By Sarah Maio
Over the recent March 6 weekend, the Wisconsin Center welcomed its first non-governmental client into the building following an approved safety plan from the Milwaukee Health Department for volleyball events. On March 6 and 7, the Wisconsin Juniors Volleyball Club held two days of volleyball tournaments in the exhibit hall. Subsequent tournaments will take place the following three weekends of March hosted by the Badger Region Volleyball Association.
“This is a major milestone and will give us a glimpse into the future of large gatherings,” said Marty 
Brooks, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Center District. “I’m proud of the hard work our team has put in to allow us to welcome youth sports back at the Wisconsin Center. From sanitation to security measures, our team is well-versed on all protocols in place, and we worked closely with the Milwaukee Health Department on this endeavor. Tournament participants and attendees should feel confident their health and safety are our number one priority.”
Early on in the pandemic, the Wisconsin Center District (WCD) established COVID-19 guidelines at each of its facilities to ensure the safety of visitors and employees with temperature checks upon entering, mask requirements, high frequency air circulation, and sanitation between visitors. Additionally, each of the WCD’s buildings are GBAC STAR™ accredited, the gold standard for prepared facilities. To achieve this, the WCD implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention.
Not only is this a landmark occasion for the events industry, but the various tournaments will have a tremendous economic impact on Milwaukee as well, with visitors patronizing restaurants, attractions, and hotels. Wisconsin Juniors is expected to brought about 4,000 attendees over the weekend and more than $1.8 million in estimated economic impact to the Milwaukee area. Badger Region has an estimated economic impact of $1.8 million its first week, $1.6 million the second week, and about $1.3 million its third week. Badger Region attendees will range from 3,000 to 4,000 attendees each weekend.
“Our hospitality community is very excited to welcome Wisconsin Juniors and Bader Region back to our convention center and back to our city for their volleyball tournaments,” said Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee. “This will be much needed stimulation for our local economy, furthering the city’s comeback from this pandemic. Additionally, it demonstrates Milwaukee’s ability and expertise in hosting successful events even during a pandemic or, hopefully, near the end of one. So, future conventions can rest assured knowing that their Milwaukee event will be one of their safest.”
Last summer, the Wisconsin Center was the home-base of the 2020 Democratic National Convention and the convention center became the location of Milwaukee County’s vote recounts during the presidential election last autumn. Currently, it serves as a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination site for the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD). The Wisconsin Center opening for additional business will not impact the MHD vaccination efforts. The convention center will continue to serve as Milwaukee’s primary vaccination site and is contracted by the City of Milwaukee through May 1, 2021 for this initiative.
Sarah Maio is Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Wisconsin Center District in Milwaukee.
