Bucks say opening of new arena will be delayed by a year

MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Bucks say the planned opening of their new downtown arena will be delayed by a year.

The team hoped to have the arena ready by the start of the 2017-2018 NBA season. But the Bucks said Tuesday their construction schedule now targets an opening for the 2018-2019 season.

Team spokesman Jake Suski says the earlier date ''simply isn't realistic.''

The NBA has said it could move the team without significant progress toward construction of a new arena by 2017. An NBA spokesman couldn't immediately be reached Tuesday.

The Bucks now play in the 27-year-old BMO Harris Bradley Center.

On Monday, the Bucks submitted to the city of Milwaukee preliminary plans for the $500-million arena and a surrounding development. A planning commission will review the plans Nov. 9.