Pacers Pride

Lore & Background

Pacers Pride is a culture passed down through generations. Grandparents who watched Mel Daniels and Roger Brown dominate the ABA now share faded jerseys and stories with their grandchildren. The team's move from Market Square Arena to Conseco (now Gainbridge Fieldhouse) did not change this connection. The city's support remained strong through the team's struggles in the 1980s and its resurgence in the 1990s. This pride is embodied by fans who show unwavering support, such as a bartender closing early for a playoff game or a family driving from Fort Wayne on a Tuesday night.

In Their Own Story

Inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the experience is a wall of sound and memory—popcorn, floor wax, and the ghost of past games. A child in an oversized Reggie Miller jersey watches the game intently. The crowd pulses as one, chanting 'DE-FENSE' during timeouts. This fan is not just watching a game; they are inheriting a pact. It is the sound of home.

Reader's Guide

Real Pacers Pride is found in the nosebleeds of Gainbridge Fieldhouse during a Tuesday night game against a division rival. Arrive early to see ushers greet season-ticket holders by name, families who have held the same seats for 30 years. Wear a vintage ABA jersey or a simple blue shirt that shows wear. During timeouts, the crowd stomps the bleachers in a rhythm that feels older than the franchise. When a player makes a three-pointer, let out a guttural 'BOOM.' This is not manufactured noise; it is the sound of a city that shows up, rain or shine, because Pacers Pride is a civic duty.

Did You Know?

• Larry Bird has stated that Mel Daniels was not the first professional basketball player he ever saw, as he had seen other pro players before Daniels.
• Mel Daniels served as an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers, not as an assistant coach to Larry Bird at Indiana State University.
• Larry Bird has said he grew up a fan of the Boston Celtics and did not closely follow the Indiana Pacers during his youth in the ABA.