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Key Information

The Baird Center (formerly Wisconsin Center, Midwest Express Center, Midwest Airlines Center, Frontier Airlines Center, and Delta Center) is a convention and exhibition center located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The center is part of a greater complex of buildings which includes the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena and the Miller High Life Theatre, and was a replacement for the former Great Hall portion of the MECCA Complex.

The convention center hosted the 2020 Democratic National Convention. The event was initially planned to be held in the nearby Fiserv Forum but was ultimately downsized due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Description

[edit]
The venue straddles West Wells Street, with a tunnel for the roadway to run through it

The venue straddles West Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee.[1] It is operated by the Wisconsin Center District, which also operates the adjacent UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena and Miller High Life Theatre.[2] Skywalks connect the convention center to the nearby Hilton (Hilton Milwaukee City Center) and Hyatt hotels.[3]

The convention center features 300,000-square-foot (28,000 m2) of exhibition space, including two ballrooms.[4]

Design

[edit]
Convention center in 2012

The architecture of the portions of the building opened in 1998 and 2000 reinterpret the many historic German buildings found in downtown Milwaukee. Along with art-as-design features, the John J. Burke Family Collection is scattered throughout the interior. On the Vel R. Phillips Ave side of the center is an outdoor reliquary garden named City Yard. Created by artist Sheila Klein, it contains many iconic items from Milwaukee's DPW such as fire hydrants and the classic blue police call box. Within this area are planters containing ginkgo trees and a large monument with four limestone lion heads set in relief. These architectural elements were salvaged from the AT&T building that once stood nearby.[5] The expansion that opened in 2024 differs architecturally, featuring a glassy and modern design.[2][1]

These initial segments of the building contained 188,695 square feet (17,530.3 m2) of contiguous exhibit space along with a 37,506-square-foot (3,484.4 m2) ballroom.[3] The expansion that was opened in 2024 provided an additional 111,000-square-foot (10,300 m2) giving the convention center's approximately 300,000-square-foot (28,000 m2) of exhibition space.[4]

Art

[edit]

Artist Vito Acconci created an indoor-outdoor sculpture titled Walkways Through the Wall. Designed to integrate private and public space, these curled terra cotta colored concrete strips flow through structural boundaries and provide seating at both ends.[citation needed]

Art was incorporated early in the design stage; the Hilton's skywalk entrance foyer floor features a green floor mosaic in the shape of Wisconsin, with Michigan depicted in gold, Minnesota in pink, Iowa in red, and Illinois in gray. Region inlays represent area industries and dairy cows. A half-dozen flush bronze containers contain different soil types.[citation needed]

From the venue's opening until 2023, the southwest corner held an interactive art installation by Dick Blau titled "Polka Time!".[6] Also known as the "polkalator", it consisted of an escalator with 22 photos of polka dances on the wall, and a button labeled "Push to Play Polka" that played a random selection from 200 songs.[7] Most of the photos were taken at a 1976 party in Milwaukee celebrating the United States Bicentennial.[8] In 2021, the venue suggested the removal of a photo with a man sticking out his tongue, but Blau refused because he considered the artwork a fixed set.[7] The installation was removed on August 18, 2023, during the building's expansion project. Blau led an event to document the escalator on its last day.[8] The Baird Center returned the artwork to Blau, who said it would be difficult to find a new venue for it.[7]

Venue history

[edit]

The convention center was opened in two phases: the first was completed in 1998, and the second completed in 2000.[2] It was the largest design-build project in Wisconsin history.[9] In 1998, $1.2 million of public art was installed and named the John J. Burke Family Collection.[7]

Expansion

[edit]
Expansion, photographed in May 2024

In December 2019, Eppstein Uhen Architects and tvsdesign were selected by the Wisconsin Center District to be the architecture team of the expansion project.[10] In January 2020, Gilbane Building Company and C.D. Smith were awarded the construction management contract for the expansion.[10] In February 2020, the Milwaukee Common Council granted the Wisconsin Center District Board approval to finance the planned $420 million expansion to the venue.[2] In April 2020, the Wisconsin Center District Board approved the expansion.[11] In the autumn of 2020, the Wisconsin Center District sold bonds to finance the expansion.[12] Plans are to pay off the bonds over a 40-year period, through Milwaukee County hotel, restaurant, and car rental taxes levied by the Wisconsin Center District, with debt payments beginning in 2027.[12] Site work for the expansion began in the summer of 2021.[12][10][13][14][15] The groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 28, 2021.[16]

Designed by Eppstein Uhen Architects and tvsdesign, the expansion differs in architectural style from the existing structure, being more modern and glassy.[2][1]

The expansion roughly doubled the venue's square footage by adding 111,000 square feet (10,300 m2) of exhibition space and 1,300,000 square feet (120,000 m2) of overall space to a total of [4] The expansion is designed to enable the venue to hold two conventions simultaneously, with the convention center's new wing having its own separate entrance, as well as a second ballroom,[2][1] which is 35,000 square feet (3,300 m2) in size. The new exhibition space also includes 24 new meeting rooms, increasing the convention center's total to 52.[4]

Other additions the expansion includes are an outdoor terrace, six additional loading docks, 400 new indoor parking spots, new public art, a second kitchen,[4][12]

The expansion is being built atop land previously occupied by parking lots on the block of the convention center between West Wells Street and West Kilbourn Avenue.[2]

In May 2022, the Wisconsin Center District board disclosed that the final cost of the expansion would likely be double the original estimate of $420 million, with the board laying blame on inflation.[17] It ultimately cost $465 million.[4]

The expansion was substantially completed on March 29, 2024,[4] and was officially opened on May 16, 2024.[18]

Names

[edit]

When the convention center opened in the 1990s, its naming rights were initially sold to Midwest Airlines.[19] On April 13, 2010, Republic Airways Holdings CEO Bryan Bedford announced that the name would change to Frontier Airlines Center, coinciding with the consolidation of brands between Frontier Airlines and Midwest Airlines.[citation needed] On August 15, 2012, Delta Air Lines purchased the building's naming rights as part of the carrier's recent expansion at Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport.[19] The facility changed its name from the Frontier Airlines Center to the Delta Center effective from September 19, 2012; signage was replaced accordingly in November.[20] On June 30, 2013, Delta terminated its naming rights at the center and the facility was officially renamed the "Wisconsin Center" the following day.[21]

In March 2023, local investment firm Robert W. Baird & Co. purchased the convention center's naming rights.[22] This took effect on July 1, 2023.[23]

Event history

[edit]

Alongside the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, the center hosted the 2004 Green National Convention. The first three days of the convention were held at the Hyatt Regency, while the final day was held at the convention center.[24]

The center hosted the 2020 Democratic National Convention. The event was initially planned to be held in the nearby Fiserv Forum but was ultimately downsized due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[25]

43°2′23″N 87°55′2″W / 43.03972°N 87.91722°W / 43.03972; -87.91722

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Baird Center

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from Grokipedia
The Baird Center is a convention and exhibition center in , , owned and operated by the nonprofit Wisconsin Center District. Originally opened in 1998 as the Midwest Express Center, it underwent renaming to Center before reverting to the Wisconsin Center designation until 2023. In March 2023, the facility secured a 15-year partnership with Milwaukee-based firm Robert W. Baird & Co., adopting the Baird Center name effective May 2024. A $456 million expansion project, completed in May 2024, doubled the center's capacity to 1.3 million total square feet, featuring 300,000 contiguous square feet of exhibition space, 52 meeting rooms, and a rooftop with panoramic city views from the Baird Sky View Terrace. The venue serves as an economic catalyst for , hosting major events including components of the , and emphasizes and innovative event experiences.

Facility Overview

Location and Basic Specifications

The Baird Center is situated at 400 West Wisconsin Avenue in , , with its South Building at that address and the adjacent North Building at 405 West Kilbourn Avenue. This central location in the Westown neighborhood provides easy access to hotels, restaurants, and public transportation, including proximity to the and nearby indoor parking facilities at 500 West Wells Street and 501 West Kilbourn Avenue. The facility totals 1.3 million square feet of space, expanded by a 673,000-square-foot addition completed in 2024. Key specifications include 300,000 contiguous square feet of exhibition space in Halls ABCDE, accommodating large-scale trade shows and conventions. It features 52 meeting rooms, a 37,506-square-foot , and a rooftop Baird Ballroom spanning 31,956 square feet with city views. Additional amenities support diverse events, including gender-neutral restrooms, sensory rooms, and modern loading docks.

Architectural Design and Features

The Baird Center integrates the original Wisconsin Center, constructed in 1998 with a design by TVS featuring a pinkish brick exterior, green-tinted glass curtain walls, and ornate decorative elements that reflect late-20th-century convention architecture. The structure emphasized functional exhibition spaces but showed signs of aging, prompting the comprehensive modernization. The 2024 expansion and renovation, costing $456 million and completed on May 16, 2024, were led by TVS as design architect in collaboration with Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA) as local architect of record, resulting in a total facility size of 1.3 million square feet. This addition introduced a contemporary aesthetic contrasting the original's traditional materials, with expansive floor-to-ceiling glass walls in the grand lobby fostering transparency, natural daylight, and visual connectivity to . Architectural highlights include a 300,000-square-foot contiguous exhibition hall, a 30,000-square-foot rooftop with a 10,000-square-foot outdoor terrace offering views, and 24 new flexible meeting rooms equipped with customizable LED lighting and advanced audiovisual infrastructure. features, integral to the design and targeting certification, encompass a solar-paneled , bird-safe low-emissivity to minimize avian collisions and enhance energy efficiency, an underground 320,000-gallon stormwater retention system, and an on-site food digester processing up to 438 tons of organic waste annually. These elements prioritize environmental performance without compromising operational versatility.

Public Art Collection

The We Energies Foundation Art Collection forms the core of the Baird Center's public art holdings, encompassing 42 original works or series by 34 artists that depict the characteristics, culture, people, and landscapes of and the surrounding region. These pieces reflect themes of historical triumphs and challenges, contemporary vitality, and prospective optimism, selected by an independent committee of local artists, writers, and poets to offer visitors insight into the area's unique identity. Of the artists, 21 reside in or have previously lived in the area or , emphasizing regional ties. The collection integrates both longstanding installations and new commissions tied to the 2024 expansion, with Services overseeing the request for qualifications, artist selection, contracting, curation, installation, and relocation of select prior works. In total, 31 new artworks were produced between 2023 and 2024 across media including lightboxes, mosaics, , paintings, sculptures, and , enhancing public spaces within the expanded facility. Notable examples include Mark Brautigam’s diptychs 5.17.23 and Bradford Beach, which capture serene coastal scenes, and Marc Sijan’s hyper-realistic sculptures, such as a security guard figure at the south entrance and a new counterpart for the north building. Other commissioned pieces highlight diverse local perspectives, such as Bluworld of Water’s kinetic installation The Great Five, a homage to Milwaukee’s water heritage featuring flowing elements, and Greg Gossel’s mixed-media works celebrating the city’s industrial past and innovative future. Artists like Nicolas Lampert, John Fleissner, and Kevin J. Miyazaki contributed site-specific installations drawing on community narratives, including indigenous and multicultural influences. The full roster of 21 teams for new works includes Reginald Baylor Studio, David Najib Kasir, Rosy Petri, and FreelandBuck, with selections prioritizing originality and alignment with the center’s public-facing role. Ongoing artist profiles and videos on the Baird Center’s site provide further context for individual contributions.

Historical Development

Origins and Initial Construction

The origins of the Baird Center trace to the early , when the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce led an initiative to construct a modern convention facility to replace the outdated Milwaukee Exposition and (MECCA), aiming to revitalize 's economy through enhanced convention business. The project was financed by the newly created Wisconsin Center District, which levied taxes on hotel rooms, rental cars, and food and beverage sales to fund construction costs exceeding $170 million without relying on general taxpayer funds. Initial construction involved a collaborative team of six firms, including George Hyman Construction Co. and Hunzinger Construction Co. for building, Engberg Anderson Inc. for local architecture, Thompson Ventulett Stainback & Associates Inc. for design, Affiliated Engineers Inc. for mechanical and electrical systems, and Graef Anhalt Schloemer & Associates Inc. for . The resulting Midwest Express Center, the facility's original name upon opening in 1998, featured a Flemish- and German-inspired and added 189,000 square feet of exhibition space to form a total initial complex of approximately 633,000 square feet. This design-build approach marked it as a significant project for the region, prioritizing expandable infrastructure to accommodate future growth in mid- to large-scale conferences and trade shows.

Operational History and Name Changes

The Baird Center opened as the Midwest Express Center on June 1, 1998, replacing the outdated Exposition and Arena () to serve as downtown 's flagship venue for conventions, trade shows, and exhibitions. Constructed with 633,000 square feet of space in a Flemish- and German-inspired architectural style, it was developed by a consortium of six firms under the auspices of the Wisconsin Center District, a quasi-governmental entity formed to manage public convention facilities. From inception, the center operated continuously, hosting events that drew regional and national attendance while supporting local economic activity through visitor spending and job creation tied to event staffing and services. Name changes have predominantly reflected fluctuations in airline sponsorships, as initial naming rights were granted to Midwest Express Airlines, a Wisconsin-based carrier. In 2002, following the airline's rebranding to , the facility became the Midwest Airlines Center. After Midwest Airlines faced financial difficulties and was acquired, the name shifted to Center in 2010 amid a new sponsorship deal. In September 2012, assumed under a one-year agreement, rebranding it the ; this short-term arrangement expired in May 2013 without renewal, prompting a return to neutral operations under the Center designation. The Center name persisted through a period of steady operations, including preparations for a major expansion announced in the , until March 2023, when the Wisconsin Center District secured a 15-year with Milwaukee-based investment firm Robert W. Baird & Co. This deal renamed the venue the Baird Center effective July 1, 2023, aligning with the completion of a $456 million expansion in May 2024 that doubled the facility's size to 1.3 million square feet and enhanced operational capacity for larger events. Throughout these transitions, core operations remained focused on accommodating diverse gatherings, with adaptations for evolving event demands such as increased emphasis on features post-expansion.

Expansion and Modernization Project

The Baird Center expansion and modernization project, valued at $456 million, commenced with a in October 2021 and substantially completed construction by March 2024, culminating in a grand opening on May 16, 2024. The initiative, undertaken by the Wisconsin Center District, more than doubled the facility's total footprint from approximately 650,000 square feet to 1.3 million square feet by developing a former parking lot adjacent to the existing structure. Key contractors included C.D. Smith Construction and Gilbane Building Company, with engineering contributions from firms such as Graef and Henderson Engineers. The project introduced significant enhancements, including 300,000 contiguous square feet of exhibition space, 52 meeting rooms, and advanced sustainable technologies that earned Gold certification on February 24, 2025. incorporated 2,741 piles driven into the foundation and 5,850 tons of , enabling the center to host larger conventions and events while integrating modern infrastructure for improved operational efficiency. The expansion preserved core elements of the original design while adding flexible spaces suited for diverse gatherings, positioning the Baird Center as Wisconsin's largest convention facility. Financing for the project drew from public sources managed by the Wisconsin Center District, including debt instruments, though early planning in 2020 raised concerns among some aldermen regarding the scale and complexity of the funding package. Despite these, the project proceeded without major delays, reopening the center to public tours on May 18, 2024, and immediately supporting high-profile events.

Events and Operations

Capacity and Event Types

The Baird Center, following its $456 million expansion completed on May 16, 2024, encompasses 1.3 million square feet of total space, doubling its pre-expansion footprint of approximately 650,000 square feet. This includes 300,275 square feet of contiguous exhibit hall space, which can accommodate up to 28,680 attendees in theater-style seating or 14,830 in banquet configuration. The facility also features the Grand Ballroom, measuring 37,506 square feet and the largest of its kind in , alongside the rooftop Baird Ballroom of about 32,000 square feet with capacity for 2,000 seated guests or up to 3,750 in standing configurations across major ballrooms. Complementing these are 52 flexible breakout rooms totaling over 100,000 square feet of meeting space, enabling simultaneous events. As a multipurpose venue, the Baird Center hosts diverse event types, including conventions, trade and consumer shows, meetings, conferences, banquets, galas, weddings, sporting events, ticketed such as concerts, assemblies, and special events. Its expanded layout supports running multiple events concurrently, with dedicated spaces for exhibitions, plenary sessions, and receptions, contributing to over 200 events and 420,000 attendees in its first post-expansion year ending May 2025.

Notable Events and Bookings

The Baird Center has hosted several national political conventions, including the Green Party's 2004 National Convention from June 23 to 28, where David Cobb was nominated as the presidential candidate and Pat LaMarche as the vice-presidential candidate. The event drew delegates and activists to the then-Midwest Airlines Center for speeches, platform discussions, and voting, emphasizing the party's progressive priorities amid the broader 2004 U.S. presidential race. In August 2020, the center served as the primary in-person venue for the , originally planned as a large-scale gathering but scaled back due to the , with most proceedings conducted virtually and limited on-site activities for media, staff, and a small number of delegates from August 17 to 20. This hybrid format marked a significant adaptation, focusing nominations and key addresses remotely while utilizing the facility for production and logistics support. The facility regularly books major s and consumer expos, such as the annual Trainfest, billed as one of the world's largest model railroad and exhibitions, held November 1–2, 2025, featuring thousands of exhibits and vendors. Other notable bookings include the Midwest Gaming Classic, a 350,000-square-foot retro gaming with over 10,000 playable games and 200 vendors, scheduled for April 24–26, 2026. Industry events like Expo! Expo! 2026, organized by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events for November 16–18, 2026, highlight the center's role in hosting professional gatherings for exhibition professionals. Following the 2024 expansion, the Baird Center accommodated 192 events from May 2024 to April 2025, drawing over 420,000 attendees and including galas, tournaments, and conventions that leveraged the increased 1.3 million square feet of space. Recent cultural bookings, such as the 2025 Hunting Moon Pow Wow over three days in early 2025, have featured Native American performances, vendors, and community gatherings, underscoring diverse event capabilities.

Usage Statistics Pre- and Post-Expansion

In the years leading up to the $456 million expansion completed in May 2024, the Center's usage was limited by its original 623,400 square feet of space, which restricted the ability to host multiple large conventions simultaneously and contributed to lost bookings to competitors with greater flexibility. A 2014 projected that expansion could boost annual direct spending in by $42 million and total economic output by $114.2 million, implying pre-expansion convention activity generated lower figures amid competition from newer facilities elsewhere. Following the grand opening of the expanded Baird Center on May 16, 2024, which doubled the facility to 1.3 million square feet including a 300,000-square-foot contiguous exhibit hall, usage surged due to enhanced capacity for concurrent events. In its inaugural year through May 2025, the center hosted over 200 events drawing more than 420,000 attendees, yielding an estimated economic impact exceeding $200 million. Booked events alone accounted for $174 million in economic impact and over 192,000 hotel room nights, per data from Visit . This marked a record performance, with examples including three consecutive weekends in late March to early April 2025 featuring over 40,000 attendees across Center District venues, enabled by the new layout's support for overlapping programming. The post-expansion metrics reflect not only recovered demand after pandemic disruptions but also the facility's competitive edge, as events like Adepticon, Midwest Gaming Classic, and Anime Milwaukee set new attendance records in 2025. While direct pre-expansion attendance tallies for the center are sparsely documented in public reports, the doubled footprint and added 24 meeting rooms have demonstrably amplified throughput, aligning with projections for nearly doubling visitor spending within five years.

Economic and Community Impact

Projected and Realized Economic Benefits

Projections for the Baird Center expansion, developed by the Center District, estimated that the upgraded facility would stimulate at least $12.6 billion in total spending across over a 30-year period, generate $150 million in annual incremental state income, and support 2,300 jobs. Following the expansion's opening on May 16, 2024, the Baird Center realized an economic impact of $174 million from booked through Visit in its first year (through April 2025), contributing to a total estimated at upwards of $200 million across all hosted activities. This included 192 attracting over 420,000 attendees and generating more than 192,000 hotel room nights. A significant portion of the first-year impact stemmed from the held at the venue, which produced $321 million in total economic effects, including $216.3 million in direct spending. These figures represent an increase from pre-expansion years, when the facility hosted 119 events in 2023 and 111 in 2019, though comprehensive long-term realization of projections awaits further data.

Funding Sources and Public Investment

The Wisconsin Center District (WCD), the public entity overseeing the Baird Center, finances its operations and capital projects through operational income from events and concessions, supplemented by targeted taxes levied within County, without dependence on taxes or general public funds. These include a 3% on rooms countywide, a 3% surcharge on car rentals originating at General Mitchell International Airport, and a 0.5% on and beverage sales, in addition to a separate 7% room within city limits. The $456 million expansion of the Baird Center, completed and opened on , 2024, was financed through bonds issued by the WCD in autumn 2020, with repayment structured over 40 years via elevated revenues from these tax streams and increased event bookings. To support this, the project authorization in April 2020 included a 0.5 increase in the countywide to 3%, alongside reliance on and beverage taxes and surcharges. The state of provided a $300 million moral obligation bond guarantee, which lowered overall borrowing costs by an estimated $50 million by enhancing bond marketability. Private contributions were limited; Robert W. Baird & Co. secured in March 2023 through a agreement, generating ancillary revenue for amid the expansion, though the deal's financial scale remained secondary to tax-backed debt service. This public investment model positions the Baird Center as a taxpayer-subsidized asset aimed at stimulating convention-driven economic activity, with bond obligations serviced exclusively from project-specific revenues to avoid broader fiscal burdens.

Criticisms of Economic Viability

Critics of the Baird Center's economic viability argue that the $456 million publicly funded expansion, completed in May 2024, exemplifies a pattern of overinvestment in convention facilities that fail to deliver promised returns amid industry-wide oversupply and declining attendance trends. Urban planner and professor Heywood Sanders, whose research documents how feasibility studies systematically inflate demand projections by 30-50% or more, has highlighted the risks of such projects, noting that cities engage in an "" for events in a market where attendance has stagnated or fallen since the late due to and shifts toward smaller, regional gatherings. Prior to expansion, the Center District (predecessor to the Baird Center) restructured $100 million in debt in June 2021 to avoid default, underscoring pre-existing financial strains from operating losses typical of such venues, which often rely on hotel-motel taxes and bonds rather than self-sustaining revenue. Projected benefits, including $12.6 billion in incremental spending over 30 years and support for 2,300 jobs, have been questioned for employing optimistic multipliers that overlook displacement of local spending, leakage of funds outside the region, and opportunity costs of diverting public resources from higher-ROI . The reported $174 million economic impact in the first partial year post-expansion (May 2024–April 2025) draws similar scrutiny, as economists contend such gross figures—derived from models like those from Tourism Economics—overstate net gains by not subtracting subsidies or for boom-bust cycles exacerbated by like the , which reduced industry attendance by up to 90% at peaks. Ongoing operational realities reinforce these concerns: most of the approximately 175 U.S. convention centers run annual deficits covered by taxpayer funds, with Milwaukee's pre-expansion revenues of $17 million in 2023 insufficient to offset costs without additional naming-rights deals and surcharges. In May 2025, Milwaukee's Common Council debated rejecting a revised revenue-sharing agreement offering the city over $500,000 annually, with Ald. Robert Bauman arguing it undervalues the public stake and fails to reflect true economic contributions, signaling doubts about the center's ability to generate surplus value beyond basic operations. Sanders' analyses, drawn from peer-reviewed studies and data across dozens of cities, attribute these outcomes to political pressures prioritizing civic prestige over empirical returns, a dynamic evident in Milwaukee's project despite its LEED Gold certification and initial booking surge.

Controversies

Public Art Disputes

In 2023, the Wisconsin Center District (WCD), operator of the Baird Center (formerly the Wisconsin Center), proposed removing the 1998 installation "Portals and Writings Celebrating Wisconsin Authors" as part of the facility's $456 million expansion project. Created by artist Jill Sebastian under Milwaukee's Percent for Art Program, the installation featured etched glass panels and walls displaying quotes from 48 authors spanning 400 years, including indigenous voices such as song lyrics, Black Hawk, and Mountain Wolf Woman, alongside figures like , , and . WCD CEO Marty Brooks cited structural necessity for the removal, stating that the artwork's permanent integration into the south building's walls conflicted with required modernization and expansion alterations, rendering preservation infeasible without or board approval. Critics in the arts community, including former Pattern Book Center Karl Gartung—who described the plan as "cultural vandalism"—and Jen Benka, former president of the , condemned the unilateral decision as erasing diverse historical voices and lacking . A petition garnered 1,188 signatures demanding preservation and community involvement, with some speculating—without official —that content featuring progressive or indigenous perspectives might have influenced the choice amid preparations to host the . Facing backlash, the WCD paused demolition plans in April 2023, opting for temporary protective measures during construction. By May 2023, the district reached an agreement to salvage the artwork, relocating and restoring select elements rather than destroying them entirely, though specifics on the final display integration post-expansion remain tied to ongoing project completion. This resolution addressed immediate concerns but highlighted tensions between infrastructure needs and stewardship in taxpayer-funded venues.

Political and Operational Debates

The governance of the Wisconsin Center District (WCD), the quasi-public body overseeing the Baird Center, has sparked debates over executive authority and board oversight. In April 2023, WCD CEO Marty Brooks ordered the removal of a literary installation without prior consultation from the board or public input, leading to accusations that he exceeded his mandate and raising broader questions about in a taxpayer-supported entity. The decision was paused amid backlash from artists and officials, underscoring operational tensions between administrative discretion and democratic processes in managing public facilities. Political friction has also emerged from disputes over revenue distribution between the WCD and the City of Milwaukee. A 2020 agreement approved by the Common Council was expected to generate over $1 million annually for city coffers from Baird Center events, but subsequent revisions lowered projections, prompting council members to argue that the WCD had negotiated terms disadvantageous to taxpayers. By May 2025, the council debated rejecting a proposed update offering roughly $500,000 per year, with Ald. Mark Bauman contending that the city deserved a larger share given its role in funding infrastructure and promotions supporting WCD operations. Operational challenges during the expansion included cost overruns that exhausted the project's 8.5% by May 2022, totaling $419.9 million at that point and requiring officials to evaluate options like or supplemental borrowing backed by room tax revenues. These issues fueled discussions on fiscal prudence in public-private partnerships, though the final $456 million outlay proceeded without major delays, completing in May 2024.

References

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  6. https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2023/03/10/baird-center-to-be-new-name-for-milwaukees-convention-center/69994124007/
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  14. https://wcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BC_Tec-manual_2024.pdf
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  20. https://www.gilbaneco.com/projects/wisconsin-center-expansion/
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  26. https://wcd.org/we-energies-foundation-art/
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  29. https://wcd.org/meet-the-artists-creating-works-for-the-baird-center/
  30. https://www.visitmilwaukee.org/blog/posts/post/meet-baird-centers-new-art-collection/
  31. https://bairdcenter.com/our-story/
  32. https://emke.uwm.edu/entry/wisconsin-center/
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  43. https://bairdcenter.com/planners/event-spaces/
  44. https://www.visitmilwaukee.org/meetings-and-conventions/meeting-and-event-venues/building-more/
  45. https://bairdcenter.com/planners/
  46. https://wcd.org/baird-center-celebrates-first-anniversary/
  47. https://wcd.org/baird-center-expansion-delivers-major-economic-impact-in-first-year/
  48. https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/green-party-presidential-convention/129396
  49. https://www.gpus.org/other/convention2004/
  50. https://patch.com/wisconsin/milwaukee/2020-milwaukee-dnc-whats-inside-wisconsin-center
  51. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/20/us/politics/democratic-convention-milwaukee.html
  52. https://bairdcenter.com/attendees/calendar/
  53. https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/
  54. https://www.iaee.com/venue/baird-center/
  55. https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2025/05/12/baird-center--milwaukee--expansion--impact
  56. https://www.facebook.com/BairdCenter/
  57. https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2024/05/03/baird-center-expansion-designed-for-flexibility.html
  58. https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2014/05/12/study-expanded-convention-center-could-generate.html
  59. https://wcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Wisconsin-Center-District-2024-FS-Final.pdf
  60. https://bairdcenter.com/our-story/economic-impact/
  61. https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2025/04/17/baird-center-expansion-project-of-the-year.html
  62. https://wtmj.com/news/2025/05/20/milwaukee-rnc-economic-impact-exceeds-expectations/
  63. https://wcd.org/wcd-information/financial-information/
  64. https://www.wisn.com/article/milwaukee-exclusive-look-inside-new-baird-center/60388128
  65. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2024/05/07/public-can-tour-baird-center-expansion/
  66. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2022/05/20/eyes-on-milwaukee-wisconsin-center-expansion-headed-over-budget/
  67. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-15/convention-centers-bounce-back-as-cities-borrow-for-makeovers
  68. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08942402016003001
  69. https://www.city-journal.org/article/hosting-mostly-debt
  70. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2024/05/16/456-million-baird-center-opens-with-big-promises-vision/
  71. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/business/dealbook/convention-centers-coronavirus.html
  72. https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_4357ea67-20df-4692-8b4b-87c4b09d327c.html
  73. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/11/business/convention-centers-revival.html
  74. https://biztimes.com/naming-rights-help-push-wisconsin-center-district-operating-revenues-up/
  75. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2025/05/21/council-could-kill-revised-baird-center-revenue-sharing-agreement/
  76. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/convention-center-follies-politics-power-and-public-investment-in-american-cities-by-heywood-t-sanders-philadelphia-university-of-pennsylvania-press-2014-528p-5995/1B665B2222FAB92C2352012943910A01
  77. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2023/04/04/murphys-law-wisconsin-center-will-destroy-literary-artworks/
  78. https://www.thebulwark.com/p/tearing-down-art-to-spare-republican-snowflakes-feelings
  79. https://www.change.org/p/save-the-wisconsin-center-literary-displays
  80. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2023/04/14/wisconsin-center-pauses-art-removal-at-least-for-now/
  81. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2023/05/01/wisconsin-center-makes-deal-to-save-literary-artwork/
  82. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2023/04/18/murphys-law-did-brooks-exceed-his-authority-at-wisconsin-center/
  83. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2023/04/11/back-in-the-news-wisconsin-center-accused-of-censorship/
  84. https://www.wuwm.com/2023-04-13/authors-and-officials-concerned-about-wisconsin-centers-literary-art-installation-removal
  85. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2023/10/16/city-hall-council-wants-new-deal-says-convention-center-outsmarted-city/
  86. https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2024/02/22/milwuakee-baird-center-456-million-expansion-nearing-end-as-rnc-looms/72512989007/
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