July 13, 2005
Wilt To Head Milwaukee Efforts
Group Hopes to Land MLS Team

MILWAUKEE – When you want to hire someone who can successfully produce a Major League Soccer team, one name comes to mind – Peter Wilt. After spending over eight years turning the Chicago Fire into the success story it is today, including breaking ground on a soccer-specific stadium, Anschutz Entertainment Group relieved Wilt of his duties.

Unfortunately when the Bridgeview Stadium opens its doors in 2007, Wilt will not be a part of the organization that he helped build.

But fortunately for Milwaukee, Wilt was available for a new venture – launching a new professional soccer team and building a stadium along the shores of Lake Michigan a couple hours North of Chicago.

“I’m very fortunate to be able to take on this challenge and return home to Milwaukee,” Wilt said. “I have had a number of opportunities since April. But none as good as this one.”

Wednesday, Milwaukee Professional Soccer, LLC introduced Wilt as its new Chief Executive Operator. He will now lead Milwaukee in efforts to develop a 20,000-seat stadium and bring a MLS team to the city.

“Milwaukee and Wisconsin have a rich soccer heritage,” Martin J. Greenberg, one of the Managing Members of Milwaukee Professional Soccer, LLC and Pegasus ParkEast Partners, LLC, said. “There is a strong desire to have professional soccer in Milwaukee. We look at the stadium for jobs and a destination place. We’re calling it our urban playground – to urbanize soccer in Milwaukee. We think we’ve hired the best man to make this a reality.”

Wilt will have a great deal of work to do before Milwaukee kicks in off in MLS. Greenberg and his partners have not yet secured the lead investor who would be willing to put up the estimated $15 million league expansion fee, although there are currently several individuals the group is talking to. In addition, the land for the proposed development project has not yet been secure. It will go up for auction later this year, but several local officials have expressed doubts about building soccer stadium in downtown Milwaukee.

Then there is MLS’s timetable for expanding. The league has said it hopes to add two teams for 2007, one year earlier than the Milwaukee group expects to have its stadium ready.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber, feels Milwaukee made the right choice in brining on Wilt.

“I congratulate Milwaukee on choosing Peter,” Garber said. “Peter is one of those guys who has his heart and soul committed to our league.”

Garber looks upon the possible addition of a Milwaukee team, just 90 miles from Chicago as further fueling the rivalries the league is trying to develop. That Chicago-Milwaukee rivalry will likely be fueled by the fact that Wilt will be the man who established both clubs.

“We need more rivalries in this league,” Garber said. “It’s the closeness that adds to the intense rivalry.”

Garber pointed out that although he supports Milwaukee’s efforts, the league has made no commitment to the group or the city, and that Milwaukee Professional Soccer LLC has made no financial commitments toward securing a franchise or an option for a franchise.

Garber said the league looks for three elements in deciding on expansion, with a committed ownership being at the top of the list, followed by the right market and plans for a soccer specific stadium.

Though John Guppy replaced Wilt as president of the Fire in April, Wilt has remained with the team and served as General Manager. He will continue to work with the Fire through the fall season, en route to perhaps another MLS Cup for the Fire. The team has appeared in three MLS Cups, winning one championship. Chicago has also won three U.S. Open Cups during its eight seasons.

"The upcoming MLS transfer window and the trade and discovery deadlines (September 15) give John and me an opportunity to work together through an important period of the season,” Wilt said. “After that, I will continue to work as a sounding board and consultant for John and [Fire Head Coach] Dave Sarachan to make sure the Fire takes advantage of every opportunity to compete for this year's MLS Cup.”

Ironically, Wilt began his professional soccer career in Milwaukee, working for the Wave (NPSL) as Director of Marketing and Publicity. He moved on to the Chicago Power (NPSL) in 1990, where he became General Manager. He added the Minnesota Thunder (A-League) to his resume, before being named General Manager of the Chicago Fire in 1997. All of Wilt’s soccer experiences have equaled success. He owns championship rings from three leagues, a bragging right that few others have.

Wilt has called Milwaukee his home for the past 27 years. He and his wife Ann currently reside in Whitefish Bay with their three cats, Mrs. Livingston, Spin-O-Rama and Meringue. Wilt has been splitting his time for the past nine years between Chicago and Milwaukee. Finally, he’ll be able to call Milwaukee his true home.