The Rave/Eagles Club

{{Short description|Multi-purpose venue and landmark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin}} {{Redirect|The Eagles Club|the fraternal organization|Fraternal Order of Eagles}} {{For|the band|Raves (band)}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = The Rave/Eagles Club | nickname = | image = The Rave - Eagles Club.jpg | image_size = 250px | image_caption = Exterior of venue, seen from Wisconsin Ave (2009) | former_names = Eagles Club {{small|(1927-89)}} Central Park Athletic Club and Entertainment Center {{small|(1989-94)}} | address = 2401 W Wisconsin Ave [[Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin|WI]] 53233-1827 | location = [[Neighborhoods of Milwaukee#Avenues West|Avenues West]] | type = | event = | built = | broke_ground = {{Start date|1925|04|16}} | opened = {{Start date|1927|09|13}} | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = Eagles Entertainment, Inc. | construction_cost = $2.6 million | architect = [[Russell Barr Williamson]] | general_contractor = Immel Construction | seating_type = General Admission, Reserved Seating, VIP Seating, Theater Seating | seating_capacity = 3,500 {{small|(Eagles Ballroom)}} 1,800 {{small|(Rave Hall)}} 500 {{small|(Rave Bar)}} 1000 {{small|(Rave II)}} | website = {{URL|http://www.therave.com|Venue Website}} | nrhp = {{Infobox NRHP | embed = yes | name = Eagles Club | nrhp_type = | image = | caption = | nearest_city = | coordinates = | locmapin = | area = | built = 1926{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} | architect = | architecture = [[Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals architecture|19th and 20th Century Revival (1924, 1927, 1939)]] | added = July 29, 1986<ref name=nris>[https://npgallery.nps.gov/nrhp National Register Information System], National Register of Historic Places (search for "Eagles Club"). Retrieved May 23, 2011.</ref> | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | refnum = 86002096 | mpsub = | governing_body = }} }} '''The Rave/Eagles Club''' (commonly known as simply '''The Rave''', formerly known as the '''Eagles Club'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uwm.edu/marchonmilwaukee/keyterms/eagles-club/ |title=Eagles Club |author= |date=2017 |website=[[University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee|UWM Libraries]] |access-date=October 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Kaczkowski |first=Manya |date=2010 |title=Milwaukee's Historic Bowling Alleys |location=Charleston, South Carolina |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=9780738583785 }}</ref> and '''Central Park Athletic Club and Entertainment Center'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://content.mpl.org/cdm/ref/collection/RememberWhe/id/465 |title=Remember When...the Eagles Club building was new? |author= |date=September 8, 2010 |website=Milwaukee Public Library |access-date=October 14, 2017}}</ref> or commonly '''Central Park Ballroom''') is a [[concert venue]] and landmark in [[Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin]].

==Divisions== {{more citations needed section|date=April 2016}} The building is divided into 6 venues, making it theoretically possible to have six different acts playing at the same time.

===The Eagles Ballroom=== [[File:The Rave-Eagles Club September 2025 3 (Eagles Ballroom).jpg|thumb|left| The Eagles Ballroom in 2025]]

The Eagles Ballroom is the building's showpiece, featuring a {{convert|25000|sqft}} oval wooden dancefloor, originally installed when the building was constructed, in addition to a large, old-fashioned domed ceiling and a stage on one side.<ref name=cityguide /> Originally a ballroom, it has hosted everything from boxing matches to concerts to ethnic dances. There is a second floor, with a row of balconies around the oval, from one side of the stage to the other.

The Ballroom hosts the most popular acts, and its history includes [[Bob Dylan]] (six times), [[Sex Pistols]], [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]], [[Weezer]], [[Morrissey]], [[The Killers]], [[The Offspring]] (nine times),<ref name=offspring/> [[Bad Religion]] (five times),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thebrpage.net/shows/search_shows.asp?search=rave&incl_show_info=True |title= Bad Religion shows at The Rave|publisher= The Bad Religion Page |access-date= October 9, 2010}}</ref> [[The Grateful Dead]], [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]], [[The White Stripes]], [[Pantera]], [[Fugazi]], [[Matchbox Twenty]], [[Green Day]], [[Bullet for My Valentine]] (eight times), [[Pierce The Veil]], [[Shiny Toy Guns]], [[Nine Inch Nails]], [[Thirty Seconds to Mars]], [[The Replacements (band)|The Replacements]], Paul Westerberg (solo), [[Social Distortion]], [[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]], [[Megadeth]], [[Maroon 5]], [[Korn]], [[XXXTentacion]], [[Juice WRLD]], [[Sexyy Red]], [[Kanye West|Ye]],[[Bad Omens]] [[J.P. (rapper)|J.P.]], [[Glorilla]], [[Tupac Shakur]], [[girl in red]], [[Suicideboys|$UICIDEBOY$]], [[Ghostemane]], [[Lil Baby]], [[City Girls]], [[YK Osiris]], [[Coi Leray]], [[Trippie Redd]], [[Lil Durk]], [[PnB Rock]], [[Young Thug]], [[City Morgue]], [[Megan Thee Stallion]], [[Denzel Curry]], [[Twenty One Pilots]], [[Kings of Leon]], [[The Smashing Pumpkins]], [[The All-American Rejects]], [[Atreyu (band)|Atreyu]], [[No Doubt]], [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]], [[Robert Plant]], [[Velvet Revolver]], [[James Blunt]], [[Phish]], [[Slayer]], [[Sublime with Rome]], [[Infected Mushroom]], [[Benny Benassi]], [[My Chemical Romance]], [[Nick Jonas & the Administration]], [[All Time Low]], [[Ed Sheeran]], [[Kesha]], [[Lil Pump]], [[Lil Uzi Vert]], [[21 Savage]], [[Huddy (musician)|Huddy]], [[Rihanna]], [[Olivia Rodrigo]], and many others.

The [[Jonas Brothers]] performed their first major concert as a headliner here, and filmed portions of the show to use in the music video for their top ten single "When You Look Me In the Eyes."<ref name=eaglesballroom>[http://www.therave.com/about_the_eagles_ballroom.asp The Eagles Ballroom], Retrieved August 7, 2008</ref><ref name=allmusic>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1059454/charts-awards/billboard-single|pure_url=yes}} All Music: The Jonas Brothers], Retrieved August 7, 2008</ref>

[[Jason Mraz]] also filmed a live DVD here, called [[Tonight, Not Again: Jason Mraz Live at the Eagles Ballroom]].

The music video for [[CKY (band)|CKY]]'s song Close Yet Far was shot at The Rave.

Certain interview clips from [[All Time Low]]'s 2010 DVD, ''Straight to DVD'' were filmed on the roof of the building.

The Rave hosted [[Extreme Championship Wrestling|ECW]] events in 2000 such as [[Hardcore Heaven]] in May and various [[ECW on TNN]] episodes.

The Rave Eagles Grand Ballroom currently hosts Milwaukee based combat sports promotions North American Fighting Championship (NAFC) MMA & Knockout Kings Kickboxing.

===The Rave Hall=== [[File:2025 Haunted Holidays Tours at The Rave 27 (Rave Hall).jpg|thumb|The Rave Hall during the 2025 Haunted Holidays Tours]]

The Rave Hall on the main level is a large concert-style venue, second in size only to the Eagles Ballroom above it. Most national touring artists that visit Milwaukee have played here, including [[John Mayer]], [[Sevendust]], [[Gwar]], [[Regina Spektor]], [[moe (band)|moe.]], [[Tiësto]], [[Seaway (band)|Seaway]], [[Chiodos]] and [[Bob Weir]].<ref name=ravehall>[http://www.therave.com/about_the_rave_hall.asp The Rave Hall], Retrieved August 7, 2008</ref>

===The Rave II=== The Rave II, previously called the Eagles Hall, and the Basement, (or the Underground) is a Miami-style venue built in the basement of the building. Featuring a unique hardwood floor, it is often rented by members of the public for wedding receptions. It has hosted acts like [[Buzzcocks|the Buzzcocks]], [[Owl City]], [[Muse (band)|Muse]], [[Chappell Roan]], [[Nickelback]], [[Boys Like Girls]], [[Fugazi]], [[3 Doors Down]], [[Gov't Mule]], and [[Third Eye Blind]].<ref name=eagleshall>[http://www.therave.com/about_the_eagles_hall.asp The Eagles Hall], Retrieved August 7, 2008</ref>

===The Rave Bar=== The Rave Bar is a small intimate club.<ref name=cityguide>[http://search.cityguide.aol.com/milwaukee/bars/the-rave--eagles-ballroom/v-104017529 The Rave/Eagles Ballroom Review], Retrieved June 8, 2007</ref> Numerous acts have made their Wisconsin debut here, including [[Dave Matthews Band]], [[Les Claypool]], [[The Features]], [[Third Eye Blind]], [[Smash Mouth]], [[Blink-182]], [[Creed (band)|Creed]], [[Pearl Jam]], Red Is The Sea, Cody Hansen, [http://unlimitedproductionmusic.com Unlimited Production Music-UPM (featuring: Ewill, Rob, Killah and Prod)] and [[tantric (band)|Tantric]].<ref name=ravebar>[http://www.therave.com/about_the_Rave_bar.asp The Rave Bar], Retrieved August 7, 2008</ref>

[[File:2025 Haunted Holidays Tours at The Rave 33 (pool).jpg|thumb|left|The pool during the 2025 Haunted Holidays Tours]]

There is an unused swimming pool in the basement.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tanzilo |first1=Bobby |title=Downtown's naked underground pools |url=https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/downtown-underground-pools |work=OnMilwaukee |date=19 January 2018}}</ref> The walls of the pool room are signed by artists who have performed at the venue, and those who have sold out the Ballroom three times are allowed to sign inside the pool itself.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mihelich |first=Lily |date=2025-12-19 |title=Holly, jolly, and haunted? I attended the first night of The Rave’s Haunted Holidays |url=https://milwaukeerecord.com/music/holly-jolly-and-haunted-i-attended-the-first-night-of-the-raves-haunted-holidays/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Milwaukee Record |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=T-Pain |date=June 10, 2024 |title="So The Rave / Eagles Club has a giant spooky ass pool on the bottom level 😂 And if you sell it out three times, they give you the honor of signing the inside of it..." |url=https://www.facebook.com/t-pain/videos/so-the-rave-eagles-club-has-a-giant-spooky-ass-pool-on-the-bottom-level-and-if-y/1831842497300577/ |website=[[Facebook]]}}</ref> Artists who have signed the pool include [[Alice in Chains]], [[Kesha]], [[T-Pain]], and [[Mac Miller]]. Miller's signature has been reshared by fans on social media following his death. It reads: "I am Mac Miller. I once lived. Now I am dead. My soul remains here. Enjoy... P.S. I sold this place out 3 times." <ref>{{Cite web |last=@macmillerdivine |date=August 6, 2025 |title=Mac Miller’s iconic signature in the haunted pool of The Rave/Eagles Club, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DNBllwOSHgS/ |access-date=February 25, 2026 |website=[[Instagram]]}}</ref>

===The Rave Craft Beer Lounge=== The Rave Vibe Room was designed to feature up and coming bands, similar to The Rave Bar, while also catering to [[DJ]]'s.<ref name=raveviberoom>[http://www.therave.com/about_the_rave_vibe_room.asp The Rave Vibe Room], Retrieved August 7, 2008</ref>

===The Penthouse Lounge=== [[File:2025 Haunted Holidays Tours at The Rave 09 (Penthouse Lounge).jpg|thumb|The Penthouse Lounge during the 2025 Haunted Holidays Tours]]

On the concierge level (2nd level) and comfortably holds a group of 200 or so with a full bar, table seating, and an optional stage. Notable events include the Trevin SkyDiving incident.

===Eagles Club=== The '''Eagles Club''' was named to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on July 29, 1986.<ref name=nris />

In March 2014, Dennis Munson Jr. died hours after his amateur debut as a kickboxer at Milwaukee's Eagles Club. An investigation by the Journal Sentinel uncovered a series of errors by the officials responsible for safety during the unregulated fight – part of the fast-growing world of combat sports.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/kickboxing-death-285740151.html?bppw=absolutely&suppressAds=youbet|title=Death in the Ring: A Journal Sentinel Investigation into Unregulated Kickboxing|website=www.jsonline.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-11}}</ref>

==History== The Milwaukee [[Fraternal Order of Eagles|Eagles]]' Aerie #137 was formed in 1901 by a group of actors, theater managers, and other stage men. It was the first Eagles lodge in the state. They met in a headquarters on Second Street until it burned, when they moved to 6th St. The aerie grew quickly and by 1925 was the second-largest Eagles chapter in the U.S.<ref name=nrhp_nom>{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=86002096}}|title=Intensive Survey Form: Eagles Club|publisher=State Historical Society of Wisconsin|author1=Robin D. Wenger|author2=Carlen Hatala|date=1983|access-date=2019-08-19}} With {{NRHP url|id=86002096|photos=y|title=one photo.}}</ref>

In 1925 the chapter broke ground on a new clubhouse. [[Russell Barr Williamson]] designed the building, five stories tall, with [[Mediterranean Revival]] styling. The walls are stone, framing three round-topped recessed windows above the front entrance. Near the top of the wall is a wide [[frieze]] with a [[relief sculpture]] of human-eagle forms, rather similar to [[Assyria]]n art. The roof is covered in tile, typical of the Mediterranean Revival style.<ref name=nrhp_nom/><ref>{{cite web|title=Eagles Club|url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI17154|publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society|access-date=2019-08-19}}</ref> The grand opening for the Eagles Building was September 13, 1927.

== See also == * [[List of Fraternal Order of Eagles buildings]] * [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Milwaukee]]

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=offspring>{{cite web | title = The Offspring - Tour | website = offspring.com | url = http://offspring.com/tour | series = (Note: search for 'Milwaukee' in the Archive section) | access-date = December 29, 2016}} </ref> }}

==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.therave.com}} * [http://www.milwaukeerocks.com/showclubdetail.asp?ClubID=27 Club details at milwaukeerocks.com]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rave, The}} [[Category:Avenues West, Milwaukee]] [[Category:Culture of Milwaukee]] [[Category:Music venues in Wisconsin]] [[Category:Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin]] [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Milwaukee]] [[Category:1927 establishments in Wisconsin]] [[Category:Clubhouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin]] [[Category:Fraternal Order of Eagles buildings]]