Short answers, pulled from the story.
Attorney Richard Tinkham, John DeVoe, Chuck DeVoe, entrepreneur Lyn Treece, sports agent Chuck Barnes, and Indianapolis Star sports writer Bob Collins formed the core group that launched the Indiana Pacers. These six investors pooled their resources to purchase a franchise in the proposed American Basketball Association.
The Indiana Pacers joined the NBA in 1976 alongside three other ABA teams: the Denver Nuggets, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs. The league charged each former ABA team a $3.2 million entry fee to join the merger.
Ron Artest committed a hard foul against Ben Wallace which escalated into a full-scale brawl where fans entered the court and players followed them into the stands. NBA Commissioner David Stern suspended Artest for the rest of the regular season and playoffs totaling 73 games, the longest suspension ever for an on-court incident.
The Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum hosted the Pacers from 1967 to 1974 before they moved to Market Square Arena in downtown Indianapolis. Gainbridge Fieldhouse opened on the 6th of November 1999 originally named Conseco Fieldhouse and currently seats 18,165 for basketball games today.
Former Indiana Hoosiers standout Bob Slick Leonard became head coach early in the team's second season and quickly turned the Pacers into a juggernaut. His teams were buoyed by superstars such as Mel Daniels, George McGinnis, Bob Netolicky, Rick Mount, Freddie Lewis, and Roger Brown.