Bucks give fans a preview of warmups and entertainment without getting them in the arena with Courtside Live

Have you ever wanted to watch Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo or other players go through their warmup routines before a game?

Or get up close to DJ Shawna as she mixes her pregame playlist? 

Now you can — at least virtually — and in ways that weren't possible for most fans.

On Thursday, the Bucks launch a new version of Courtside Live, a 90-minute pregame broadcast showing activities at Fiserv Forum from the concourse to the court. It's another way of bringing fans inside a building that is seeing plenty of action but no crowds since last March.

"It's getting fans inside the arena the best way we can," said Kate Ulrich, director of live programming and entertainment.

"I hope that fans get a feel that they can see an exclusive and behind the scenes look on what goes into Milwaukee Bucks basketball on and off the court." 

Starting two hours before each game, Bucks fans can go to their phone or computers and see things they couldn't even see in the arena, which normally doesn't open its doors until about an hour before tipoff. 

Courtside Live is seen on Bucks.com/Live and the Bucks app. The show goes live at 4 p.m. Thursday. It concludes in time for the Fox Sports Wisconsin television coverage of the game, which includes a 30-minute pregame segment.

The Bucks worked on different versions of Courtside Live for the last two years, said Dustin Godsey, chief marketing officer. 

"We tested some things showing some of the warmups. We found there was an audience for that, people tuning in," Godsey said. "One of the positive things that has come out of this pandemic is it really has helped us push forward in some innovation." 

Courtside Live is co-hosted by Melanie Ricks, who normally would be hosting Bucks games for a full arena, and Justin Garcia, who has been a Bucks sports analyst for six years. 

Garcia has been working on Courtside Live since it launched. 

"What it was two years ago versus now is a night and day difference," Garcia said. "This used to just be nerdy basketball type of stuff. Now this has something for everyone."

Ulrich said the production used to just be one camera that would be on players during warmups with commentary from Garcia from the radio booth. Now, five cameras in different locations shoot the show. 

"It's a way to show another side of the entertainment. It presents a fun challenge," Ricks said. "It's like OK, fans are not able to be here in person, so what can we do to make up for the fact?'"  

Ricks will field live fan questions and hang out with Bango at various locations in the arena. She said it's possible that sketch comedy could be a part of Courtside Live in the future. 

"Right now everything is fluid," Ricks said. "It's such a unique and new thing and we really want to have fun with it."

Not only is Courtside Live trying to fill the void for the 17,000 fans who would usually be at Fiserv Forum, but the program also addresses the huge demand from the Bucks international audience. 

More than 75% of the Bucks Facebook following is from outside the United States, Godsey said. 

"For any of our content, we have to think of a dual audience," Godsey said. 

For the Milwaukee audience, the goal is grab the attention of Bucks fans before the start of games, and then lead them to the game TV broadcast on Fox Sports Wisconsin. The network is the presenting sponsor of the pregame program. 

For an international audience, the goal is to keep them hooked on Bucks social media while waiting for the game.  

"Once fans are able to come back into the building, we hope to keep this going," Godsey said. "We don’t see this as just a COVID-era product. We see this as an opportunity to grow this and develop it beyond."

Jordyn Noennig covers pop culture and entertainment in Milwaukee.  Follow her on Instagram @JordynTaylor_n. Find her on Twitter @JordynTNoennig. Call her at 262-446-6601 or email Jordyn.Noennig@jrn.com.