Milwaukee a Second-Tier City?

Milwaukee is not the place to be. Ask John Berglund, executive director of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Any chance that the U.S. Bowling Congress will keep its national headquarters in Greendale appeared remote Friday, especially after one top bowling official made comments that implied that Milwaukee was a second-tier city with a subpar airport.

The comments by John Berglund, executive director of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America, during a meeting with bowling congress staffers Wednesday brought an immediate reaction from County Executive Scott Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

Both Walker and Barrett said the Milwaukee 7, a group formed to bring business to the Milwaukee region, had made a compelling presentation to USBC officials. That proposal includes two possible sites - in Cudahy and Milwaukee - for a new USBC headquarters. The latest proposals were hand-delivered to USBC officials Friday.

"I remain guardedly optimistic that . . . we will be the last pin standing," Barrett said.

The USBC, the sport's governing body, has plans on the table to move its operations to Arlington, Texas, to partner with the bowling proprietors group, which is already based there. The two groups have spoken about building a new testing and training center in Arlington, and they are working with officials in Arlington for additional tax and development incentives.

On Monday, the USBC's board of directors is expected to meet and make a final decision on the move, which would affect 230 jobs. In both public and private comments, top USBC officials, including Jeff Boje, the president of the USBC, have shown a clear preference for moving to Texas.

On Wednesday, Berglund appeared to drive home that point, implying that Milwaukee was a second-tier city and complaining about the cost of airfare from Dallas to Milwaukee.

...Jack Mordini, a USBC vice president, said Berglund explained that he tried to book a flight from Dallas to Milwaukee on American Airlines and found the fare to be more than $600.

Instead, Berglund flew to Chicago and took a van the rest of the way to Milwaukee.

Walker said one USBC employee then pointed out to Berglund that he just booked a flight to Dallas on Midwest Airlines for about $200.

"The reality is that U.S. Department of Transportation statistics show that Dallas-Fort Worth ranks 22nd highest in airfares, while Mitchell ranks 48th in average airfares. We are consistently better when it comes to rankings," Walker said. "I hope that the members of the board of directors of the USBC look at the facts and not just one person's comments."

Score one for Walker.

It appears that won't be enough.

...Mark Miller, a spokesman for the USBC, said Berglund did not call Milwaukee a second-tier city. He said Berglund merely said Milwaukee was not a first-tier city.

"He really loves Milwaukee," Miller said.

Mordini said Berglund's comments about Milwaukee were in response to a question whether the BPAA would consider moving its operations to Milwaukee rather than the bowling congress moving south.

Did he say Milwaukee was a second-tier city?

"He implied that when he said he wouldn't move to Milwaukee," Mordini said.

Spokesman for the USBC insists that Berglund did not call Milwaukee a second-tier city. However, he confirms that Berglund did not say Milwaukee was a first-tier city.

There is no tier between first and second.

Does that mean Berglund would place Milwaukee among third- or fourth-tier cities?

Berglund supposedly "really loves Milwaukee."

He probably would at least put Milwaukee on the honorable mention-tier.

Barring a miracle, it appears that losing the Bowling Congress will be the latest indication of the exodus from Milwaukee.