MUSIC - Kryptonite by 3 doors down

The Mecca - still standing

The red brick building at the corner of 4th and Kilbourn has been known by a variety of names. It started out with the original Milwaukee arena, to the most well known name, the Mecca, and to the name it retains today, the US cellular arena. The arena has a small town charm to it. Nothing fancy here. Just a place where Wisconsinites could spend an evening watching hockey, basketball, concerts and even the circus. The Mecca has been a staple for over 57 years now, and has no signs of slowing down.

Built in 1950, it was the home court for the transplanted Milwaukee Hawks of the NBA. They played here from 51 thru the 55 season, before they flew the coop to St. Louis. The NBA would not return to the Mecca until 1968, when the expansion Milwaukee Bucks were born. Good fortune would follow the Bucks for the 1969 season, when they won a coin flip with the Phoenix Suns to win the rights to draft Lew Alcindor AKA Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. With Jabbar at center, the Bucks won their only worlds championship in 1971. The Bucks would play at the Mecca thru the 1988 season.

The other "main" tenants for the Mecca have been the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL, the Marquette Warriors, and the Milwaukee Wave of the MISL.

The Mecca was antiquated, and lacked all the modern conveniences of other newer arenas. In 1988 the Bradley center opened up. It was literally a stones throw from the Mecca. Immediately both the Bucks and the Admirals moved in. The Mecca seemed doomed to the wreckers ball. It sat basically unused, except for the odd small concert or trade show, for almost 10 years. A major renovation took place in 1998. New locker rooms, concession stands, lighting, scoreboards and sound system brought the old girl back to life. The Mecca is now part of the Wisconsin Center District, which also has the Milwaukee convention center.

The Mecca, or US cellular arena as it is now called, is now the home court for the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee mens basketball team. In 2008, the Milwaukee Bonecrushers of the Continental indoor football league will begin play in the arena.

After SOOOO many stadiums and arenas have fallen to the wreckers ball, it is nice to see one saved. The Mecca isn't fancy, but it is cozy. It has great sight lines and great acoustics for concerts. Italian tenor, the late Luciano Pavarotti, loved singing in the arena. So did Neil Diamond, along with a host of others. Here is to the City of Milwaukee who got it right and saved a wonderful building from the wreckers ball. Long may the Mecca stand.