Downtown Milwaukee stadium eyes first USL pro soccer games in 2026

From the Article:

A planned spring construction start for a professional soccer stadium in downtown Milwaukee means it is likely to host its first games in 2026.

That 8,000-seat stadium is the centerpiece of the $220 million Iron District development that will also have a hotel and apartments. Co-developers Bear Real Estate Group and Kacmarcik Enterprises are leading the project. Bear is well underway on a first building with 99 affordable apartments on the western end of the project site. A vacant former hotel on land east of the stadium site was torn down earlier this year.

The project team went into this year hoping the Iron District could host its first pro soccer games in 2025. That schedule is getting tight, and 2026 is more likely, S.R. Mills, CEO of Bear Real Estate, Kenosha, told the Milwaukee Business Journal.

Mills predicted the next phase of construction on the site would launch in spring 2024, giving contractors two years to build.

“We’re conscious of that just based on some of the unforeseen delays, we’re certainly in line for the 2026 season,” Mills said of the timing for an opening game in the stadium. “2025 is probably a bit of stretch where we’re at right now.”

The stadium would host games for a USL Championship league professional club founded by Milwaukee Pro Soccer, which is affiliated with Kacmarcik Enterprises. It also would host games for Marquette University’s men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse teams.

Marquette sold the project site at 803 W. Michigan St. to Bear and Kacmarcik Enterprises.

Mills said the project team has rejected the idea of starting up games in 2025 at a temporary home field before the new stadium is completed.

“The general belief is you only get one chance to have an opening day at your stadium, so we don’t want to water that down,” he said. “Nothing ever happens as quick as you’d like, but we’re pleased with where we are.”

A 180-room hotel would be built with the stadium. An operator for that hotel has not yet been announced.