MILWAUKEE — Businesses around Fiserv Forum were excited to hear the news that the Milwaukee Bucks hope to have fans back inside the area for games later this month.
The team is waiting on final approval from the Milwaukee Health Department. If approved, the team would be able to have 25% of their normal capacity or about 4,000 people including fans, team members and arena workers.
David Gawlick, Operations Manager of “Who’s on Third” bar and restaurant on Old World Third Street just outside the Bucks’ Deer District says he welcomes the fans back to the area.
“To have them come back is hope for the city. To be seeing the silver lining that we are eventually going to get through this,” Gawlick said about the team and the fans.
Businesses in the area have struggled amid the pandemic. Much of their normal business is dependent on games and events at Fiserv Forum.
Gawlick said “even just a little bit of fans being out and about, just the energy and the vibe is going to already make it busier.”
To do this, the Bucks are going to test new processes and protocols during upcoming home Marquette basketball games before the Bucks return to Fiserv on Feb. 16, the first game where there could be fans.
Inside there will be changes. Tickets will be sold in groups of two and four and be six feet apart from each other. Masks will be required as they are around the city, and some food and beverage concessions may change.
The news came as the city health department updated their health order allowing 25 percent capacity with an approved health plan. They are working with the Bucks to finalize plans.
For the Bucks, this means at 25 percent capacity they could welcome 3-4,000 fans, but they will start with 1-2,000 at first.
It's a bit unclear who can buy tickets. Peter Feigin told us season ticket holders and first responders would be among them and notified by the team in the coming days.