We went to Fiserv Forum on a camp afternoon expecting to look inside the arena. We couldn’t — the building was closed to visitors that day.
That turns out to be the useful thing to know, because nobody tells you before you drive over. Here’s what you can actually do at Fiserv Forum without a game ticket, and whether it’s worth the trip with children.
Can you go inside Fiserv Forum without a ticket?
Not reliably. Access to the arena itself depends on the day and what’s scheduled — and on ours it was simply closed to visitors.
What is open on most non-event days is the Milwaukee Bucks Pro Shop, the team’s official store, and the Deer District around the building. Neither needs a ticket.
So plan for that rather than for a look at the court. If getting inside the bowl matters to your family, check directly with the Bucks before you go — and treat it as a bonus rather than the plan.
Where to stay in Chicago with kids — our quick picks
We haven’t stayed at these three — they’re what I’d shortlist based on where they sit and who they’re built for. Our three real Chicago stays are further down. Some links are affiliate links, which may earn us a small commission at no cost to you.
The Bucks Pro Shop
The team’s official store, inside Fiserv Forum, open to the public on most non-event days.
What’s there:
- Official jerseys and apparel, including the Giannis Antetokounmpo range
- Basketballs, hats and accessories
- Limited-edition items and collectibles
- Home décor, gifts and plush mascots
Our two went round it properly, which with a shop is the real test. We came away with a few souvenirs and a set of photos outside the arena.
The Deer District
The plaza around Fiserv Forum, and the part that justifies the trip whether or not you get inside anything.
Restaurants, outdoor seating, open space, and in summer often live music or community events. It’s somewhere children can move around without being told not to touch things, which after a morning in a shop is the right order of events.
There are Bucks statues and arena signage outside that make for the photos everyone actually wants.
If you’re coming from the basketball camp
We did this on an afternoon during the Milwaukee Bucks summer camp week, which is when it makes most sense — your children are already deep in Bucks branding, and the shop lands differently when they’ve spent the morning being coached by the team’s own camp.
From Brookfield it’s about twenty minutes into downtown Milwaukee.
Practical
- Location: inside Fiserv Forum, downtown Milwaukee
- Tickets: none needed for the shop or the Deer District
- Arena access: not guaranteed — check before you go
- Parking: garages and lots nearby; busy on event days, so arrive earlier than you think
- Time needed: an hour for the shop and a walk round the plaza, longer if you eat there
Is it worth it with kids?
With a basketball family, yes — as an afternoon, not a day out. You’re getting a very good team store and a lively plaza, not an attraction.
If your children aren’t especially into basketball, this isn’t the stop that converts them. Go to the Michael Jordan statue in Chicago instead — it’s free, and it photographs better.
If you’re planning the same trip
- The Milwaukee Bucks summer camp — cost, ages and what a week involves
- Where we stayed in Brookfield
- Lou Malnati’s Brookfield — deep dish after camp
- The Michael Jordan statue, Chicago — free, no ticket needed
- What the whole trip cost
Fiserv Forum and the Bucks Pro Shop: FAQs
Can you go inside Fiserv Forum without a ticket?
Not reliably. Access to the arena itself depends on the day and what is scheduled, and on our visit it was closed to visitors entirely. The Milwaukee Bucks Pro Shop and the Deer District outside are open to the public on most non-event days and need no ticket, so plan around those and treat getting inside the arena as a bonus.
Do you need game tickets to visit the Bucks Pro Shop?
No. The Pro Shop is open to the public on most non-event days, so you can visit without attending a game. It sells official jerseys and apparel including the Giannis Antetokounmpo range, basketballs, hats, accessories, collectibles and gifts.
Where is the Milwaukee Bucks Pro Shop?
Inside Fiserv Forum, the Bucks’ home arena in downtown Milwaukee. It is about twenty minutes from Brookfield, where families attending the Bucks summer camp typically stay.
What is the Deer District in Milwaukee?
The plaza around Fiserv Forum, with restaurants, outdoor seating and open space, and often live music or community events in summer. It is free to walk around, works well with children who need to move after a shop, and has the Bucks signage and statues that make the photos worth taking.
Is the Bucks Pro Shop worth visiting with kids?
With a basketball family, yes, as an afternoon rather than a day out. You are getting a very good team store and a lively plaza rather than an attraction. If your children are not especially into basketball, the Michael Jordan statue in Chicago is free and makes a better stop.
Is there parking at Fiserv Forum?
Yes, several garages and lots nearby. They get busy on event days, so arrive earlier than you think you need to, and check whether anything is scheduled at the arena before you drive over.
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