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Bucks fans savor moment as NBA Finals return to Milwaukee
The NBA Finals came back in Milwaukee Sunday, July 11, with the Milwaukee Bucks facing the Phoenix Suns, and fans were out in the Deer District in numbers hours before tipoff.
MILWAUKEE - The NBA Finals came back in Milwaukee Sunday, July 11, with the Milwaukee Bucks facing the Phoenix Suns, and fans were out in the Deer District in numbers hours before tipoff.
Despite the fact that the Bucks headed into Game 3 down 2-0 in the series, fans had strong feelings that this team would play better on their home floor in front of home fans.
Tickets or not, fans said the Deer District was the place to be for Game 3.
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"It's been a long time since a World Series," said Nate Lauber. "It's been a long time since an NBA Finals. We've had our Super Bowls, but this is big, and we gotta come down here, and everybody's gotta do what they gotta do and hopefully, we get the job done tonight."
So many people packing the Deer District embraced the moments decades in the making.
"This is a no-brainer," said Nate Lauber. "It's an hour from Fond du Lac. It's the NBA Finals. It's the Milwaukee Bucks. You gotta be here!"
Game 3 of the NBA Finals saw a sold-out crowd inside Fiserv Forum and a plaza packed with tens of thousands more in the Deer District, a new experience for so many, like Shawn Green, who took the train from Chicago to be there.
"It's the NBA Finals, and you know, it's been two years since fans got to attend," said Green. "I'm a huge Greek Freak fan, even from Chicago, so I'm here to support."
The pulse of the fan base of the Milwaukee Bucks also welcomed a good amount of Phoenix fans, even in opposing colors, suspenders and fedoras.
"Everyone's been so nice," said Russ Gallen. "Like, Bucks fans are extremely gracious."
Cal Stockton and his wife got tickets for Game 3 only to realize the game wasn't in Phoenix.
Here in the good land, pictures and smiles captured the memories of a team and city chasing a title.
"This the final, and it's in Milwaukee and you don't know how good this is," said Jerryia Anderson.
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Fans waited 47 years for this moment, and officials expected the biggest crowd Sunday, with 16,500 inside Fiserv Forum and another 25,000 outside.
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