Building a permanent home for Milwaukee rugby
For more than 50 years, the Milwaukee rugby community has thrived through the dedication of players, coaches, alumni, families, and volunteers. We’ve built competitive teams, lasting friendships, and a proud rugby tradition — all without a permanent facility of our own.
Now we’re working to change that.
The Society for Cultivating Rugby Union Mastery (SCRUM) is leading an effort to establish a dedicated rugby facility in the Milwaukee area. Our goal is to create a lasting home for the sport and a gathering place for the community that has sustained it for generations.
Our vision
The SCRUM Facility Committee adopted the following mission statement to guide the development of the project:
To create a thriving and sustainable family-oriented rugby community centered around a dedicated facility where people of all ages can find their place as a player, coach, alumnus, volunteer and supporter.
This mission reflects our belief that rugby is about more than what happens on the field.
A permanent facility would create opportunities for youth and adult rugby, strengthen connections between generations, and provide a welcoming environment for families, alumni, volunteers, and supporters.
Above all, it would give Milwaukee rugby a place to call home.
From vision to reality
The idea of establishing a permanent home for Milwaukee rugby has been discussed for decades.
In 2003, the Westside Harlequins purchased the Sin Bin sports bar as a clubhouse and gathering place. Although the property did not include rugby fields, it represented an early investment in the club’s long-term future.
The property was sold in 2021, and proceeds from that investment subsequently helped support facility fundraising.
Meanwhile, the Lakefront 7s tournament, established in 1983, became an increasingly important source of financial support. In recent years, tournament proceeds have been invested specifically to help fund a future rugby facility.
SCRUM was established in 2017 to help manage and invest these resources, alongside contributions from the Milwaukee Barbarians and their Sustaining Members.
By 2025, years of careful saving, fundraising, and investing had established a substantial financial foundation for the project.
That year, SCRUM and the Milwaukee Barbarians launched a formal facility fundraising campaign, turning a long-standing ambition into an organized development initiative.
Project status
The facility project is currently in the fundraising stage. We estimate that approximately $500,000 in available funding will be needed before land acquisition and the first phase of development can begin.
As of November 2026, SCRUM’s dedicated facility investment fund has reached approximately $355,000 through contributions from Lakefront 7s, the Milwaukee Barbarians, other supporters, and investment growth.
This represents significant progress toward our initial funding threshold, although additional fundraising and planning will be necessary before development can proceed.
The Facility Committee
In 2025, SCRUM established a multigenerational committee to guide the initial phases of facility development.
The seven founding committee members brought a combined 169 years of Milwaukee rugby membership and experience in club leadership, coaching, tournament organization, and community involvement.
The founding committee included:
- Jared Abt
- Ty Ash
- Joe Cunningham
- Victor Drover
- Tom Fossell
- Joe Schuster
- Pat Sharpe
The committee’s responsibilities include evaluating potential locations, consulting real estate professionals and organizations with experience developing sports facilities, and preparing a phased plan for the project.
The initial development strategy focuses on identifying suitable land and determining what would be required for the first phase of construction.
Once a suitable location and development costs have been identified, the intention is to present the proposed plan to club members for approval before proceeding.
This measured approach reflects SCRUM’s commitment to developing a facility that is financially sustainable and capable of serving the community over the long term.
Fundraising and community support
The Milwaukee rugby community has already demonstrated remarkable support for the project.
In March 2025, a fundraising campaign was launched with $25,000 in matching commitments from three longtime supporters:
- Spectrum Wealth Advisors
- Harlequin Enterprises
- Four Leaf Roofing & Windows
The campaign concluded with $55,433 raised, including $30,433 in community donations and the full $25,000 in corporate matching contributions.
Current players, alumni, families, and friends of the club came together to help turn the facility vision into reality.
Following this successful campaign, a new $250,000 fundraising goal was announced in November 2025 to support the next phase of the project.
These fundraising efforts build upon years of investment through SCRUM, Lakefront 7s, Sustaining Membership, and other contributions.
Together, they demonstrate what our rugby community can accomplish when we invest in a shared future.
Become a Facility Founder
The development of a permanent rugby facility represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leave a lasting mark on Milwaukee rugby.
To recognize those who make significant contributions, SCRUM established the Facility Founders program.
Individuals, families, and organizations contributing $1,000 or more to the facility project will receive permanent recognition on a Founders Wall at the future complex.
Donations can be made in a single contribution or accumulated over time toward the $1,000 threshold.
The Founders Wall will celebrate the people whose generosity helped create a lasting home for Milwaukee rugby, preserving their contributions as part of the facility’s history.
How you can help
Creating a dedicated rugby facility will require the continued involvement of the entire Milwaukee rugby community.
Whether you’re a current player, an alumnus, a parent, a longtime supporter, or someone who believes in the value of community sports, there are several ways to contribute.
- Make a donation. Every contribution helps move the project forward, regardless of size.
- Become a Facility Founder. Contribute $1,000 or more and receive permanent recognition at the future facility.
- Join Sustaining Membership. Support Milwaukee rugby through recurring contributions, with 50% directed toward facility development.
- Spread the word. Share the project with fellow alumni, friends, family members, and potential corporate supporters.
- Offer your expertise. Experience in real estate, construction, development, fundraising, or related fields may help advance the project.
A home for the next 50 years
Milwaukee rugby has always been powered by people who give their time, energy, and resources to something larger than themselves.
That commitment has sustained the club through five decades of growth, change, and countless shared experiences.
The proposed facility is an opportunity to build on that legacy.
It is about creating a place where young players can discover rugby, experienced players can compete, retired players can remain involved, and families and friends can come together.
A place where the traditions of Milwaukee rugby can continue and new ones can begin.
The first 50 years built the community. Together, we can build its home for the next 50.