Skip to content
— CH. 1 · BRICK AND GLASS FACADE —

Gainbridge Fieldhouse

~2 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
6 sections

  • 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.

Up Next

Smoothie King CenterFrost Bank CenterTarget CenterPaycom CenterModa Center

Continue Browsing

NBA venuesSports venues completed in 1999Women's National Basketball Association venues

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.

See all questions about Gainbridge Fieldhouse →

All sources

70 references cited across the entry

  1. 1webConseco FieldhouseBlackburn Architects
  2. 2webConseco FieldhouseJohn Klipsch Consulting, LLC
  3. 3webConseco FieldhouseFink Roberts and Petrie, Inc.
  4. 4newsWhere Are They Now?: John WilczynskiMike Nieto — December 19, 2011
  5. 5webBankers Life FieldhouseBallparks.com
  6. 6encyclopediaGainbridge FieldhouseSam Opsahl et al. — Indianapolis Public Library — 2021
  7. 7press releaseConseco Fieldhouse Renamed Bankers Life Fieldhouse2011-12-22
  8. 8webFieldhouse to lose Bankers Life moniker after insurer declines to renew naming dealMarch 13, 2018
  9. 9webThe Home of the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever Renamed Gainbridge Fieldhouse Through Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Gainbridge Partnership
  10. 10web1999-00 Indiana Pacers Schedule and Results
  11. 11webPlayoffs 2000
  12. 12webIndiana Pacers Playoff Schedule - RealGM
  13. 13webBig Ten Announces Future Sites for Football Championship Games and Basketball Tournaments - BIG TEN CONFERENCE Official Athletic SiteBigten.org
  14. 14webIndianapolis hosts BPR Jack Daniels InvitationalThe Professional Bull Riders
  15. 15webThe Indianapolis Invitational Live On OLN!
  16. 16webMetallica Sets Attendance Record at Indianapolis Bankers Life FieldhouseBlabbermouth — 12 March 2019
  17. 17webPacers to host 2021 NBA All-Star gameClifton Brown et al. — December 13, 2017
  18. 18newsNBA All-Star 2021 in Indianapolis Postponed to 2024November 25, 2020
  19. 19newsNCAA tournament to be held entirely in IndianaJanuary 4, 2021
  20. 20webWCW Sin PPV Results HistoryTWNPnews.com
  21. 21webRecent attendance figures for WWE & TNA from August 14 to 17Adam Martin — WrestleView — August 20, 2008
  22. 22webWWE Survivor Series presented by KmartBankers Life Fieldhouse
  23. 23webWWE Champion CM Punk def. John Cena and Ryback (Triple Threat Match)WWE
  24. 24webCaldwell's WWE Raw Results 6/2: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Raw – PPV fall-out, huge angle at the end of Raw, post-Raw coverage, MITB hype, moreJames Caldwell
  25. 25newsMidgets, Outlaws will race indoorsJeff Adams — October 8, 2015
  26. 26webAFL Arena List ArenaFan.com
  27. 27webBruce Springsteen Setlist at Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
  28. 28webBilly Joel Concert Setlist at Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis on December 14, 1999
  29. 29webBilly Joel show announced for Bankers Life FieldhouseDavid Lindquist — USA Today Network — 15 February 2017
  30. 30web10 epic Indy rap shows
  31. 31webAC/DC Tour History - 2000/01 "Stiff Upper lip" World Tour
  32. 32webPhotos: Justin Bieber in Concert at Bankers Life FieldhouseJuly 11, 2013
  33. 33webJustin Timberlake concert in IndianapolisDecember 12, 2013
  34. 34webThe Indianapolis Star
  35. 35webShania Twain Going on Final "Rock This Country" TourMarch 4, 2015
  36. 36webPacers and Fever Welcome Taylor Swift to Bankers Life Fieldhouse
  37. 37webTrue Beliebers never outgrow Bieber Fever
  38. 38webThe Indianapolis Star
  39. 39webIn Pictures: Twenty One Pilots @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse, IndianapolisChristian Sarkine — August 1, 2016
  40. 40webFuture Now rocks Bankers Life Fieldhouse
  41. 41webAriana Grande: Dangerous Woman Tour
  42. 42webBon Jovi coming to Indy in 2017 tourOctober 7, 2016
  43. 43webRECAP: Indianapolis, IN - Bankers Life FieldhouseStevie Nicks Info — March 30, 2017
  44. 44webVeteran Tickets Foundation
  45. 45webRed Hot Chili Peppers Live Archive
  46. 46webBankers Life FieldhouseSeptember 8, 2020
  47. 47webLady Gaga: Joanne World Tour Rally - Bus to Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN
  48. 48webJanet Jackson State of the World Tour at Banker's Life Fieldhouse
  49. 49webThe Indianapolis Star
  50. 50webThe Indianapolis Star
  51. 51webLIVE: Panic! at the Disco & Hayley Kiyoko @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse, IndianapolisChristian Sarkine — July 16, 2018
  52. 52webMaroon 5 performing in Indy in 2018October 26, 2017
  53. 53webFall Out Boy coming to Bankers Life FieldhouseJanuary 20, 2018
  54. 54webThe Indianapolis Star
  55. 55webMetallica concert sets Bankers Life Fieldhouse recordEnvisionwise Website Service / LinkedUpRadio
  56. 56webKelly Clarkson Meaning of Life Tour
  57. 57webThe Indianapolis Star
  58. 58webThe Indianapolis Star
  59. 59webThe Indianapolis Star
  60. 60webThe Bandito Tour - Twenty One Pilots
  61. 61webAriana Grande brings one pop banger after another to Bankers Life FieldhouseDavid Lindquist
  62. 62webBackstreet Boys will bring world tour to Indianapolis in 2019
  63. 63webMy safety and your safety first": Cardi B postpones Indianapolis concert after threatJuly 30, 2019
  64. 64webBright and shiny Jonas Brothers spring back into action in IndianapolisDavid Lindquist
  65. 65webIn Concert | CelineDion.com
  66. 66webBankers Life Fieldhouse and Pacers Announce New Video Screen and Sound System
  67. 67newsPacers, Indianapolis officials ink deal for arena overhaulApril 12, 2019
  68. 68newsUPDATE: CIB approves Pacers deal to fund $360M renovation, expansion of Bankers Life FieldhouseApril 11, 2019
  69. 69newsBankers Life Fieldhouse will gain outdoor plaza with skating, lose Fever for two seasonsRobert General — June 24, 2019
  70. 70news'(Expletive) incredible': Why Gainbridge Fieldhouse is Bill Simmons' favorite NBA arenaMatthew VanTyron — June 7, 2022