On the corner of 4th and Kilbourn, next to the Miller High Life Theater, sits the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Panther Arena.

Originally opened in 1950 as the Milwaukee Arena, and renamed to the MECCA (Milwaukee Exposition, Convention Center and Arena) in 1974, it has since undergone several other name changes. Today it is known at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena (after the university's team name), and is home to the Milwaukee Wave (men's professional indoor soccer team), the UW-Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team, the Milwaukee Admirals (men's professional AHL hockey team) and the Brewcity Bruisers (women's professional roller derby league). The arena seats as many as 12,700 people, and also hosts other, non-sporting events and concerts throughout the year.

Combined with the other venues we've visited (Wisconsin Center, Fiserv Forum and the Miller High Life Theatre), you can see why Westown is Milwaukee's hub for entertainment and conventions. Byron Kilbourn, businessman and founder of Kilbourntown, was correct back in the 1840s when he recognized this area as a prime location for commerce!

That concludes our Westown tour. Hopefully you have a better feel for the strength, history and vitality of this robust Milwaukee nieghborhood.

If you'd like to return to our starting point, you can walk east two blocks to the RiverWalk, then stroll south (right) to Wisconsin Avenue, or continue south on 4th Street to Wisconsin Avenue, then east (left) to the river.