Making the Finals a big win for city
Milwaukee shines on huge stage as it hosts its first NBA title-round game in nearly 50 years
The city of Milwaukee has already won. Fiserv Forum sold out. The Bucks expected more than 25,000 people to pack into the Deer District. Hundreds of millions more watching around the globe.
Milwaukee hosted its first NBA Finals game in nearly 50 years Sunday night.
“We built this team,” said Bucks President Peter Feigin. “This has been a project in process for years and to hit the pinnacle, to hit the Finals and have a chance to win the championship, that’s exciting.”
Everyone can be happy about this – our home team in the NBA Finals, led by the superstar drafted from Greece as a young man, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Milwaukee team has emerged as a powerhouse in the NBA after years of losing seasons.
The Bucks beat the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat in pursuit of the title. The Bucks entered Game 3 against the Phoenix Suns trailing in the series 2-0. The Bucks host Game 4 on Wednesday night.
“We have to continue to rally behind our team,” County Executive David Crowley said before Sunday night’s game.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing that has happened right here. It’s been 50 years since we’ve won an NBA Finals, and we have to make sure that they feel the love.”
“For most people in this community, it’s the first time in their life that we have an NBA Finals game in the city of Milwaukee,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said.
“Everybody loves to have a winning sports team,” said Barrett. “If they’re doing it right, it brings the community together.” The mayor planned to watch Game 3 from in the seats at Fiserv Forum with his son.
Time to celebrate together
The NBA Finals coming to Milwaukee means exposure to a national audience. It’s money spent on gear and beer. And it’s a chance for this entire city – and region – to celebrate together.
“The fact that we’re in this market and that we’re here – who could have ever expected it? That’s absolutely incredible,” said Ben Tajnai who has been singing the national anthem at Bucks games since 2014. “I grew up in the time when we didn’t know if we were ever going to get a star player.”
“I think I might cry, honestly,” said Tajnai, who was tapped to sing the anthem Sunday. “I have been looking forward to a moment like this for a long, long time.”
All day Sunday, fans poured into the Deer District in anticipation of the game.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see it,” said Randy Gleason of Sheboygan. “If they’re making it to the Finals, we’re going to the game.” So Gleason got tickets with his brother and fellow lifelong Bucks fan Ron Gleason of Weston.
Helen Harris and her husband, Curtiss, walked around the plaza “just to be a part of the excitement.”
Laura Neve of Waukesha celebrated her bachelorette party with a veil and Bucks jersey.
Ben Davis brought his kids Brayden, 8, and Abby, 10, because “the last time this happened their grandma was 9.”
‘People are thrilled’
The plaza outside Fiserv Forum has been packed for each playoff game – home and away – with fans who want to be in the crowd for the biggest moments. The Bucks have added projection screens as more and more people pour into the plaza.
Tyrone Bolar, who now lives in Atlanta, returned to Milwaukee just to watch the game on the plaza with his wife, DeAnna.
“I had to come,” Tyrone Bolar said. “I saw it on TV and I had to come. It was the energy, togetherness, fun. I had to come back for the excitement.”
The bars and restaurants surrounding the Deer District are all full of people coming together for a common purpose – to cheer on the home team.
Uncle Bucks, with windows that open to the Beer Garden, has had up to 800 people come to the bar for games.
“The spirit of people going to a Bucks game is one thing,” Uncle Bucks owner Mike Vitucci said. “This is different – this is more of a party environment. People are thrilled.”
“There’s something extraordinary about this,” Vitucci said.
The Bucks serve as a common denominator in Milwaukee, a city that so often is separated by race, economics and age. The fervor has only grown with each game.
Strong demand for Bucks gear
Ali Acevedo can’t keep up with demand for Milwaukee Bucks gear at his vintage shop. “That’s a good problem,” Acevedo said.
All Goods at 1411 S. 72nd St. in West Allis only has one Milwaukee Bucks item right now. The rest of the Milwaukee Bucks T-shirts, hats and jackets at All Goods sold out weeks ago. Any Bucks gear that Acevedo acquires now is auctioned off on Instagram.
Acevedo paid $400 a ticket so he could be inside Fiserv Forum with his wife for Game 3.
“To be a fan of the Bucks hasn’t been the easiest thing,” Acevedo, a lifelong Bucks fan, said. “There’s been some really bad seasons.” Like Antetokounmpo’s rookie season, when the team won a franchise-worst 15 games.
Hundreds of fans waited in line Sunday at the Bucks Pro Shop to grab some Finals gear.
Former Sen. Herb Kohl: ‘It brings us together’
The NBA Finals shows off Milwaukee as a major league city.
“The energy and anticipation of this moment remind us that this team, together with all of its owners, employees and players, is a tremendous community asset,” Herb Kohl, who owned the Bucks for 29 years, said in a statement to the Journal Sentinel. “It brings us together to celebrate our diversity, our city and our champion spirit.”
Around 8.56 million viewers tuned into the first game of the series hosted in Arizona. That’s up 13% from last year when teams from Miami and Los Angeles played in the Finals.
“Every one of these games is like a three-hour commercial for Milwaukee to a national and international audience,” said Steve Baas, senior vice president of governmental affairs and public policy for Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. “You cannot buy that kind of publicity.”
Because for many across Milwaukee, this moment is so much bigger than basketball.
Lifelong Milwaukeean Tonnetta D. Carter wants these basketball games to open the world’s eyes to Milwaukee.
“One of the biggest things that I really hope for with this momentum is that outside entities, corporations, investors and people want to pour into Milwaukee,” said Carter. “I hope they see what opportunity is here and help us nourish it.” Carter recently joined Milwaukeebased startup accelerator gener8tor as the director of investments.
“Even if it takes something like sports, it’s giving us a platform that we’ve always deserved,” said Nyesha Stone. The Bucks were one of the early sponsors of Stone’s positive news company, Carvd N Stone.
Each playoff home game brings in roughly $3 million for Milwaukee and the surrounding area, according to a report by VISIT Milwaukee. This is money spent at hotels, getting food and drink and buying a new T-shirt to commemorate the historic game. It will likely be even higher for the title games.
The playoff run has brought businesses back to full capacity after the pandemic had stifled crowds. Good City Brewing’s location near Fiserv Forum is selling more beer than ever, said Good City Brewing co-founder Dan Katt.
“When something good for Milwaukee happens, it’s good for us,” Katt said. “It’s really rewarding and a lot of fun. There’s been a lot of talk from national pundits about not wanting to come here, but we just shrug that off.”
He thinks the Bucks will take the series in seven games.