Bon Jovi: The Buisness of Bon Jovi in Milwaukee

And now the crappy news lull between legs of the tour.

Bon Jovi and Milwaukee means money

The Business Journal - by Mark Kass

Date: Monday, May 23, 2011, 10:34am CDT

Scott Paulus
Bon Jovi's concert Saturday was a huge financial boon
for the Bradley Center and also the Milwaukee Bucks.

Bon Jovi made what has become its annual appearance in Milwaukee over the weekend and the sold out event was a big money winner for the band and the Bradley Center.

In fact, between 2003 and 2011 in Milwaukee alone, Bon Jovi has appeared at the Bradley Center four times, twice at Summerfest and once at Miller Park. The band sold a total of more than 110,000 tickets and grossed more than $7.5 million from the six Bradley Center and Summerfest shows, according to the group's public relations firm. The Miller Park show in 2005 was part of Miller Brewing Co.'s 150th anniversary celebration.

"There's just something about playing in Milwaukee that keeps bringing us back," lead singer Jon Bon Jovi told the crowd on Saturday.

The concert was a huge financial boon for the Bradley Center and also the Milwaukee Bucks. Even though the building had to pay Bon Jovi a large fee to play the concert, the event drew more than 18,000 fans, many of whom spent big money for their tickets, parking, merchandise and concessions.

As is the case with any event at the Bradley Center, the Milwaukee Bucks reaped the benefits of the money spent on food, beverages, programs and parking, both in the stands and in the luxury suites.

Under the National Basketball Association team's lease with the Bradley Center, the Bucks pay no rent and receive 27.5 percent of total gross receipts from concessions other than programs and merchandise at all events. The team also receives 13.75 percent of gross revenue from food and beverages sold in the building's luxury suites.

"There is no doubt this is a good day for the Bradley Center," Steve Costello, president of the Bradley Center, told me as we watched tour crews build the stage Saturday morning.

The Business Journal was given exclusive access by the Bradley Center and Bon Jovi for the day to chronicle the business of putting on a major rock concert from how the tour transformed the Bradley Center for its show to how it maximizes its ability to earn revenue through VIP packages.

Watch for additional blogs this week and see our May 27 issue for a photo spread on the event. There also will be an extensive photo slideshow on our website on May 27.