Slam dunk for Badger bars as Wisconsin secures spot in Elite 8

PORT WASHINGTON/THIENSVILLE (WITI) -- The Wisconsin men's basketball team's successful run through the NCAA Tournament has Badger fans seeing red, but it's also helping put businesses in the black.

These days they're serving up a few more March Madness meals inside Skippy's Sports Pub. Since the big dance began the Badgers have been boosting business at bars throughout southeastern Wisconsin.

In Port Washington the patrons at the Patio Bar & Grill join the bartenders and the bar owner in banding together to back Bucky Badger basketball.

"It's just getting busier the longer they play," said Chelsey Issacson, employee.

"Definitely it's helped business. It's too bad they don't play every day," said Junior Uselding.

Patio Bar & Grill is tied to the team's senior guard, the owner, Junior, is Josh Gasser's uncle. He says the team's streak of postseason has his business bouncing up 20-30% in profit this past week.

And a victory means the staff slam dunks some dollars as well.

"You definitely get tipped better if they win," said Issacson.

Meanwhile, a little further south in Thiensville, the Badger red run has people packing into Skippy's Sports Pub.

"It's gangbusters. Basically business triples automatically for those Badger games," said Ken Kucharski, Owner of Skippy's Sports Pub.