Oshkosh Arena

08/15/2025

Oshkosh's Funniest Comedian, presented by Laughable Productions, welcomes Steve McGrath to the judges' table tonight for Preliminary Round 4.,

Steve, 103.9 WVBO's Morning Host, is a 10-year+ radio veteran, albeit spread out over 30 years! He also is on-air talent for 99.5 PKR, Cumulus' country station.

A Minneapolis native, Steve grew up listening to the radio, leaving him with a dream to make radio his career. After graduating from the famous Brown Institute broadcasting program, Steve spent time entertaining folks in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Eau Claire, and most recently, Green Bay.

He took some time away from radio but now he’s back, doing what he loves: Playing Classic Hits and making people smile…maybe even LAUGH! A celeb doing something goofy? He’ll fill you in! Weird stuff going on in the world…not to mention here in the Fox Valley? He’s on it! One of Steve’s four kids doing something…entertaining? Steve will tell you all about it…as long as it doesn’t embarrass them - too much!

When he’s not on the air amazing listeners with his knowledge of things no one cares about, and when all of his chores are done, Steve enjoys movies and TV shows, especially science-fiction and comedy, and he especially likes hanging out with his family! Speaking of which, Steve has been married to his wife Ali for over 20 years and has four children: Logan, Libby, Ramsey and Oliver.

Steve will be here early tonight - 4 p.m. - for a special live remote out in front of the arena. Stop by to say "hi," listen to some classic hits, grab a special can coozie - and enter to win two tickets to the Josh Blue headliner show of Oshkosh's Funniest Comedian on Sept. 13!

Stay at the arena for our Fish Fry Fridays (4 to 8 p.m. in the 1212 Sports Pub & Grill) or Round 4 (7 p.m.)! Can't stay long? Drop in to buy your tickets to Oshkosh Fight Night on Aug. 23 or Josh Blue on Sept. 13, as the Box Office WILL to OPEN until showtime at 7.

08/15/2025

Join us in congratulating VenuWorks of Oshkosh Executive Director Andy Linton on his one-year anniversary at the Oshkosh Arena! He'll tell you that Year 1 has been quite the wild ride, but we all agree we're getting our wings underneath us now. And with Andy leading the way, this team is going to SOAR! Happy Anniversary, Boss!

08/15/2025

We have TONS OF FUN in store TOMORROW - FRIDAY, AUG. 15!

Our radio partners at 103.9 WVBO will be onsite for a live radio remote, broadcasting all your favorite Classic Hits, handing out special Oshkosh Funniest Comedian and WVBO co-branded can coozies AND offering a chance to win TWO TICKETS to the finale event Sept. 13, featuring Josh Blue!

Meanwhile, our Fish Fry Friday continues from 4 to 8 p.m. in our 1212 Sports Pub & Grill.

And finally, the main event of the evening: ROUND 4 of our Oshkosh's Funniest Comedian competition, presented by Laughable Productions, where 9 comedians from FIVE different states will take the standup stage for their chance to advance to the finale to open for Josh Blue!

The Oshkosh Arena is THE place to be TOMORROW NIGHT. As they say, "Be there or be square!" (Yeah, we know: Nobody says that anymore, and it never really was that funny when people did say it, but we get some props for trying to be funny, don't we?!)

08/14/2025

Who knew Oshkosh's Funniest Comedian would draw interest from as far away as Alaska?

Tomorrow night, straight off the plane from Fairbanks, we will welcome Phoenix Lampkin, 41, to our standup stage!

Citing Dave Chapelle as his most influential comedian, Lampkin says, "Comedy is art; art is pain." No other millennial comic embodies this sentiment more than Phoenix. From his q***r perspective of the mainstream world to approaching midlife, nothing is off-color or off-limits.

Raw, edgy, self-deprecating and honest, "Phoenix The Comedian" is a come-as-you-are funny guy on a mission to make the world laugh.

And he'll get everyone laughing in the arena as part of Laughable Productions' lineup tomorrow night!

Tickets are available online here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/070062A6B0D81369

Or buy them in-person at our box office (Gate A) anytime between 10 a.m. and showtime tomorrow. If you want to support Lampkin, ask for his code and use it at time of purchase.

Don't forget, our 1212 Sports Pub & Grill will have our Fish Fry Fridays going on from 4 to 8 p.m., and you can also order casual food and apps during the show off the show menu, too!

08/14/2025

📣🎤ARE YOU READY FOR ANOTHER CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENT, OSHKOSH ARENA FANS? 📣🎤

🎤 At 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 18, the arena will be announcing a November show that features not one, but TWO, well-known bands. 🎤

💥 You're not going to want to miss this one! 💥

❓ Any guesses on who's coming to town? ❓

08/14/2025

Bringing us a taste of West Coast comedy to the Oshkosh's Funniest Comedian stage tomorrow is Chris Butler, who hails from L.A.

Butler, 35, is a Pasadena native with over five years of comedy experience and zero patience for beating around the punchline. Known for his bold, no-fluff delivery, Butler tackles everything from racial dynamics to the everyday absurdities of adulting—with just enough charm to get away with it! Whether he’s pointing out the elephant in the room or just trying to find parking in L.A., Butler brings sharp perspective and unapologetic truth to the mic.

He cites Chris Tucker, Martin Lawrence and Jerry Seinfeld as his most influential comics and has a strong love for the craft.

"You gotta love it, and it will love you back, and if you don’t give your all, it won’t give it’s all back to you," he says. "It’s a beautiful science."

Well, if standup is a science, Laughable Productions' Oshkosh's Funniest Comedian is one heckuva experiment!

Come see it unfold, beginning a 7 p.m. tomorrow in the arena bowl when 10 comedians from around the country vie for their chance to make it to the finals to open Sept. 13 for Josh Blue.

Tickets can be purchased online here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/070062A6B0D81369

Or in-person at the box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. today or between 10 a.m. and showtime tomorrow, Friday.

Don't forget to mention Butler at time of sale if you want to support his efforts. He'll can a portion of the ticket sale.

08/14/2025

Next up for Friday's Oshkosh's Funniest Comedian competition, presented by Laughable Productions, is Chris Reilly of Greendale Wisconsin.

Reilly, 52, has been doing standup for more than a decade. He said he started with jokes mostly related to law enforcement, and then disappeared for awhile when a stroke tried tried to take him out. Now, he has a lot of stroke jokes, aging jokes, still some cop jokes and everything in between.

Reilly has opened for Nick Dipaolo, Michael Winslow and hosted a show with Ryan Niemiller, as well as hosted for Terry Mcneely and George Gallo.

"My life, especially post-stroke, has been a challenge, but everyone has their own challenges they face," he says. "Don't give up. believe in you. No matter what life throws at you, never say die."

That is, unless you want to die laughing because Reilly and 9 others will send you reeling this Friday, Aug. 15, as they compete for a spot to advance as an opener for nationally known comedian Josh Blue at the finale on Sept. 13, presented by Laughable Productions.

Get tickets here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/070062A6B0D81369

Or at the box office tomorrow or Friday!

If you know Chris, show him some love by using his code at the point of purchase.

08/13/2025

Followup story by the Oshkosh Northwestern on the current state of our building and where everything is landing as we come up on the one-year anniversary of VenuWorks of Oshkosh beginning to manage the building. The secret to getting us to a fully stable place? Buy tickets to our growing list of events, spend on food and beverages while you're here for entertainment events, host a meeting, party or another catering opportunity in our spaces and absolutely consider reaching out to sponsor/advertise within our building.

Don’t count on the 4,000-seat facility being sold before next summer. See link below ⬇️ bit.ly/3JxOVFG

08/13/2025

Meet Nate Lee, a 31-year-old Milwaukee comedian who will be among the 10 competitors at this Friday's Oshkosh's Funniest Comedian Preliminary Round 4 competition.

Lee, who lists comedian Daniel Sloss as his favorite, is an (optimistically) up-and-coming comic whose love of comedy is matched only by the severity of his autism (moderate). He likes to point out the absurdities of the world in a way that will make you ask, “Is he stoned?” The answer: Probably. You can find him longboarding to a venue near you soon!

Get tickets for the 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15 show, presented by Laughable Productions, here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/070062A6B0D81369

Or buy in-person at the box office (Gate A) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays.

If you know Lee, ask him for his code to use at time of purchase. He'll get a portion of that ticket's sale!

The winner of round 4 will advance to open for Josh Blue at the finale on Sept. 13! Those tickets are on sale here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/07006299B59725C1

08/12/2025

Oshkosh Fight Night is right around the corner - Saturday, Aug. 23! Don’t miss your opportunity to see all this thrilling boxing event will bring to the ring! Get tickets here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/international-boxing-oshkosh-wisconsin-08-23-2025/event/07006288D1472584

08/12/2025

Thank you to the Oshkosh Northwestern for the article detailing the journey the arena's been on over the past year under VenuWorks of Oshkosh's management team!