The Milwaukee Bucks announced on Thursday the six Classic Nights games that highlight their promotional calendar for the team’s upcoming 50th Anniversary season. For each of the six home games, the Bucks will wear their Classic Edition jerseys, Nike’s modern update to the original uniform from Milwaukee’s inaugural 1968 season.
The first of the Classic Nights is on Oct. 26, when the Bucks host the Boston Celtics at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. The Return to the MECCA game is the first time the Bucks will have hosted a regular-season home contest off-site in Wisconsin since they played three games in Madison in 1974-75. Read more about the unique Return to the MECCA game here.
The other Classic Nights are Dec. 8 against the Dallas Mavericks, at which fans will receive a 50th Anniversary cap; Jan. 5 vs. the Toronto Raptors, where a Giannis Antetokounmpo Starting Lineup figurine will be given away; Jan. 26 against Brooklyn Nets, at which kids can get a Jon McGlocklin youth jersey; Feb. 27 vs. the Washington Wizards, when the giveaway is a retro musical alarm clock; and March 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers, where fans will receive a Ray Allen lunch bag.
Results of the Milwaukee Bucks All-50th Team fan vote will be announced at each of the five Classic Night after the Return to the MECCA game. For information on the All-50th Team fan vote, click here.
Other promotional calendar highlights include a retro shooting shirt for the home opener on Oct. 20 (against Cleveland); a 2017-18 magnet schedule on Oct. 21 (Portland); a 50th Anniversary logo tote bag on Nov. 15 (Detroit); a B Sweater Koozie on Dec. 22 (Charlotte); a retro Bango toothbrush holder on Feb. 25 (New Orleans); a Viewfinder on March 25 (San Antonio); and a retro pennant on April 5 (Brooklyn).
What else is back this season? Fear the Deer Nights, featuring the Bucks’ historic alternate court and popular black Statement Edition uniforms, are Dec. 15 vs. Chicago, Jan. 12 vs. Golden State, Feb. 2 vs. New York and March 7 vs. Houston.
The expanded list of theme nights also includes a Halloween-themed game on Oct. 31 vs. Oklahoma City; Veterans’ Night presented by We Energies on Nov. 11 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers; Love Your Melon Night on Dec. 9 vs. Utah; a Star Wars theme vs. Chicago on Dec. 15; a Holiday-themed game vs. Charlotte on Dec. 22; BucksFit Night, presented by Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, on Jan. 26th vs Brooklyn; a Black History Month celebration, presented by We Energies, on Feb. 2 vs. New York; Salute to the Olympics on Feb. 15 vs. Denver; Bango’s birthday celebration on Feb. 25 vs. New Orleans; Pride Night, presented by Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, on March 2 vs. Indiana; Noche Latina on March 9 vs. New York; a ‘90s and St. Patrick’s Day-themed game on March 17 vs. Atlanta; and Fan Appreciation Night vs. Orlando on April 9.
See the full Bucks’ promotional calendar for the 2017-18 season here.
Born in Milwaukee but a product of Shorewood High School (go ‘Hounds!) and Northwestern University (go ‘Cats!), Jimmy never knew the schoolboy bliss of cheering for a winning football, basketball or baseball team. So he ditched being a fan in order to cover sports professionally - occasionally objectively, always passionately. He's lived in Chicago, New York and Dallas, but now resides again in his beloved Brew City and is an ardent attacker of the notorious Milwaukee Inferiority Complex.
After interning at print publications like Birds and Blooms (official motto: "America's #1 backyard birding and gardening magazine!"), Sports Illustrated (unofficial motto: "Subscribe and save up to 90% off the cover price!") and The Dallas Morning News (a newspaper!), Jimmy worked for web outlets like CBSSports.com, where he was a Packers beat reporter, and FOX Sports Wisconsin, where he managed digital content. He's a proponent and frequent user of em dashes, parenthetical asides, descriptive appositives and, really, anything that makes his sentences longer and more needlessly complex.
Jimmy appreciates references to late '90s Brewers and Bucks players and is the curator of the unofficial John Jaha Hall of Fame. He also enjoys running, biking and soccer, but isn't too annoying about them. He writes about sports - both mainstream and unconventional - and non-sports, including history, music, food, art and even golf (just kidding!), and welcomes reader suggestions for off-the-beaten-path story ideas.
