The Bradley Center originally opened on October 1, 1988 with an exhibition Hockey game between the NHL Chicago Blackhawks and the Edmonton Oilers.

The arena was built as an attempt to attract an expansion franchise for the National Hockey League, though this never occurred, and the International Hockey League's Milwaukee Admirals (later moving to the American Hockey League) used the arena for the majority of its existence - 1988 to 2016.

Funds ($71 million) to build the Bradley Center were donated as a gift to Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin by Jane Bradley Pettit and her husband Lloyd Pettit, in memory of Jane's late father, Harry Lynde Bradley of the Allen-Bradley company.

The 13 storey, 598,700 square foot entertainment center seated 17, 600 for ice Hockey.

In late August 2018, the Bradley Center was demolished to make way for future development. Assets from the arena, including display boards, scoreboards, equipment and sports and concert memorabilia were auctioned off.

NOTE
The Bradley Center was also the home arena of the NBA Milwaukee Bucks, NCAA Division 1 Marquette University Golden Eagles, Major Arena Soccer League's Milwaukee Wave.