The Indiana Pacers are one of the most storied franchises in basketball history. From their days in the ABA to nowadays, they’ve had some of the best, toughest players you could ever think of, which is why they’ve always had a loyal and supportive fanbase.
And, as such, the Pacers and the city of Indianapolis need to have a top-notch arena to watch their teams play. From Indiana Fever games to ice hockey to the NCAA tournament and select games, Gainbridge Fieldhouse has become a marquee place for this city.
This is why today, we’re going to let you know everything there is to know about this amazing venue. So, sit tight as we walk you through the ‘new Gainbridge Fieldhouse’, its former names, and its history as a whole.
When was the Bankers Life Fieldhouse built?
Formerly known as Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the Gainbridge Arena’s construction started on July 22, 1997. It opened its doors on November 6, 1999, and it had a total cost of 183 million, which would translate to $284 million in today’s dollars.
This arena was originally named Conseco Fieldhouse when the CNO Financial Group had its naming rights. That name stood from 1999 to 2011 until the CNO Financial Group renamed Bankers Life Fieldhouse in honor of Bankers Life and Casualty. Then, the Fieldhouse announced that they wouldn’t renew their agreement after it expired in 2020. Then, Gainbridge became its new naming partner and use its naming sponsorship to turn it into Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Is Bankers Life Fieldhouse public or private?
The Fieldhouse is owned by the Capital Improvement Board, City of Indianapolis. The City Council and Capital Improvement Board recently reached a renovation agreement that will feature a new outdoor entry plaza and a new entry pavilion. This is more than simply a basketball arena, as it also hosts indoor concerts and multiple entertainment events. Just this new venue can host nearly 18,000 fans thanks to its nice seating capacity and that number can go to 19,000 for concerts.
Where did the Pacers play before Market Square Arena?
The Pacers played at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum from 1967 to 1974 before moving to the Market Sq. Arena until 1999. Then, they moved to the Conseco Fieldhouse, later named Bankers Life Fieldhouse. This new and improved space was originally named in honor of CNO, a financial services organization based in Carmel, Indiana. Now, the Gainbridge Fieldhouse brand has taken over and the company renamed this venue.
When was Market Square Arena Demolished?
This beloved arena was demolished on July 8, 2001. Two years after the Pacers signed a multi-year partnership to play in the new arena in downtown Indianapolis. Following years of deals with the CNO Financial Group, they found a better-aligned partner in Indianapolis-based financial platform and forward-thinking company Gainbridge, which acquired the naming rights in 2020, leaving the names Conseco Fieldhouse and Bankers Life Fieldhouse behind them.
Pacers Sports Entertainment: NBA, WNBA, And even College Basketball Games
Pacers Sports Entertainment takes pride in an aligned commitment between the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, which is why both organizations share the arena and even shared a practice court. This arena has a seating capacity of 17,923 for basketball games and has seen some of the most exciting sports moments in city history. Now, Pacers Sports Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer Rick Fuson announced in a press conference that the Pacers would get their own practice venue outside of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Indiana Pacers: A Team Looking To Rebuild
Younger fans may not believe this, but there was a time when the Indiana Pacers were actually one of the strongest basketball teams in the world. Founded in 1967 as a member of the defunct ABA, the Pacers were a bit of a powerhouse and turned Indianapolis into one of the ultimate basketball hubs in the nation. They made it to the ABA Finals five out of nine times, winning three championships in 4 years.
The Pacers wasted no time in joining the NBA as a part of the merger, joining the Denver Nuggets, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs as former ABA teams. Sadly, it seems like the merger took away all the luck, as they were never able to win a ring, and they’ve only made the Finals once since joining the most important basketball tournament in the world.
The Pacers struggled with their finance during their first years in the league, which forced them to get rid of some of their biggest stars at the time. Also, the league banned them and all other ABA teams from getting any of the revenues from nationally televised games for the first four years. Unsurprisingly, that made it quite tough to keep up with other franchises, making it to the playoffs just twice in their first 13 years in the Association.
Following years of struggles and mismanagement, Reggie Miller helped turn the franchise around in perhaps the most critical moment in their history. With a team starring Detlef Schemprf, Rik Smits, and the aforementioned Miller, the Pacers slowly became a somewhat decent team in the Eastern Conference, reaching the playoffs for the third time ever and taking the franchise back from the ground. Even so, they couldn’t get past the Detroit Pistons or Boston Celtics dynasties come playoff time.
Coach Larry Brown made it to Indianapolis in 1994 and the Pacers kept making moves, trading away Schrempf to the Sonics for Derrick McKey and Gerald Paddio and eventually adding Mark Jackson to a team that was already turning a lot of heads with Reggie Miller’s sharpshooting skills. Then again, they could never get past stronger, more talented teams in the playoffs.
Former Celtics player and Indianapolis legend Larry Bird got the nod as the Pacers’ next coach, leading them to their very first (and only) trip to the NBA Finals in 2000. The additions of Chris Mullin and Dave and Antonio Davis gave them much-needed fresh blood.
Unfortunately, there simply was no stopping a Los Angeles Lakers team led by Shaquille O’Neal and an up-and-coming Kobe Bryant, especially with an aging Reggie Miller and an injury-riddled Pacers team.
2000-2005 was a tumultuous time for the franchise. They put together a tough, physical squad with Brad Miller, Ron Artest, and Jermaine O’Neal and were one of the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference. Then, adding Stephen Jackson to that already volatile mix made them even scarier. They starred in the league’s most infamous brawl: Malice in the Palace, going against their lifelong rivals Detroit Pistons and even fighting some fans in the stands.
Some Pacers players could never get back from the way the league and the press portrayed them. They were deemed goons and thugs and the team as a whole was never able to bounce back from that, prompting yet another era at Indianapolis.
For the next 5 years until 2010, the Pacers were an ever-struggling, rebuilding NBA team again. Outside of glimpses of greatness from Danny Granger, there weren’t many reasons to attend the arena.
Then, Paul George came along and brought back hope to Indianapolis. Stepping in from the often-injured Granger, George became one of the best two-way players in the world and one of the stalwarts of the new generations of basketball players.
The Pacers became the only team that could try and beat the LeBron James-led Miami Heat, although several meltdowns in the playoffs cost them those chances over and over. George continued to blossom and outgrew the team and the city of Indianapolis.
He wanted to take his talents somewhere else and was eventually traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal that got the Pacers Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo. Such a critical moment had a bit of a happy ending, as Oladipo would take over as the team’s franchise player before also demanding a trade.
The Pacers granted Oladipo’s wish and continued to stack their roster with young players and draft assets, with Sabonis blossoming as one of the league’s finest rebounders and most efficient interior scorers. Unfortunately, his fit next to Myles Turner was always questionable, to say the least, and the team’s tough luck with injuries of T.J. Warren and Caris LeVert eventually sealed their fate again.
Now, the Pacers are looking to move on from either Turner and/or Sabonis and kick start what it feels like a long-overdue true rebuilding process. Hopefully, they’ll land the players they need to bring this once great franchise back from the ground, although it seems like it’ll be a long time before they can pull it off.
So, whether you still have the Conseco name on your mind or call it Conseco Fieldhouse or Bankers Life Fieldhouse, don’t hesitate to visit this beautiful arena, as it is one of the most important places for the city and state economies.
