller and it was packed, it felt like a playoff game! People were fired up, a Robert Indiana replica MECCA floor was installed, and it was great. Wave games, Admiral games, UW-Milwaukee graduation ceremonies- it's all happening here, and there's a nice little team store inside to gear up. read more

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I have been coming here since it was called the MECCA arena. Over recent years, I have visited for Brew City Bruisers Roller Derby, Milwaukee Admirals, and the Milwaukee Wave. I don't think I really appreciated the venue for what it is, a classic! The building isn't the prettiest, but it seems to be in pretty good shape. The concessions are certainly much improved in recent years, too. There is a nice variety of options, featuring local businesses, like Saz's, Ian's Pizza, and Bubble Waffle. I never thought I'd see the day when you could buy waffles at the arena (progress). The ticket prices are among the lowest of any venue in town, and there really isn't a bad seat in the house. There have been several naming rights changes over the years, but I think Panther Arena will stick for quite some time. Regardless of what it's called, I hope the venue remains for decades to come. read more

I haven't been to an Admirals Game since they still played at the Bradley Center, so this visit was long overdue. Plus I hadn't been back to the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena since I was in college at UWM and it was the US Cellular arena. While a lot of the building looks the same, it was great to walk in and see the seats updated (especially in Panther colors). They were pretty comfortable aside from the usual lack of leg space. Plus it seems like they've taken care to upgrade their concessions experience and everyone else's picks were making my mouth water... alas if I hadn't just gorged myself on dinner at Movida! It seems like there isn't a bad seat in the house and it was fun seeing the Ad's in action. Plus you don't have the outrageous ticket costs here either, for how close we got to sit! They couldn't pull out the win that night but now I'm especially interested in returning for one of their concert series. Nothing better than seeing a hockey game followed by a concert. read more

UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena - Performing Arts Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Perhaps it's nostalgia as I've been here for Bucks, Marquette (Warriors) games (Mecca), circus, monster truck races, various shows, Wave soccer and now Admirals hockey and despite amenities found at Bradley Center and now the fabulous Fiserv Forum I still love coming to UW-Panther Arena. Just about every seat has a good view. With a smaller venue, you don't have a long line in the bathrooms and existing the arena is much faster and easier. Limited food and drinks but then why not enjoy the many restaurants around Milwaukee instead? No box or suites but for most fans or families coming here is affordable. Service at the food vendors tends to have good service and again the lines are never that long. Newer scoreboard but again smaller venue it doesn't require these massive screens. No cup holders but okay I'll use the floor! Now, bring back the Mecca floor for basketball! read more

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I came here for the 2018 December Commencement. Parking fills up quickly as expected but luckily there's enough garages to fill the visitors. I like how there are some food stands open if you're feeling snacky during commencement, it's convenient. The Panther Arena is home to not only graduation ceremonies but it's home to the Milwaukee Admirals! I normally can find street parking on game days if you're okay with walking a few blocks. The arena is filled with a small amount of vendors that sell hot dogs, beer, nachos, burgers, etc. I went with Sazs and got the combination platter (mozz sticks, cheese curds, and sour cream & onion fries). I saw that a couple vendors had specials too, it was $2 hot dogs which is a great deal at an arena. I'll be back for another Admirals Game but I'll avoid commencements ;) read more

The arena still looks good imo. The seats are a bit squished but that's how they did it back in the day! The bathrooms were clean. I joked with security on the way in and they responded in kind. There really isn't a bad seat in the house a good one. The acoustics are great...you can hear everything announcers say. Is there consideration of an ordering app? Or delivery service? Arena is small enough it might make it doable. read more

My husband took me here for my birthday . We went to the Mother's Day Laugh a thon. He paid over $300 to purchased really good seats for us, and the show was good from what we seen. BUT it was so cold we could not enjoy the show. We ended up leaving early because I could not not stop sneezing from the cold. It was so bad the even the comedians talked about how cold it was. While theere, we spoke to a manager Mike who said it was that cold because the admirals were going to play the next day. The following Monday, we called the panther Arena to let them know our concerns and was directed to a lady Megan. My husband spoke to her was very non-shalunt seeming not to care. She stated it was the promoter's fault, etc. we purchased the tickets straight from the box office, so I am really confused. She then directed us to several others who again did absolutely nothing. We really need to be compensated for this not so good experience... My suggestions is never to attend any event here if it's admiral season... read more

This was my first time actually going inside here so i was a bit lost and confused but who isn't when they first go to a new place. But I'm finally getting out and learning new places instead of trying all of my old ones over and over again.. Moving on After about 30min to 1hr I realize that i could check into the the actual event name so i did that. This review might be a bit confusing because it was more for the Roller Derby Championship. And I haven't really been to the Panther Arena for anything else so I will need to update this review when I do actually go again read more

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Good venue for concerts. The staff at the entrance and food courts were pleasant and patient. Every seat in the house could see the stage. I jammed to the talented artists of the Hits Deep Tour: Toby Mac, Danny Gokey, Mandisa, Ryan Stevenson, and Finding Favor. read more

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Go Bucks Go! I started coming here in the early 70's it was home to the Milwaukee Bucks. Simply called the Milwaukee arena. It was an exciting time in my life a gift that was shared with by Dad and my brother Peter we enjoyed watching the greatness of champions Lew Alcindor AKA Kareem Abdul Jabar, Big O, Sidney Moncrief, Paul Mokeski, Brian Winters, Paul Pressey, Craig Hodges Terry Cummings, Ricky Pierce and Jack Sikma around this time it became MECCA Complex short for The Milwaukee Exposition Convention Center and Arena 1974. It was large to me back then the capacity during the final championship games were about 11K, I think. Since a gift from the Pettit family a newer larger complex was made for the Bucks and they moved on down the street To the Bradley center. I'm not even sure if its still called that for all I know it could be BabyGap-chase/manhattan. Since then I came here for a few car shows and outdoor sports expos. And I'm guessing by now the massive pee trough has been modernized to individual urinals. Correct me if I'm wrong. read more

There'sn't really much to review here. It is your typical arena / stadium for sporting events. It is overpriced food and beverages But if you're already coming to a venue like this, you probably expect to pay crazy prices for the drinks and snacks if you get any. However, anytime I've interacted with any of the staff here they are all very friendly. I don't have anything negative to say but I also don't have anything overly positive as well. read more

This is an older arena but it's a perfect size. I've seen several concerts here and there really is not a bad seat in the house. Since it is not the most popular concert venue, ticket prices are usually more reasonable too. Performers have the ability to have a big stage like you would see in the Bradley center, but in a more intimate setting. The sound isn't too bad either. The Brewcity Bruisers play here as well. Fans are able to get up close to the action with the "cheek seats" on the floor right next to the track. The entry way/ticket purchasing area can be a mess on a busy day. It's so close to the doors that lines wrap around all crazy or go out the door. Best to buy your tickets for an event ahead of time. Bathrooms could use an update but they are always clean. Overall, I would rather see a show/go to an event here than at the Bradley Center due to the smaller venue size and it's easier to navigate. read more

Here is why I love UW Panther Arena (1) Affordable- as in the prices for events are not to expensive and you can actually afford to not sneak in a bite to eat at this arena. (2) Location- parking is all around (3) Size- You can almost sit anywhere and you will have a good view. (4) Yes it may be outdated and old; however, you are not overpaying for this venue. read more

UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena - Milwaukee Admirals game AHL - Performing Arts Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Meh...it was ok. Kind of old school high school auditorium ish in some way I can't explain..(example: old steps up to the ladies bathroom.) Good acoustics though, and the view from the seats was nice. And....soda was $5.75 for a large. And u can forget coke or Pepsi. I'm talkin RC and Dr pepper (oh, and sun drop) only. Really? Side note: I think I graduated from college here. I think. read more

This is a small arena downtown and the home of the Brew City Bruisers Roller Derby. I had never been here before. It is a nice venue. The seats are comfortable and it is easy to see what is happening on the Roller Derby track. I can walk here from my office so I no nothing about the parking facilities. It is very convenient to everything downtown and particularly the Old World Third area. read more

This review comes from a bit of a different perspective. The US Cellular Arena is where my league plays its roller derby bouts. Disclaimers: For this reason, it's sort of a review of the backstage areas. Also... I'm trying to separate myself from the fact that I love that we play here. As opposed to our old home, the US Cell is closer and larger and better for sound and better for the fans as they can see more. When it comes to watching roller derby there, the Cell is infinitely better/more convenient than our old home. That being said, I'm giving it three stars. A-OK, but I can't go beyond it. Pros: The track itself is fantastic. Amazing. I love skating on this track; the surface is smooth and grippy enough for even the most psychotic of skaters. The sound/lighting/layout. It's great. Cons: This place is old, and for that reason, there are some issues w/ the bathrooms. I'll leave it at that. Concessions are super expensive for the fans. Parking can be really difficult when there's an event at the neighboring Bradley Center. It's a great place, but it could most certainly use a facelift, as Richard S. said. I mean, it's a great medium-large-ish sized venue for sporting events in MKE, but I'd love to see an update. Either way, I'm still happy we play here. read more

The arena itself is ok, but outdated. Why do I have to go up stairs only to go down stairs? I would love to see more color and better seating....it looks like an empty warehouse! Better signage and concessions would also be an improvement. Bring the food prices down....if I'm paying $3 for a can of soda, why am I getting R.C. Cola? $8 for a can of Redd's Apple Ale? C'mon. The sound system needs a bit of improvement as well. When people are talking, they sound like Charlie Brown's teacher....I can barely make out a word they're saying. When music is played, however, there is no problem. For the love of God, please put in taller toilets. I'm all legs and I feel like I'm squatting over a hole in the ground that I could fall into if I'm not careful! Two sinks doesn't cut it for 10 stalls! No, it doesn't need to be flashy and upscale like a professional arena, but with just a few small changes, this could be a REALLY nice venue. 43/2015 read more

Older venue but had a great time watching a youth hockey game. The security staff is top notch!!

Nice lil arena for events that aren't big enough for the Bradley Center. I went to a UWM basketball game, Mama Tried flat track race, AND I graduated here. Bizarre assortment of things. Seats are comfy, the place is as clean as an arena can be, all seats and good seats. Concessions are arena-priced. Whatever, I'll willing spend $7 on a PBR tallboy while I'm watching motorcycles. Parking can be a doozy if you're a cheapo like me. Plan accordingly. read more

Aside from my UWM graduation ceremony, I've only been here for a roller derby bout. I think it's a nice venue and it's laid out really well. Everyone I encountered here was friendly and helpful. Concessions are a little steep and parking can be tough, but on a nice night it's nice to take a long walk. It's a big auditorium but not overwhelming and you can see all the action below from any of the seats. read more

I've been here for a couple of collegiate sporting events and a number of graduations. An aging but reasonably well maintained facility, but the water out of the water fountain (locals call them bubblers) tastes terrible. The new overhead screen is pretty nice, sound is good, seating is typical (fine for college students, eventually painful if you have a middle aged lumbar spine). If the weather isn't winter-frightful you're in walking distance of some good pre-game or pre-graduation eats either just east or just west and a little north. Parking rates go up for events. read more

UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena - The MATC jazz band is a high point of graduation ceremonies. Long before the speaker will put us to sleep. - Performing Arts Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Was here for the first time at an Admirals game. They usually play at Bradley center but not this year. Seats were nice and comfortable. Easy to get in and out. Small arena allows for great viewing from any seats. The gift shop is bigger than in the Bradley so that's a bonus. The Wave and of course the UW Milwaukee panthers do too. Concession stands are classic and food types are to be expected. On today's event the Admirals hosted Dog Day so arena was filled with happy pups wagging and barking for the Admirals! It was an unusual sight but so fun. Tried to capture pics of pups in people's laps and on the stairs. They had a special dog relief area too so no worries there. read more

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The US Cellular Arena is forever engrained in my brain as "the Mecca." I saw plenty of shows back in the day. I have my own history with the Mecca - I was fortunate enough to see the very last time the Beastie Boys played Milwaukee. However, the last time we were there, I noticed a few things, which have all been touched on in some way, shape or form: - Bathrooms. Gross, crowded, outdated. This venue was built in 1950, and it shows. - Layout : basically one big circle. Very easy to get around, find your seat, and find your way back outside. - Beer vendors : what's the deal here? In Milwaukee, people enjoy their beer. Having two beer stands is not helping anyone, as you spend half your time in line to get one. Maybe it's their way of curtailing public drunkenness. - The ushers still wear old school (and I mean OLD SCHOOL) sportcoats. I'm talking about the polyester kind your dad used to wear. Red or navy, totally old school, to match the seats. - Better acoustics than the BMO / BC. - Smaller vibe / feel than the BMO / BC. All in all, to use an overused phrase : it is what it is. I'm glad the Mecca is still around, as I think there's still a use for it. Updates would be nice though. read more

We visited the US Cellular Arena for the WFTDA Championship finals. We had a good time watchin' the ladies show off their bad assness on the roller derby track.] The venue itself was fine. Didn't seem particularly special. read more

In a lot of ways, I enjoy events at US Cellular Arena moreso than at the Bradley Center. There's something nostalgic about this 70+ year old venue that has a certain charm the "newer" Bradley Center just cannot match. This is a throwback arena back to the days when the NCAA championship was televised on tape-delay and it was actually somewhat affordable to attend an arena event! There is a ton of history in this building from the ancient construction to recent renovations, from the many concerts this venue has hosted to the former tenants (Milwaukee Bucks, Admirals, Marquette men's basketball) who played here on a nightly basis. PLUSES: -Accessible building (which is great considering it was opened in 1950) -Good views of the action no matter where you're sitting -Nice medium-size venue that now hosts women's roller derby -- sweet! -It reminds me of many basketball gyms back in my home state of Indiana: dimly lit (well not on the court), historic, character -Again, the history: in another era, under another name, this place once hosted an NBA All-Star Game (that's when Milwaukee was ROCKING!) CHECK-PLUSES (*reads historical info on US Cellular Arena...) -Holy crap, the Beatles, Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, KISS, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Blue Oyster Cult played here??? Not at the same time, but that would have been awesome! -Horizon League conference tournament has been hosted here (that's some good basketball, folks) -I can see my hometown Butler Bulldogs play here once a year...score! MINUSES (already mentioned): -Could use renovation to certain areas (*cough* bathrooms, concession stands) -Parking situation...just walk. If you must drive in, beware...if there is an event here the same night as one at the Bradley Center, pack a bag of patience -Concession prices are steep given the selection and age of this place...right on par with the Bradley Center, which isn't a good thing in this case. Summary? It's old, not at all modernized (save for the accessibility features), parking and concessions are a wreck, and the bathrooms need a lot of work. But...this place is historic and has character...a lot of new arenas cannot say that today! read more

I was here for the brew city bruisers roller derby. I can't remember the last time I've been here for a concert, so I can't give an honest opinion as to acoustic quality. This venue is smaller and much older (1950) than other venues downtown. It is antiquated, but has some somewhat modern updates. It's not bad, but it's nothing great either. We found free street parking (after 6pm) between MATC and the police station (6 blocks away or 5 mins. walking). Concessions are a bit on the pricey side. Seats are good because the arena is smaller. If you go for roller derby you can get even closer to the action by sitting on the floor. 18 and over for this privilege due to risk. read more

I refused to review the MECCA until they replaced the tube televisions throughout the lobby and concession area with flat-screen televisions. They have now done that so here is my review: Its an old arena. I watch your UW-Milwaukee Panthers play basketball here. My review does not reflect the quality of play over the recent years of Panther basketball nor does it reflect the poor player management and coaching of Rob Jeter. Its just an old arena. The Wave play here. With new management that should be fun to see! I just went and read some of the reviews for the MECCA, and people are talking about roller derby? You all should come see a real sport in the arena some time, like basketball or soccer, I think you'll like it even more! I'll gladly await the nasty comments. You'll have to send me a "Compliment" which is the irony of it all. read more

Your basic arena for larger events, taking all day engineering exams, and whatever else a large group of people might need to do with a roof over your head and a seat to sit in. read more