Milwaukee County to explore financing indoor sports facility for Milwaukee Kickers at Uihlein Soccer Park

A year-round indoor sports facility at the Uihlein Soccer Park could get county financing under a resolution calling for a study of the proposal. 

The Milwaukee Kickers soccer club would build the facility at Uihlein, the northwest side Milwaukee park they have leased from the county since 1994, according to a resolution for a feasibility study for county financing introduced by County Supervisor Jason Haas.  

The Parks, Energy and Environment Committee voted 4-0 to approve the study, which will be conducted by the county's departments of Parks and Recreation and Administrative Services, the County comptroller and the Milwaukee Kickers.

The air-supported structure would be used for soccer, lacrosse, softball, field hockey, rugby, football, flag football and ultimate Frisbee, according to the resolution. 

In addition to the park's outdoor facilities, the Kicker's indoor space would allow players and teams to practice and compete year-round.

Milwaukee is the only major city in the Midwest that does not have a publicly accessible, full-size indoor turf field, Haas said.

According to Haas, the initial lease term between the Kickers and the county was 20 years, with three optional 10-year extensions.

The Kickers made their last debt payment on the original lease in 2011, and the optional extensions were renewed in 2004 and 2014.

The lease was amended in 2014 to include a 15-year-extension term, with two optional 15-year extension terms ultimately expiring in 2059, according to the resolution.

The debt service and ancillary costs for the project would be incorporated into an amended lease agreement between the Kickers and the County, according to the resolution.

Milwaukee County comptroller Scott Manske told the committee that financing the project through a bank would come with a higher interest rate and that the Kickers would do fundraising and use operating revenues from the facility to help pay back the loan.

"We want to look at the cost overall of what this project would be," Manske said.

"The savings initially between the interest rates is there, but we have to look at all of the factors that would be involved, the time frame for payback and whether the Kickers can… handle the payback, because what the county wants is the payback of this loan during the (specified) period." 

Since 2001 the Kickers have made land improvements to the park totaling $2,463,625 and $958,406 to the park's facilities, according to Haas.

"The Kickers have been exceptional tenants at the Uihlein Soccer Park and have expanded Milwaukee's public sports offerings and rentals," the resolution says.

"It is in the best interest of Milwaukee County and the Kickers to continue this partnership."

The results of the study must be presented to the full county board no later than March.