Fiserv Forum

• 1. The Politics Of Public Money

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  On the 18th of September 2013, then-deputy NBA commissioner Adam Silver toured the BMO Harris Bradley Center. He declared the facility a few thousand square feet short of league standards. The arena lacked numerous amenities required for modern professional basketball. Former Bucks owner Herb Kohl proposed building a new downtown arena to replace the aging structure. There was considerable discussion in the region about the idea of a publicly funded arena. No resolution was reached during that initial period of debate. In 2009, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle included a provision in the state's capital budget. He sought $5 million in state bonding support to renovate the existing building. The Bradley Center board told state officials that renovations needed $40 million. They reportedly agreed to raise the remaining $35 million on their own. On the 16th of April 2014, Kohl announced an agreement to sell the franchise to New York City hedge-fund investors Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens. The deal included provisions for $100 million each from Kohl and the new ownership group. This totaled $200 million toward the construction of a new downtown arena. The NBA informed the team that they would not be allowed to renew their lease on the Bradley Center. That lease expired after the 2017, 18 season. The team needed either a new arena completed or under construction by the beginning of 2018. Failure to meet this deadline meant the franchise could be bought from Lasry and Edens. It might then be sold to another ownership group in Las Vegas or Seattle. On the 15th of July 2015, the Wisconsin Senate approved funding for the new arena by a 21, 10 margin. The Wisconsin State Assembly approved funding by a 52, 34 margin on the 28th of July 2015. Governor Scott Walker signed the arena spending plan at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin, on the 12th of August 2015. The Milwaukee city council voted 12, 3 on the 22nd of September 2015, to approve the plan.

• 2. Groundbreaking And Opening Day

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  The official groundbreaking occurred during the 2nd annual Bucks Block Party on the 18th of June 2016. Construction began in 2016 with the goal of opening doors in 2018. Taxpayers contributed $250 million towards the total construction cost of $524 million. The city of Milwaukee sold the land in downtown Milwaukee for $1 to the team. On the 2nd of May 2017, Bucks president Peter Feigin stated that construction remained on schedule and on budget. His announcement came from the site after the first roof truss was installed and bolted into place. The roof was officially topped off on the 24th of August 2017. Fiserv Forum opened its doors on the 26th of August 2018, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the 4th annual Bucks Block Party. The first live event took place on the 4th of September 2018. It featured The Killers with Violent Femmes performing before an audience. The Bucks played their inaugural game against the Chicago Bulls on the 3rd of October 2018. They won that preseason match 116, 82. The regular-season home opener followed on the 19th of October 2018, against the Indiana Pacers. The Bucks secured a 118, 101 victory in front of a packed house.

• 3. Design And Structural Vision

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  Populous and HNTB, two firms from Kansas City, led the arena design team. They worked alongside Milwaukee firm Eppstein Uhen Architects. The Milwaukee Bucks released the first images and details of their vision for the development on the 8th of April 2015. These images depicted early conceptual drawings of a new multi-purpose venue. The site sits between 4th Street and 6th Street from State Street to McKinley Avenue. Initial renderings showed a transparent facade and a curved roof. This design was meant to evoke the water forms of nearby Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee River. Fiserv Forum holds 17,500 people and has fewer luxury suites than its predecessor. It seats 17,385 for basketball games and up to 18,000 for concerts. At its opening, the venue had the largest center-hung scoreboard in the NBA. It features a layout and equipment for an NHL/NCAA-regulation ice hockey rink. The plaza outside serves as public space in the center of the Deer District. Herb Kohl Way was unveiled on the plaza on the 26th of August 2018. A three-dimensional statue of Johnson Controls logo stands outside the building. It can glow in multiple colors at night and turns green after every Bucks victory.

• 4. The Relocation From Bradley Center

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  Despite being one of the premier NBA facilities when completed in 1988, the BMO Harris Bradley Center became one of the oldest active arenas by 2018. Only Madison Square Garden in New York City and Oakland Arena in Oakland were older. Both Madison Square Garden and Oakland Arena were substantially renovated during their lifetimes. The funds for the original building were donated by Jane Bradley Pettit and husband Lloyd Pettit. They provided no provision for long-term capital needs or annual operating expenses. Although the facility was self-sufficient, tenants like the Bucks faced disadvantages compared with other teams. On the 13th of April 2016, the Bucks signed a 30-year lease to play in the new arena. Marquette University agreed to lease the arena for its home games beginning in 2018. Unlike previous agreements, this lease ends in the spring of 2025. This allows Marquette the option to pursue building its own smaller arena for lesser-attended match-ups. The team will only utilize Fiserv Forum for larger Big East Conference and Badgers-Golden Eagles rivalry games. The American Hockey League's Milwaukee Admirals returned to the UW, Milwaukee Panther Arena in the 2016, 17 season. They were not approached to play games in the new venue because the Bucks are contractually bound not to recruit current tenants.

• 5. Conventions And Political Gatherings

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  On the 11th of March 2019, it was announced that the venue would host the 2020 Democratic National Convention from July 13 to 16, 2020. It was later postponed to the 17th of August 20, 2020, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. On the 24th of June 2020, officials announced the convention would be downsized and held at the nearby Wisconsin Center. On the 15th of July 18, 2024, the Forum hosted the 2024 Republican National Convention. On the 20th of August 2024, the venue hosted a campaign rally with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. This event coincided with the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago's United Center. The arena also continues a Milwaukee tradition for being the site of the New Year's Eve game for the Harlem Globetrotters. 2020 marked the only pause in decades for this annual event. Fiserv Forum held its first ice hockey games on the 28th of December 2021. The inaugural Holiday Face, Off tournament took place during that time.

• 6. Championships And Winning Records

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  The Bucks played their first season in the Forum with great success. They finished the regular season with their first 60-win season since 1980, 81. The team went 33, 8 at the Forum, the second-best home record in the NBA. On the 14th of April 2019, the Forum hosted its first NBA playoff game. Game 1 of the first round featured the Bucks against the Detroit Pistons. The Bucks won 121, 86. On the 22nd of December 2019, the team had their 50th consecutive sellout at the Forum. That streak started on the 16th of November 2018 and remains the longest such streak in franchise history. On the 28th of February 2020, 18,412 fans watched the Bucks face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This set a new attendance record for the venue. On the 20th of July 2021, the Fiserv Forum hosted Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The Bucks clinched their first NBA championship in 50 years by beating the Suns 105, 98. The team has compiled a regular season record of 161, 45 (.782 winning percentage) at the Forum.