Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.
Check out the Milwaukee Bucks' chic, new $524 million arena
Check out the Milwaukee Bucks' chic, new $524 million arena
Scott DavisSep 7, 2018, 02:08 IST
Advertisement
The Milwaukee Bucks' new arena has been one of the oft-discussed new developments in the NBA, and at long last, it's finally here.
On August 26, the Bucks opened Fiserv Forum to the public, showing off the modern and chic arena which will house Bucks games, Marquette basketball games, and concerts, hosting over 100 events a year.
Bucks president Peter Feigin, who helped head the project, spoke with Business Insider about the $524 million arena, the club suites, food options, design features, and surrounding plaza, which will have a brewery, beer garden, sports bar, residential space, and more.
Take a look at the sleek Fiserv Forum, with photos sent from the Bucks and commentary from Feigin below:
Feigin said the design goal of Fiserv Forum was to be "modern with a real authentic and intimate touch."
Feigin said players have been touring the Fiserv Forum throughout construction and have felt a piece of ownership of it. He said a new, high-end arena is a "declaration that you're in the game."
Fiserv Forum had its official opening on August.
The entrance, Feigin said, "sets the tone" for the building.
"The glass curtain wall, which is inviting and transparent, to the terrazzo floors, kind of redefines the experience at a high level. Some technology with LED screens at the floor level as well as on top of the escalator stairs."
The entrance is indeed open-aired and almost dizzying in its layers.
This is the event level. One aspect of the arena that Feigin touted was that it's easy to navigate.
Fiserv Forum itself fits 17,500 people for basketball games and 18,000 for concerts. Feigin called it "intimate" compared to other arenas.
It's also the most technologically advanced arena, according to Feigin.
"It certainly has the greatest bandwidth, from wifi, an incredible distributed antenna system for cellular, it's got LED, it's got 4k."
The seats even have personal detail.
According to the team, if fans don't want to leave their seats, they can order beers through an app.
If fans do want to leave their seats, there's a wide variety of food and beverage options.
Feigin said the open-air nature of the concourse allows fans to get up from their seats to get food or a drink and still watch the game from the drink rails along the concourse.
The food and drink options reflect the region. There are Klement's brats and hot dogs, Milwaukee pretzels, and plenty of local craft beer options, along with Miller and Coor's.
There are 34 luxury suites. Feigin said the section shown below can be six connected suites fitting 180 people or six separate suites to fit 30 people each.
A closer look at the details in each suite.
"We wanted to redefine hospitality in a big way," Feigin said of the suite options.
The Bucks' locker room includes power ports in every locker, plus a separate player's lounge. The bathroom has Kohler fixtures.
Feigin joked that people would want to live in there.
Fiserv Forum also has views overlooking the 30-acre plaza on which it sits.
The plaza will also have sports bars, a beer garden, craft brewery, retail stores, and residential space. There is also ample open space for things like farmer's markets and outdoor concerts.
"This arena and plaza and the surrounding land is one of the first places, incredibly, that's kind of a central meeting place in the city of Milwaukee," Feigin said. "There are no neighborhoods or literally destinations where hundreds of people can meet up ... These are all building blocks to the neighborhood to activate this entire district."
It also features unique views of the Milwaukee skyline.
"There's a big excitement in and around the state and there's a big excitement in and around the locker room to be playing in a new arena," Feigin said.
Now, see how the Bucks are shaping up compared to the rest of the NBA...