MILWAUKEE — The countdown clock for the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee is officially less than a year away.
TODAY'S TMJ4'S Charles Benson talked with Bucks President Peter Feigin about what needs to happened between now and then to get Fiserv Forum ready.
Bucks President Peter Feigin is no stranger to deadlines. He helped get the Bucks new home built and opened on time last season.
Meetings have already begun with the DNC to get the arena ready for the July 13th convention.
Charles Benson: At some point do you turn the keys over to them for Fiserv Forum?
Peter Feigin: You never give the keys. (Laughs)
But the DNC will be the exclusive tenant for that week and with that comes a number of logistical issues in and around Fiserv Forum.
"We've got big logistical issue with the empty lots," said Feigin. How to use those, whether it's staged for materials, whether it's for security, whether it's hospitality in different ways."
The BMO Harris-Bradley Center is torn down and will be cleared out by August. That lot and two empty lots to the north of the arena will be available to the DNC.
CB:What's the biggest dead line you have to meet?
PF: DNC start in September and October on how they want this event to be laid out. What the physical format will be. What the design of the arena that needs to be reconstructed.
DNC is in the process of designing a massive stage to showcase their nominee and platform.
"They really customize this arena down to the point of really moving walls," said Feigin.
One potential challenge to the time table for everything would be a Bucks playoff run that takes the team to the NBA Championship Finals leaving the DNC about one month to get everything ready.
PF: I'd rather be in the finals and win a championship and then deal with rushing schedules to get DNC ready.
CB: Because you're good at that?
PF: That's what we do.
Money raised for the 2020 DNC covers the cost of building the stage and restoring any changes made to the physical structure of the arena.
