The future site for the Milwaukee Bucks Developmental League (D-League) team has been narrowed down to three Wisconsin cities. The team is hoping to field a team by the 2017-18 season, and is looking for a site within a reasonable drive from Milwaukee.

An earlier report indicated that five cities were in the running to potentially land the new Bucks developmental league affiliate, which is hoped to be in place by 2017.

Today, just three cities remain- Oshkosh, Sheboygan, and Racine, as the Bucks are no longer considering La Crosse, along with Grand Chute, which has conceded from the race.

Grand Chute town administrator Jim March had stated the town recently made an offer to the Bucks, but later retracted it due to the inability to construct a facility in the same time span as the Bucks are hoping.

“It just became evident that we could not deliver the facility that they were looking for in time,” March said.

Grand Chute originally expressed interest in June, but never submitted a fully detailed, outlined proposal like other cities had.  Possible sites in Grand Chute, The Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, which was copied in on the letter March had sent in June, had a fund in place that’s targeted for a future multi-use indoor sports facility, but that is as far as the subject escalated.

The Bucks have also officially eliminated La Crosse, after the city submitted a proposal to host the future D-League team at its 6,100-seat La Crosse Center, which is also due for a $45 million renovation. With La Crosse being more than 200 miles away from Milwaukee, the Bucks have chosen to pursue the other cities involved, which are all less 100 miles away from Bucks headquarters.

About a month ago, we had the privilege of talking to Oshkosh campaign leader and President/CIO of Windward Wealth Strategies, Greg Pierce, who kindly gave us his insight on the city’s plan and goals regarding the D-League team.

Following the departure of Grand Chute and La Crosse in the race, Pierce has assured us Oshkosh remains active in its pursuit and is still being considered by the Bucks.

Pierce’s group, with the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation (GO-EDC) has planned out possible sites along the interstate, as well as central Oshkosh that it could convert into a sufficient Bucks stadium. He expects the Bucks to reach a decision in two months or less, essentially by the start of the NBA regular season.

“We absolutely, positively will have something ready to go by next fall if we are selected,” Pierce said. “Come hell or high water we will have it done.”

Along with Oshkosh in the running still, Sheboygan’s plans differ from Pierce’s team, with the city hoping to bring the Bucks team to an already existing facility. The Sheboygan Armory, which once hosted the professional basketball team Sheboygan Redskins early on in the NBA beginning stages, is currently the main target for the city. Led by Lakefront Jewel Group and former Bucks player Joe Wolf, Sheboygan’s plan would be to upgrade the 2,500-seat facility.

Racine also remains in consideration, although no additional new information has been released surrounding their plans at this time. Stay with Sconnie Sports Talk as this story continues to develop.

Photo courtesy of Sheboygan Press.

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