Friends of Jimmy Banks Stadium

  In the fall of 2022 MPS renamed Custer Stadium Jimmy Banks Memorial Stadium. The effort led by friends, former players, family members, and others from the Milwaukee soccer community encouraged the district to make the change to recognize Jimmy’s legacy. Shortly after the stadium renaming that same group formed The Friends of Jimmy Banks Stadium to continue to raise the profile of his legacy of integrating soccer at the national level and community building at the local level. We want children right in his old neighborhood to see themselves in this legacy and to increase athletic and academic opportunities for them. Planned projects include a mural at the stadium, a scholarship for MPS students, and more.  DONATE!

1982 MPS graduate Jimmy Banks started playing soccer while living in the Westlawn housing projects, and reached the world stage playing for the United States in the 1990 World Cup. After playing in the biggest sporting event in the world Jimmy returned to Milwaukee to continue his playing career and start giving back to his hometown by starting the Jimmy Banks Soccer League and later the Simba Lions soccer club. Both programs gave inner-city youth a place to learn the world’s game, and more importantly, the value of hard work, respect, and teamwork.