Deer District watch party area expands, allowing up to 65K fans for Game 6
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – The outdoor watch party at the Deer District has been expanded to allow up to 65,000 fans to attend Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday, July 20.
"We're building the church for Easter Sunday. This is going to be a big event," said Bucks President Peter Feigin. "It gives us an opportunity to win a championship at home. You couldn't ask for anything more."
The Milwaukee Bucks have announced adjustments made to accommodate for more fans. The main stage and screen will now be located on Block 6 of the Deer District, directly north of Fiserv Forum between Vel R. Phillips Avenue and 5th Street. The main stage and screen will be on the north end of block six near the intersection of 5th Street and McKinley Avenue.
The watch party will stretch back across Juneau Ave., which will be closed between 6th Street and Old World Third Street, and continue onto the plaza at Fiserv Forum. Vel R. Phillips Avenue will also be closed between McKinley Avenue and Juneau Avenue. Additional viewing screens will be set up on the plaza.
.@Bucks President Peter Feigin says the team is “expanding their footprint” outside @FiservForum for Game 6. A giant stage is being built in the lot across the street. They’re also reconfiguring the area outside the arena. You can see they took down the main stage. pic.twitter.com/HDxGuV2j6S
— Rose Schmidt (@RoseSchmidtTV) July 19, 2021
"I think every event we get better and better, and now we're really planning for something we could have never even fathomed where we have tens of thousands of people watching and if we win, I think we'll have a week full of hundreds of thousands of people celebrating," Feigin said.
Feigin said he does not anticipate having to turn people away. He said if the Bucks win, Milwaukee will celebrate like it's never celebrated before.
"Milwaukee should be the centerpiece of the world. This should be where people want to be -- to see one of the greatest events that will happen," he said.
Aloft Milwaukee Downtown, which is across the street from Fiserv Forum, is booked for Tuesday night.
"We had a lot of reservations in advance -- people anticipating that there might be a game, but those last few rooms that we had really flew off the shelves after the win on Saturday night," said Greta McCue, director of sales for Aloft Milwaukee Downtown.
Local restaurants are calling in reinforcements. Jack Roman is the director of marketing for Cream City Concepts, which owns Oak Barrel, Who's On Third and Third Street Tavern.
"A year ago or more, we were counting on the DNC. We were all looking at that as that's our big statement to the world, and I'm sure it would have been great. That got canceled, and it was really a downtime. It was like, 'What's gonna happen? What are we gonna do?' and it's almost as if the Bucks stepped up to fill that void," Roman said.
Roman said they're staffing up and stocking up on product. He said customers should arrive early and he asked them to be patient with their servers.
"We really haven't dealt with these crowds in years. Things are not as fast as they once were," Roman said.
McCue said having the Bucks in the Finals has given businesses a boost and given people a reason to come to Milwaukee.
"As we get closer to the end of the series, more people are more excited. There's a chance for the Bucks to win at home tomorrow and people want to be here and be a part of that history being made," she said.
Gates to the Deer District watch party will open at 6 p.m. Fans planning to attend the watch party in the Deer District are encouraged to RSVP at www.bucks.com/playoffs to receive the most up-to-date information and guidance.
Gates to Fiserv Forum will open two hours prior to tipoff at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Heavy traffic is expected throughout Deer District on Tuesday and fans with tickets to the game are encouraged to arrive early. Fans with tickets to the game will also have their own dedicated express entrance to the plaza located on the north side of Fiserv Forum near the intersection of Juneau Avenue and 5th Street.