Fiserv Forum - Milwaukee Bucks Arena Guide

The Fiserv Forum was built as a replacement facility to BMO Harris Bradley Center; the arena didn’t officially break ground until June of 2016 and wasn’t finished until August of 2018. Despite being one of the best arenas when it opened in 1988, the arena was one of the oldest active NBA arenas, with only Madison Square Garden in New York City and Oakland Arena in Oakland.

In September of 2013, Adam Silver toured the arena and said it was a few thousand square feet short of the current NBA standards and missing several amenities. On April 16, 2014, the previous owner had announced they would be selling the franchise to investors Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens. The deal included $200 million that was set aside for the construction of a new downtown arena.

The NBA eventually gave the Bucks until the start of the 2017–18 season to have a new arena or be close to completing a new arena. If not, the league would buy the franchise and sell the Bucks to one of two prospective ownership groups with one in Las Vegas and the other in Seattle, which would send the Bucks out of the city.

After a series of votes through city council and state governments, the arena was finally approved. On April 13, 2016, the Bucks signed a 30-year lease to play in the new arena, and in July of 2018, the Bucks agreed to a 25-year naming rights deal with Fiserv, which is a financial services company based in the Milwaukee suburb of Brookfield. After the naming rights were sold and the official name was released, fans nicknamed the building the “Four-One-Forum,” referring to the area code.

Interior view of Fiserv Forum

Below is a seating plan of Milwaukee Bucks's Fiserv Forum:

Several popular bars are located within walking distance to the arena, with a few of the favorites being The Mecca Sports Bar and Grill, The Loaded Slate, Drink Wisconsinbly Pub, and Who’s on Third. If you are looking for a great spot to grab a drink, Who’s on Third is one of the best sports bars in the city and it being an Official Milwaukee Bucks Bar means it will always be showing bucks games and has several pregame shows. With large TVs throughout the bar and a 120″ projection screen, every seat in the house provides an excellent view of the game.

While several of the bars and pubs in the area offer several food options, a few other food options are a favorite of the locals and are right around the arena that you can stop at before tip-off. Some of the most popular restaurants in the area include Oak Barrel Public House, The Loaded Slate, Milwaukee Brat House, Old German Beer Hall, Brick 3 Pizza, and many more. Since Milwaukee is very passionate about the Bucks, there are several spots near the Fiserv Forum that are sports-themed and will be great places to catch a bite to eat before the game or even watch the game while you eat.

The tour of the Fiserv Forum is led by a guest services staff and will last roughly 90-minutes. These walking tours present guests with an opportunity to get an exclusive look at the arena and learn more about the Bucks’ history and present day. On the tour, you can expect to see various areas of the arena, including the floor of the bowl, the Bucks locker room, the green room used by entertainers, the interview room, West Bend Lofts, and the Panorama Club. The tours are $15 for adults, $12 for youth, seniors, and military members.

Typically, Bucks tickets vary on who they are playing on the given night, but tickets can be found for as low as $22, with an average price of $102.

The Fiserv Forum has one of the best selections of premium seating in the NBA, with over ten different premium seating sections. A few of the most popular include the:

• Panorama Deck features exquisite all-inclusive food & beverage inside an exclusive space overlooking the court.
• Loge Tables are located on the 100 Level; with a great view of the court and dining experience, this is a great spot to watch the game in a more private setting.
• West Bend Lofts are an all-inclusive premium space located on the Suite Level. These seats offer a fantastic view of concerts and special events, as well as remarkable features and amenities.

Since the Fiserv Forum is located near Milwaukee’s heart, there are several travel options you can choose from. The most popular transportation methods would include The MCTS ( Milwaukee County Transit System), the largest transit agency in Wisconsin, and is the primary transit provider for Milwaukee County. It operates an extensive bussing system and ranks among the top 50 transit agencies in the United States for total passenger trips. There are also various car services and thousands of parking spots if you chose to bring your vehicle.

The address for Fiserv Forum is as follows:
• 1111 Vel R. Phillips Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203

While traffic during game nights will drive larger crowds than usual down to Milwaukee, you should be in the clear of heavy traffic if you leave a few hours before tip-off. If you are coming from surrounding suburbs, you will most likely be coming into the city on one of the three major highways (I-94, I-90, I-43, I-41, and I-39).

While there are public/paid parking options on any given game night, the Fiserv Forum sponsors are the 5th Street Parking Structure and the Highland Structure; there are also thousands of parking spots located within a few blocks of the arena.

For public transportation, you are most likely looking to be on The MCTS ( Milwaukee County Transit System), the largest transit agency in Wisconsin, and is the primary transit provider for Milwaukee County. It operates an extensive bussing system and ranks among the top 50 transit agencies in the United States for total passenger trips. The MCTS recently replaced most of their fleet with coach buses that provide riders with a quality public transportation experience.

If you are coming from out of state and flying, you will most likely fly into General Mitchell International Airport. The drive from the airport to the arena is 9 miles and will roughly take 25-40 minutes to reach the arena. The most popular transportation methods to the Fiserv Forum are bus ($3), taxi ($28-$35), or car.