MILWAUKEE — Excitement for the Bucks on this national stage is contagious.  The NBA Finals are in Milwaukee Sunday, but it's been a packed house in the Deer District throughout the team's playoff run. 

According to VISIT Milwaukee the economic impact for each home finals game is expected to exceed $3 million.

This is something Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley calls a "huge boost".  The loss of a full blown Democratic National Convention took a huge economic toll on the Milwaukee area. Crowley said, "we're seeing the dollars flow and people really generating the excitement about our Bucks."

It's also a morale boost after a very long pandemic.  People are coming from all across southeastern Wisconsin to experience the atmosphere in the Deer District. 

"I think this is a huge opportunity for us to continue to come together and show what we have to offer to the world so we can bring more events to the Milwaukee area," said Crowley.

The county executive hopes this leads people to look at Milwaukee in a different light. 

"We have some of the best natural resources in the Midwest," Crowley pointed out. "When you think about Bradford Beach, which is one of the most accessible beaches in the country possibly in the world. When you think about the 157 parks and the hundreds of miles of trails that we have to offer.  Even when you think about the ethnic foods right here within our own backyard.  No matter where you come from, no matter what you like to do, we have something to offer to folks."

And when it comes to our "terrible" city Crowley has this to say: "To Stephen A., to everybody who has been downing the Bucks throughout the whole playoffs, come on down. Come to Fiserv Forum and we'll show you what we have to offer, because we're not a terrible city.  We're a city looking to thrive. "