The change in policy comes as coronavirus testing has skyrocketed in the days after the Christmas holiday weekend. "If fans are unwilling to wear masks at Fiserv Forum events, we encourage them not to come," said Bucks chief communications officer Barry Baum.įans at the arena are required to show proof of vaccination if they are seated at all courtside and in rows AAA, BBB, CCC and DDD. This is necessary to continue to have Bucks games and Marquette games and live entertainment, and we need everybody’s support.” “We want to message that this is the right thing to do. “Our goal and objective and hope is to deescalate as many of those situations as possible,” Williams said.
Williams knows there will be some people who are resistant to wearing a mask, and staff will be asking people to put on a mask throughout events. Williams said the Bucks plan to monitor the coronavirus situation in Wisconsin and evaluate the policies weekly. Policies for fans are being left for the individual organizations to decide in conjunction with local health departments. The NBA has a mask mandate for players and team personnel. And (masking) is a mitigation measure we can put in place to help control the spread.” “In a setting like Fiserv Form where people are yelling, shouting, they’re excited, it’s a high risk setting. “We know masks are an effective strategy and we layer mitigation measures,” Johnson said, adding vaccinations and booster shots contribute to the decrease of the spread along with masking. Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson applauded Fiserv Forum for requiring guests to wear masks saying it can contribute to controlling the spread of the virus. More: The presence of omicron variant more than doubled in Wisconsin COVID-19 lab sequencing More: With another COVID-19 surge, Milwaukee-area businesses postpone key events over the holiday period “We want to continue to do live entertainment whether that be basketball or concerts or family shows, and to provide the safest environment for the performers as well as our fans, we thought this was the right decision.”
obviously it’s a fluid situation and we’ll pivot at the right time,” Williams said. “As we see positivity rates decrease and risks change. Williams said there will be increased signage in and outside of the arena, along with masks available at the entrances, concierge stations and possibly concession areas. Since then, masking has been recommended but not enforced, and few fans have been wearing masks in the stands.
Masking was required of all arena events patrons until June, during the Bucks playoff run.
The next Bucks home game is Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Mike De Sisti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinelīasketball fans and guests at Fiserv Forum once again will be required to wear masks starting Friday at the Harlem Globetrotters game, according to officials with the arena and the Milwaukee Bucks.Īs the omicron and delta variants of COVID-19 continue to disrupt sports and other parts of daily life, the Bucks announced Wednesday a return to masking for everyone attending Fiserv Forum events, including games and concerts.įiserv Forum general manager Dennis Williams said the arena wants to continue hosting live events and it is "important for us to provide the safest environment to guests coming into the building."