The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to host the 2022 or 2023 NBA All-Star Game. Having an All-Star player in small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo makes it even more exciting for fans in Milwaukee to see one of their own play in the game right in their city.

According to the Journal Sentinel, the Bucks and local officials have already made the necessary steps to take to make it happen. For one, they have a brand spanking new arena opening this fall. The league requires that host cities have two arenas, a primary and a secondary.

Despite being a small market, Milwaukee’s local leaders showed NBA officials that they are capable of hosting a huge, international event similar to the All-Star Game. They pointed out that they have hosted the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Summerfest, the Harley-Davidson anniversaries, events that bring in thousands of visitors from across the country.

Ted Loehrke, the Bucks' executive vice president for strategy and development, believes this will be a win for the NBA’s small market teams.

“The All-Star events draw an international audience and would be a major boost for a small market NBA community like Milwaukee.

This is truly a global event on a global stage. This would show that we are capable of pulling off big events such as this.”

Last year’s All-Star Game, hosted by New Orleans, generated $83 million in terms of economic impact. This, however, is lower than “the All-Star Game's five-year average of $100 million,” adds Loehrke.

The event was held in Milwaukee once before in 1977 at the MECCA, which has since been renamed as the Panther arena.