New MATC athletic training and event facility coming to Deer District

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --- Milwaukee Area Technical College will soon be welcoming a new shared-use athletic training and event facility in Deer District.

A special lease signing took place Wednesday to celebrate the milestone. "This is a really transformative project for the college, for the community," said Anthony Cruz, MATC president.

The development is a partnership between MATC, the Milwaukee Bucks, and J. Jeffers and Company. "Anytime that we can enhance the student experience, we want to do that. Especially with our student athletes. They put so much of their time and effort into what they do on a daily basis. Not just in the classroom, but on the court and the field," said Cruz.

The development will be located near West McKinley and West Juneau, near North Vel R. Phillips Avenue and King Drive. The plan includes a 28,000 square-foot double-court gym with seating for up to 1,000.

There will also be a fitness center, locker rooms, concessions, meeting rooms and other amenities, primarily for MATC's health and fitness programs.

Student athletes say the upgrades are much needed.

"Currently, we have practice in a basement and it's not the ideal place to train, and we also don't really have a gym, so we play at Alverno for our games," said Hannah Council, sophomore volleyball player.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson spoke about the importance of investing in the future of our students. "MATC is extremely important to Milwaukee. It's really important to the city. It's an academic institution that opens doors," he said.

"For us, it's definitely more than just a fancy facility. It just shows the support that we have behind the city," said Jordan Jones, sophomore basketball player.

The developer is also planning to build market-rate apartments above the athletic facility, as well as street level commercial space and a large parking structure.

Construction is set to begin this summer and is expected to last about a year and a half.