Gainbridge Fieldhouse
The arena opened in November 1999 to replace Market Square Arena. Ellerbe Becket designed the facility with a distinctive brick and glass facade. This design choice evokes Indiana's classic high school and college field houses. Unlike most other North American sports arenas, the building was constructed primarily for basketball. The architects ensured that every seat offered a clear view of the court. They avoided the typical bowl shape found in multi-purpose stadiums. Instead they shaped the floor plan around the needs of basketball players and fans.
Conseco Fieldhouse served as the original name after naming rights were sold to Conseco. The financial services organization was based in nearby Carmel. In May 2010 the company renamed itself CNO Financial Group. The fieldhouse retained the Conseco name despite this corporate change. CNO decided not to renew its sponsorship after it expired on the 30th of June 2019. Bankers Life and Casualty became the new sponsor in December 2011. On the 27th of September 2021 Indianapolis-based Gainbridge announced a multi-year partnership. This agreement made Gainbridge the naming partner for the venue.
The first NBA game held at Conseco Fieldhouse occurred on the 6th of November 1999. The Indiana Pacers played their regular-season home opener against the Boston Celtics. Later that same season the Pacers reached the 2000 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Games three four and five of that championship series took place inside the arena. The Pacers lost the title four games to two. The facility also hosted the 2009 WNBA Finals where the Indiana Fever faced the Phoenix Mercury. Three years later the Fever beat the Minnesota Lynx during the 2012 WNBA Finals. The arena seats 17,923 people for basketball events today.
Metallica set a new attendance record at the venue on the 11th of March 2019. They drew 18,274 fans to the concert. The previous record was held by Billy Joel with 16,594 attendees. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed there multiple times including dates in 1999 and 2002. Elton John and Billy Joel shared the stage for Face to Face shows in 2003 and 2009. Taylor Swift brought her 1989 World Tour to Indianapolis on the 16th of September 2015. The venue has hosted major acts from country music to rock legends over two decades.
The Marion County Capital Improvement Board approved a major renovation project in April 2019. This $360 million project was completed in late 2022. Construction occurred in two phases while almost all work took place during the Pacers offseasons. The project included a new outdoor entry plaza and indoor gathering areas. A large scoreboard added in 2012 featured twin 1080p high definition video screens. These screens extended nearly foul line to foul line. The Pacers committed to remaining in Indianapolis for at least 25 more years as part of the agreement. The Indiana Fever played games at Indiana Farmers Coliseum after the NBA season ended in 2022.
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Common questions
When did Gainbridge Fieldhouse open and what was its original name?
The arena opened in November 1999 to replace Market Square Arena. It originally operated under the name Conseco Fieldhouse after naming rights were sold to a financial services organization based in nearby Carmel.
Who designed Gainbridge Fieldhouse and why is its architecture unique for basketball?
Ellerbe Becket designed the facility with a distinctive brick and glass facade that evokes Indiana's classic high school and college field houses. The architects shaped the floor plan around the needs of basketball players and fans rather than using a typical bowl shape found in multi-purpose stadiums.
What happened to the naming rights for Gainbridge Fieldhouse between 2010 and 2021?
Conseco Financial Group retained the name until it expired on the 30th of June 2019. Bankers Life and Casualty became the new sponsor in December 2011 before Indianapolis-based Gainbridge announced a multi-year partnership on the 27th of September 2021.
Which teams played major finals games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during the early 2000s?
The Indiana Pacers reached the 2000 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers where games three four and five took place inside the arena. The venue also hosted the 2009 WNBA Finals where the Indiana Fever faced the Phoenix Mercury and the 2012 WNBA Finals where the Fever beat the Minnesota Lynx.
Who holds the concert attendance record at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and when was it set?
Metallica set a new attendance record at the venue on the 11th of March 2019 by drawing 18,274 fans to the concert. The previous record was held by Billy Joel with 16,594 attendees.