Is the Milwaukee Bucks’ G League team the Wisconsin Herd leaving Oshkosh? Here’s what we know.

OSHKOSH — As first reported by the Northwestern, the Wisconsin Herd could be leaving Oshkosh after an inside source revealed the Milwaukee Bucks’ G League team “no longer wants to work” with Oshkosh Arena owners, Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc.

But what does that mean for the team and the city of Oshkosh heading into the 2024-25 NBA G League season?

Here's what we know so far about answers to key questions:

Is there a chance the Wisconsin Herd remains in Oshkosh?

“The Wisconsin Herd is actively preparing for the 2024-25 season in Oshkosh," team President Steve Brandes said in a statement May 17.

And the Herd is currently tied to Oshkosh Arena for the next two years, having signed a multi-year extension of its lease agreement that ends in 2026 with a further option to extend until 2028.

According to the source, though, the team claims Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. is in violation of the lease, and the Herd apparently has opt-out provisions providing the team a release from the agreement.

Oshkosh Arena is listed for sale, and reports indicate the Herd are willing to stay in Oshkosh to work with new arena ownership.

But that would be dependent on the timing of the sale, as the Herd likely has until August to finalize its home court arrangements with the NBA, which is set to release its G League schedule in early September.

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Could the City of Oshkosh buy the arena to keep the Herd in town?

City Manager Mark Rohloff told the Northwestern that acquiring Oshkosh Arena "is not in the cards" as Common Council has never brought up the possibility for discussion.

"It’s never been our intent to acquire the arena because it was always proposed as a private entity and we support it as a private entity and we will continue to support it as a private entity," Rohloff told the Northwestern.

"We had a closed session to discuss the development agreement and what flexibility we have, and that was the focus of our discussion," he added.

Will the arena be sold in time to keep the Herd in Oshkosh?

Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. Managing Partner Greg Pierce told the Northwestern weeks ago there were several groups looking at Oshkosh Arena, but declined to go further into a possible sale.

Multiple sources believe there's the possibility a deal can get done, with one saying it's "50-50" right now.

Can the Herd possibly move to the Resch Center?

Despite the social media rumors, PMI Entertainment Group, the company that manages the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon, said the building doesn't have the dates available to accommodate the Herd's 24-game home schedule.

"Our dates are at a premium with UW-Green Bay basketball, Gamblers Hockey, Green Bay Blizzard arena football, boys' and girls' state basketball, and state volleyball along with the Harlem Globe Trotters, Monster Jam, Disney on Ice and the concerts we stage," said PMI Entertainment Group Senior Manager of Corporate Communications Terry Charles.

Charles also said the team hasn't expressed any interest in relocating to the Resch Center.

What are the Herd's viable options in Wisconsin?

According to a report from WXOW, "La Crosse Center Director Jay Odegaard told News 19 Sports that a representative from the Herd reached out to him to gauge interest about moving to La Crosse."

The report said there are no serious negotiations but "the Herd and the La Crosse Center are keeping the lines of communication open."

La Crosse, Grand Chute, Sheboygan and Racine put in bids to become the host city of the Herd before losing out to Oshkosh in 2017.

But Sheboygan likely doesn't have a suitable venue after demolishing the Armory in 2020.

And general manager of the Community First Champion Center in Grand Chute, Adam Ligocki, said the Herd "isn't a group we'd consider."

It's unclear what venues in Racine could facilitate the Herd, but the team could also look outside of Wisconsin considering the Denver Nuggets (Grand Rapids Gold), Minnesota Timberwolves (Iowa Wolves) and Miami Heat (Sioux Falls Skyforce) have their G League teams in another state.

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How did we get here?

Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. has faced a number of financial challenges since first building the arena in 2017.

A general contractor sued the area owners for $21.5 million in 2019 before Fox Valley Pro Basketball filed for bankruptcy, reporting more than 100 creditors.

Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. eventually reached settlements with the creditors, but the city's finance department recently revealed the Oshkosh Arena owes more than $619,000 in combined personal property and real estate taxes.

Have a story tip or public interest concern? Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Is Milwaukee Bucks' G League team Wisconsin Herd leaving Oshkosh?