Milwaukee Health Department Raffling Off Bucks Game 6 Tickets For Those Getting COVID-19 Vaccinations

The Milwaukee Health Department is raffling off a pair of tickets to Game 6 of the NBA Finals for people who get coronavirus vaccinations at Fiserv Forum Tuesday evening. Currently, the cheapest tickets available are selling for $1,000 a piece. Health commissioner Kirsten Johnson says the odds of winning are “pretty good.”

Johnson told WPR that Milwaukee’s resident vaccination rate is just below 50 percent, but she said the department would like to see that number grow. Johnson said her office has been working with the Bucks organization and Fiserv Forum since last year on COVID-19 safety protocols and mitigation measures.

“And then as we moved towards the playoffs, even as they opened up to allow fans for games during the season, we started having conversations about incentivizing vaccine,” said Johnson.

Throughout the playoffs, Johnson said, the Bucks have been donating tickets to Milwaukee’s city Health Department, which has held raffles during vaccination clinics prior to the games.

After the Bucks took the lead in the series with the Phoenix Suns, playoff ticket prices have shot up. As of Monday morning, standing room only tickets with no guarantee of a view of the court were selling for $1,000 a piece. Tickets for seats closer to the court were selling for as much as $10,000.

Johnson said the past vaccine raffles for playoff tickets have been “somewhat successful” with between 17 and 35 people getting vaccinated prior to games.

“So, it’s pretty good odds and they’re usually really good tickets,” said Johnson.

The Health Department’s vaccination clinic for Game 6 will run from 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday. The game starts at 8 p.m.

Johnson said both Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be available.

If the Bucks win Tuesday, it will be their first NBA Finals title since 1971.