VISIT Milwaukee estimates the NCAA tournament attracted 18,000 fans and $6.5 million in revenue for the city. This includes hotels, transportation, food and beverages. Teams and fans from across the country came to the games and enjoyed Milwaukee’s shops. “It’s a different vibe and it’s really wonderful,” said Wally Paget, owner of Buck Bradley’s near the Fiserv Forum. “The fact is, when the NCAA comes, it brings a holiday tone with it. People are so energetic and they’re so happy and even the locals are getting in that mood.” Paget said he’s called old friends and staff to help with demand this weekend. Nearby bars are also benefiting from the basketball perks. “Very busy, very funny, we have everyone from all over the country in Milwaukee,” said Pierre Lewis, manager of Drink Wisconsinbly in Deer County. “It’s good to see people who have never been here to experience what we see every day .” Most of the fans appeared to be from Madison, Iowa, and Indiana. VISIT Milwaukee told WISN 12 News on UpFront that these are great markets because they are close by, which likely helped bring more fans to i came to town. Basketball fan Betty Steinmetz was from Ohio. “Every year before COVID we go to a different city for the NCAA tournament and we like to go to different cities and we wanted to come here with the family so that was what drew us here,” she told 12 News. “Between ours When we play, we go to the pub and eat the local fare.” The University of Wisconsin Badgers take on the Iowa State Cyclones Sunday night at 5:10 p.m. at the Fiserv Forum
MILWAUKEE —
VISIT Milwaukee estimates the NCAA tournament attracted 18,000 fans and $6.5 million in revenue for the city.
This includes hotels, transportation, food and beverages.
Teams and fans from across the country came to the games and enjoyed doing business in Milwaukee.
“It’s a different vibe and it’s really wonderful,” said Wally Paget, owner of Buck Bradley’s near the Fiserv Forum. “In fact, when the NCAA comes around, it brings with it a holiday spirit. People are so energetic and they are so happy and even the locals end up getting in that mood.”
Paget said he called in old friends and associates to help with demand this weekend.
Nearby bars also reap the benefits of basketball.
“Very busy, very fun, we have everyone from across the country in Milwaukee,” said Pierre Lewis, a manager at Drink Wisconsinbly in the Deer District. “It’s good to see people who have never been here to experience what we see every day.”
Most fans apparently came from Madison, Iowa and Indiana. VISIT Milwaukee told WISN 12 News on UpFront that these are great markets because they are close by, which likely helped attract more fans to the city.
Basketball fan Betty Steinmetz was from Ohio.
“Every year before COVID, we go to a different city for the NCAA tournament, and we like to see other cities, and we wanted to come here with the family, so that’s especially what brought us here,” she told 12 News. “Between our games we go to the bar and eat the local cuisine.”
The University of Wisconsin Badgers will take on the Iowa State Cyclones Sunday night at 5:10 p.m. at the Fiserv Forum
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