On Oct. 26, 2017, it was "Return to the MECCA" for the Milwaukee Bucks.
As part of the team's 50th-season celebration, the Bucks were returning to their original home for one game in a retro-themed night at the MECCA against the Boston Celtics.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe MECCA, originally called the Milwaukee Arena and now known as the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, was filled to capacity as the Bucks suited up in retro uniforms and the teams played on an exact replica of the Robert Indiana floor that debuted in 1977. The MECCA was the home of the Bucks for two decades before they moved to the BMO Harris Bradley Center in 1988.
Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, formerly known as the MECCA, on Oct. 26, 2017.The Bucks have been in their current home at Fiserv Forum since 2018.
In his recent Bucks mailbag, beat writer Jim Owczarski was asked about the possibility of the Bucks ever playing another game at the Panther Arena.
Here's what Jim had to say:
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis is a fun question! Because that game in 2017 was in celebration of the team’s 50th anniversary, I would think they would only consider it for their 75th or 100th anniversary. But, now that they have a new arena and the technology to play on different courts on a regular basis, my guess is they’d just do a MECCA replica court at Fiserv Forum.
That said, I do wish the NBA could find ways to play in fun, different venues like other sports can. Granted, there’s only so much you can do for an indoor sport, but I like the idea of moving game around to fun locales.
Subscribers can read the entire transcript of the Bucks mailbag here.
In a game dubbed "Return to the MECCA night," the Milwaukee Bucks hosted the Boston Celtics at the UWM Panther Arena on Oct. 26, 2017. The arena, originally called the Milwaukee Arena and later known as the MECCA, was the Bucks' home for two decades from 1968-88.More: How do the Bucks proceed over the next couple weeks without Giannis?
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Will the Milwaukee Bucks ever play another game at UWM Panther Arena?
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