The Milwaukee Bucks plan to host Milwaukee Brewers’ playoff watch parties in the Deer District. Bucks’ owners simply responded “Yes” when asked at Monday’s media day session whether such a plan was in the works. No details were revealed.
The Brewers clinched the National League Central Division title on Sunday with a win over the New York Mets, setting off a wild celebration at American Family Field.
Tens of thousands of Bucks fans packed the Deer District during the team’s run to an NBA crown this summer. More than 65,000 gathered in the area outside Fiserv Forum for Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns, when the team captured its first championship in 50 years.
For the games, large video screens were set up at the north and south ends of the Deer District along with temporary beverage and food stands throughout the property.
The NL Division Series is set to begin Oct. 8. The Brewers will host either the Atlanta Braves or the Philadelphia Phillies. Game times have yet to be set.
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Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said he was unaware of plans for Brewers watch parties in the Deer District until being questioned about it by a Milwaukee Magazine writer on Tuesday.
“I have not spoken to the Bucks. I don’t know if they’ve had any contact with the health department,” Barrett said. “I want to see exactly what steps they are taking and see how they are working with our health department before I make a final decision.”
Barrett’s comments came during a weekly virtual session with reporters during which updated COVID-19 figures and so-called gating metrics are provided.
He said the city remains in the “extreme transmission” category with 323.1 cases per 100,000 residents. The positivity rate for testing is in the “substantial” category at 9%, he noted.
Both figures are down from the prior week’s numbers, Barrett pointed out
“We are slowly going in the right direction,” he said.
About 56% of Milwaukee residents age 16 and older have been fully vaccinated, with 61.1% receiving at least one dose.
Barrett congratulated the Brewers on their winning ways this season and noted that the St. Louis Cardinals, who had won 16 consecutive games heading into Tuesday night’s matchup with the Brewers in St. Louis, still trail Milwaukee by seven games in the NL Central.
“That’ll tell you what a great season the Brewers have had overall,” Barrett said.
American Family Field served as a COVID-19 testing site for the past year until closing for good on Saturday due to a highly anticipated extended playoff run by the team.
“In part, due to the great success the Brewers have had, we have concluded our testing at American Family Field site,” Barrett said. “The city is very proud about how they’ve been performing off the field, and on the field, and we wish them luck in the playoffs.”
A contract for a new drive-through testing site is almost finalized, with an announcement expected soon, he added.
The Brewer are NL Central Division champs for the second time since 2018 and are looking to join the Bucks in bringing a rare professional sports championship to the city. They also won the division in 2011, giving the franchise three division titles since moving to the NL Central from the AL Central in 1998.
Milwaukee won AL East titles in 1981 and 1982. The team made its only World Series appearance in 1982, losing in seven games to the Cardinals.
The Milwaukee Braves delivered the city’s lone World Series title in 1957 when they took down the powerful New York Yankees.
