MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks announced Monday that fans wouldn’t be allowed at games until further notice. The move is another blow to businesses in the area in dire need of customers brought by events at Fiserv Forum, but one that business owners understand and support.
Bucks Vice President of Ticket Jamie Morningstar says the decision was made for the safety of everyone involved. “Right now the best decision for us in Milwaukee is to make sure that stays the way it is right now, which means no fans in the building,” said Morningstar.
Local business owners like Jack Roman, owner of Third Street Tavern, say they are not surprised but know it means tougher weeks and months to come. “Fiserv events usually run about 15-17 days month, and those are your big days,” said Roman.
Roman hopes soon small groups will be allowed to come back to Firserv Forum and the surrounding area when it is safe.
“To be able to get Fiserv back open, even if we're talking 5-10,000, and to get back to that normalcy - it’s just invaluable,” he says.
The Bucks hope so too and have a number of plans drawn up for all sorts of scenarios brought on by the pandemic and city restrictions.
“We’ve got a lot of different scenarios that we are ready and excited to unveil when the time comes. But for now, we felt like this is the best decision. It’s what the city recommends and the league as well,” says Morningstar.
This Friday, The Bucks will make tickets available for fans, if they are allowed back in later in the season. Individuals and season ticket holders alike will be eligible for a quarter of the games this season. The team says they are doing it this way expecting crowd restrictions and a truncated season. The NBA season starts on Dec. 22.