The Bucks will submit a bid to host the NBA All-Star Game in either 2025 or 2026

SALT LAKE CITY - The Milwaukee Bucks are going to submit a bid to host either the 2025 or 2026 NBA All-Star Game, the Journal Sentinel confirmed Saturday night.

The NBA wants two potential years in a bid for an all-star game.

ESPN first reported the bid. The Bucks initially were interested in hosting either the 2022 or 2023 All-Star games, when Fiserv Forum had opened in 2018. A secondary arena is necessary to host an all-star game, and UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena was part of the 2018 pitch to the NBA.

On Saturday evening, NBA commissioner Adam Silver noted in his opening remarks at a press conference in Vivint Arena that, "in terms of the magnitude of All-Star, this is our largest in our history. They’re estimating the economic impact here in Salt Lake City will be roughly $280 million. That’s an all-time record. We have an all-time record in terms of hotel nights. We’re occupying 33,000 hotel nights in the community here, and we have more fan events than any time in history."

A new hotel next to Fiserv Forum is planned to open later in 2023 and the Wisconsin Center District renovation is expected to be completed in 2024.

The last time Milwaukee hosted an all-star game was in 1977.