The Milwaukee Bucks just dropped a bombshell, announcing Uline as their new jersey patch sponsor for the 2026-27 season, but fans are already in an absolute uproar. This isn’t just about a new logo hitting the threads; it’s about what that logo represents, and the immediate backlash proves it. Uline, a packaging company out of Kenosha County, is taking over from Motorola, planting its brand on every single Bucks jersey, practice jerseys included, and around Fiserv Forum.
A New Sponsor, But What’s the Catch?
You’d think a simple jersey patch partnership would be a no-brainer, right? Bucks Chief Business Development and Strategy Officer Matt Pazaras even said it loud and clear, “The Bucks and Uline share a commitment to excellence, teamwork and high-quality service, and we’re excited to welcome this exceptional local company as our new jersey patch partner.” He talked about two “storied organizations” with “deep roots in Wisconsin” representing the home state on a global stage. Brian Uihlein, Uline’s Executive Vice President, echoed the sentiment, saying the Uline family “has always loved Milwaukee and the great state of Wisconsin” and they’re “thrilled to become the official jersey patch sponsor.” Uline is a massive operation, boasting over 10,000 North American employees with distribution centers all over the place, from Kenosha to Washington to Mexico and Canada. So, on paper, it looks like a big, local company stepping up. But dig a little deeper, and you see why fans are already lighting up the comment sections.
The $9 Million Reason for Fan Outrage
The anger isn’t coming from Uline’s boxes; it’s coming from the pockets of its owners, Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein. These two, who live in Illinois, are among the wealthiest and most significant donors to Republican campaigns in the entire country. And we’re not talking about small change. As of August, the Uihleins have pumped a staggering **$9 million** into the campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Congressman Tom Tiffany, who is running against Democrat David Crowley. This isn’t their first rodeo either. These are established players in the political donation game, even splitting their contributions in Republican primaries, like the $1 million Richard gave to a PAC backing Michael Alfonso and another $1 million from Elizabeth to a PAC for Jessi Ebben in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District Republican primary earlier this year, which Alfonso eventually won. On the federal level, Richard Uihlein has already poured more than $35 million into the conservative Restoration of America PAC. The Uihleins have been major Republican donors for years, and it’s this very history that has Bucks fans absolutely steaming about their team now sporting the Uline logo. It’s not just the owners either; Bucks co-owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam are also major Republican donors, though co-owner Wes Edens has supported Democrats, even meeting with then-President Joe Biden in 2024. Former Bucks owner Marc Lasry also donated to Democrat campaigns, and his son Alex ran for US Senate as a Democrat in 2022. But it’s the Uihleins’ specific, massive donations that are driving this current wave of fan outrage.
This partnership is just hitting the court, but the off-court drama is already at an all-time high. With fans voicing their frustrations within hours of the announcement, the Bucks front office has a major issue on their hands. How they navigate this brewing storm will be something to watch very closely as the 2026-27 season gets underway.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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