Fans waiting for hours to get their hands on Bucks championship merchandise
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) - After a night of celebrating a Bucks NBA Finals win, some fans made sure to set their alarms nice and early on Wednesday to get their hands on some fresh championship merchandise.
Lines of fans extended out the door of the Bucks Pro Shop from the morning through the evening, with sporting goods stores also seeing Bucks fans line up.
"It's been enthusiastic, fans have been coming in all throughout the day, we actually had fans waiting at 6:30 a.m. for the store to open at 7 a.m." said Kyle Flanagan, community marketing manager at Dick's Sporting Goods.
Checkout lines were seen wrapped around the store at Dick's Sporting Goods in Wauwatosa.
"Oh my God, I probably waited an hour and a half, but it wasn't too bad -- it's worth it," said customer JoAnn Garland.
Young and old, traveling from near and far, fans flocked to get their championship merchandise after a long night of celebrating.
"Had to come down here just in person to see and just feel the energy," said Stacey Gardiner, who visited the Deer District Wednesday morning.
"We came to get stuff, because we live in South Carolina and there's not a lot of that stuff down there," said Enzo Pietruszynski, Dick's Sporting Goods customer.
On top of waiting in line, some fans have ordered more items online to get specific designs not offered in stores.
"I ordered a hat online, because I'm going to be framing all my memorabilia, you know, for keepsake," said Byran Crenshaw, who waited outside the Bucks Pro Shop.
Both the Bucks Pro Shop and Dick's Sporting Goods locations say locker room T-shirts and hats are some of the biggest hits. Fans who were around the last time the Bucks won the NBA Finals say this win holds meaning to them.
"I was living, I was like 11 or 12 years old so I do remember, and this means so much because we've been going through so much. Milwaukee is always one of those cities that's under the radar," said Phillip Gray, who picked up Bucks merchandise at Dick's Sporting Goods.
"It's historical and we are so happy, just enjoying life, so proud of them," adds Garland.
Stores say different types of products coming in will vary moving forward, and they expect to get more championship items if fan demand continues.