(Photo Credit: Gainbridge Fieldhouse)
This month, we had the pleasure of speaking with Danny Lopez, Vice President for External Affairs and Corporate Communications for Pacers Sports & Entertainment. We have been keeping our eye on the Gainbridge Fieldhouse expansion, and wanted the inside scoop on the progress and what is still in store!
In 2017, Pacers Sports & Entertainment entered into an agreement to begin a $362 million rejuvenation project for Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The construction is now well underway. What aspects of the project are modernizing the way guests experience events?
The Fieldhouse of the Future project is the second-largest renovation in the history of the NBA, so it has certainly been a substantial undertaking. This three-phase project began construction in 2020 and we have been fortunate to stay on schedule and on budget, and all of the work is now complete on the building’s interior. We took this amazing building and made it even better, with incredible upgrades to the technology, the concessions and restrooms, the premium spaces, and even the artwork throughout the building. Top to bottom, there isn’t a space in this building that wasn’t renovated, and guests have noticed. There are a couple of changes that just stand out: First, the way we have opened up views through the building and the concourses themselves to the city, with so much more natural light and great views from one side of the venue to the other. Second, the amazing artwork throughout the Fieldhouse. Twenty-three diverse Indiana artists and 61 new pieces of world-class art, which tell the story of our franchises as well as sports and live events throughout our city’s history. And the technology. From the show-stopping center-hung scoreboard to the new LEDs throughout the building to the checkout-free concession stands. This is truly a Fieldhouse for a new generation of fans.
Folks downtown have no doubt noticed the construction to the north of the building on Maryland Street – in late spring, we will open up Bicentennial Unity Plaza with can’t-miss interactive public art installations; incredible selfie spots; amazing programming space for things like Pacers and Fever watch parties, sunrise yoga, and more; and even a covered pavilion with a basketball court when it’s warm and an ice-skating rink – larger than the one at Rockefeller Center – when it’s cold. Since it was opened as Conseco Fieldhouse in 1999, this building has been recognized widely as one of the very best places in the world to watch a basketball game, so when it came time to either renovate or replace it, the choice was an easy one.
Ultimately, our goal through Fieldhouse of the Future was to ensure this is so much more than a place to watch basketball games. We have created a space where fans can make memories and have incredible experiences within the experience of being at a world-class live event. And when you consider this project in the context of all of the other placemaking investments happening in this quadrant of downtown, we have built true connectivity to our downtown from our near eastside neighborhoods and ensured that we have a programmable venue here to connect to all the activity happening throughout the city.
A goal of the expansion is to connect the Fieldhouse to outside spaces and to activate the pedestrian-centric areas of the city. What will downtown visitors be able to look forward to after the project is complete?
The completion of Bicentennial Unity Plaza will create real pedestrian connectivity from the near eastside all the way to Lucas Oil stadium. We often talk about how we didn’t realize just how closed off we were from the rest of the downtown until the Maryland Street parking garage came down as construction the Plaza began. It opened up the Entry Pavilion to the skyline, to the beautiful Eva Kors mural, to the energy and bustle of the city. That alone has been transformative. But our city already has so many incredible amenities, and one of the aspects that makes Indianapolis such an optimal city for big events and conventions is the fact that our downtown is so walkable and connected. But this outdoor plaza space presents so many new opportunities for creative and fun programming, basketball-related and otherwise, and it lets us better patch our venue into the events and activations happening elsewhere in the city. The two show-stopping public art installations – Sphere and Together – are our version of the Bean in Chicago, spots where people are naturally going to want to stop, explore, take photos, and interact. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. The vision has been to make this space inviting and engaging, interactive and unforgettable, and we know when this opens in June, residents and visitors alike are going to see it as all that and then some.
Is there a set completion date?
We are there. The last piece, the last aspect of Phase 3 of construction, was the Kroger Sky Deck, a two-tier standing room only bar and deck in the West Balcony of Gainbridge Fieldhouse. That is done and set to open just after Thanksgiving, and then Bicentennial Unity Plaza opens in the late spring or early summer.
Construction aside, how is Indianapolis’ favorite basketball team doing this year?
Well, as I write this, the team has now won five in a row and 8 of the last 10. Fans and experts alike have talked about the chemistry among the players, and there is some incredible young talent on this roster. Tyrese Haliburton has quickly become a household name in the NBA, and Bennedict Mathurin, our rookie we took with the sixth pick in last year’s draft, has dominated early conversations about the Rookie of the Year Award. With such a young team, there are sure to be ups and downs throughout the season. But fans have taken note – this is a fun, exciting team that plays hard every night and is playing as well as any team in the League right now. And that’s exactly what the NBA’s best fans deserve.
As your name details, Pacers Sports & Entertainment carries on events throughout the calendar year, even after basketball season has ended. What are some events coming up in 2023?
That’s certainly true. First, while the Pacers are the flagship brand, we also have the Fever, the Mad Ants, and even an e-sports team – Pacers Gaming. The Fever have arguably been the most successful franchise in WNBA history since it began, with numerous Hall of Fame players and coaches and a world championship in 2012. And, incidentally, the Fever have the top pick in the upcoming WNBA draft and an exciting young team! The Fort Wayne Mad Ants are our G-League team, and that league has grown so much over time. More than 40% of G-League players have been on an NBA roster, and that number is only growing. And Pacers Gaming was one of the initial NBA2K League teams, as Herb Simon saw this as a way to engage new audiences and grow fans in new ways. We also have the Pacers Foundation, which has distributed more than $9M in grants since it began in 1993. The Foundation invests mostly in youth and education, but the scope is broad and the impact significant. One great example was its very first project – under then-president Donnie Walsh, the Foundation was formed and played center stage in the creation of the Landmark for Piece sculpture of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy at MLK Park here in Indianapolis.
In addition to all this, there are roughly 500 events, meetings, and performances at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in a normal year. We have some incredible events coming up in December, including Andrea Bocelli’s first visit to Indiana. And already announced for 2023 are some amazing performances – Marc Anthony in February, Blake Shelton in March, Thomas Rhett, Paramore, the Globetrotters, and Disney on Ice, just to name a few. Folks should follow the Gainbridge Fieldhouse social media handles for continual updates – we are making announcements on new shows coming to the Fieldhouse all the time!