The Deer District JACKSON GROSS After COVID-19 restrictions were lifted across the city June 1, the Deer District reopened along with the rest of Milwaukee. Deer District is located just outside the Fiserv Forum, home of the Milwaukee Bucks and Marquette Basketball, and is a premiere plaza for sports and entertainment in Milwaukee. Right outside the forum itself, there are a variety of restaurants and bars, such as the Mecca, the Beer Garden and Punch Bowl Social. One of the biggest events since its reopening has been the Milwaukee Bucks playoff games. The playoffs and watch parties began May 22, with the the Bucks playing its first round against the Miami Heat, all the way to game six of the NBA Finals against the Suns July 20. A full capacity crowd of 65,000 people came out to the district for game six of the NBA Finals to watch the Bucks defeat the Phoenix Suns 105-98 and win the championship title.
Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a historic stat line to end the 50 year title drought on their home court. The Greek Freak posted a 50 point, 14-rebound and five-block performance. It was the first time a player had scored 50 points in a closeout finals game, since Bob Pettit in 1958. Throughout the entire playoff run, many fans, including Marquette women’s basketball forward Chloe Marotta, enjoyed the district’s lively ambience while watching the games. “The atmosphere, I think Milwaukee deserves to have this time,” Marotta says. “It’s been 50 years since the last time (the Bucks) won a finals and I think that we’re really eager to win the finals and all just come together after a hard year when this could never happen.” Marotta says the watch parties were a great way for the city to come together, especially after being apart from each other for so long due to the pandemic.
Photos by Mazie Baldus
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