ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) – Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Dillon, Eric Clapton, Van Halen…
It’s almost impossible to name just one performer or group that went through the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena without instinctively launching into a laundry list of other well-known stars that at some point in history took the stage there.
One part of the history of the old arena is the spectacular acts that have all performed at the venue, but it’s also the building itself, which remains mostly unchanged, for better or worse, after sixty-plus years.
One of the most notable features that remains truly authentic is the seating inside the arena, which is still all original.
After going to countless shows over a number of decades, some residents probably feel like they already own a seat in the arena.
Well, now is your opportunity to make that “ownership” official.
A farewell event for the arena is being held today with an open house from 12:00 to 12:30 and a brief ceremony from 12:30 to 1:00.
Once the ceremony is finished, the public will have an opportunity to purchase a 4-seat row of Arena Seats for $50, while supplies last.
So for those that spent countless nights in those seats, now they can proudly display them at their own homes.
“Maybe outside in their backyards, or in their garages, or in their rec rooms, wherever they’d like to put these things,” explains Jeff Flynt, Brown County Deputy Executive. “It can live on, if you’re interested in that.”
Sale of the arena seats will be ongoing until 6 p.m.
Another option for those interested in coming home with a keepsake is opting to take up to two arena folding chairs for free.
“I’ve seen some from 1976, I’ve seen some that say 1986 as well,” says Flynt.
A number of local officials will be at the farewell event, including Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach, Ashwaubenon Village President Mary Kardoskee, and Brown County Board Chair Patrick Moynihan Jr.
The emcee for the ceremony will be John Maino, who was the longtime play-by-play announcer for UW-GB, deemed the “Voice of the Phoenix.”
“I think I termed it the other day as he had the best seat in the house of games that have taken place of those top-25 teams,” says Flynt.
He says the ceremony should feature a number of different perspectives and countless stories to be told about the historic venue.
Both the folding chairs and arena seats are available while supplies last and it’s advised to get there earlier if you’re hoping to come away with a keepsake.
For Flynt, he says it’s unbelievable to think what those seats have all seen throughout the decades as they sat inside the venue.
“You’ve seen curling, you’ve seen pro wrestling, rodeo, monster truck shows,” he explains. “Elvis, Kiss, Johnny Cash.”
Demolition on the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena is set to start this Wednesday.
