Gainbridge Fieldhouse facts for kids
 |
|
Gainbridge Fieldhouse in 2012
|
|
 Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Location in Indianapolis
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Location in Indiana
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Location in the United States
|
|
| Former names | Conseco Fieldhouse (1999–2011) Bankers Life Fieldhouse (2011–2021) |
|---|---|
| Address | 125 South Pennsylvania Street |
| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 39°45′50″N 86°9′20″W / 39.76389°N 86.15556°W |
| Owner | Capital Improvement Board, City of Indianapolis |
| Operator | Capital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County, Indiana |
| Capacity | Basketball: 17,274 Concerts: 19,000 Ice hockey: 11,651 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 22, 1997 |
| Opened | November 6, 1999 |
| Renovated | 2020–2022 |
| Expanded | 2022 |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Construction cost | US$183 million (US$321 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Ellerbe Becket Blackburn Architects |
| Project manager | John Klipsch Consulting, LLC |
| Structural engineer | Fink Roberts & Petrie Inc. |
| Services engineer | Moore Engineers, P.C. |
| General contractor | Hunt/Smoot |
| Tenants | |
| Indiana Pacers (NBA) (1999–present) Indianapolis Ice (CHL) (1999–2004) Indiana Fever (WNBA) (2000–2019, 2021–present) Indiana Firebirds (AFL) (2001–2004) Indiana Mad Ants (NBAGL) (2023–2025) |
|
Gainbridge Fieldhouse is a cool indoor sports and concert arena in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. It opened in November 1999, taking the place of the old Market Square Arena. This arena is the home court for two professional basketball teams: the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Besides basketball, Gainbridge Fieldhouse also hosts many other exciting events. You can catch college basketball games, including the yearly Big Ten Conference tournaments, big concerts, and even ice hockey games here.
The arena has had a few different names over the years. It was first called Conseco Fieldhouse, named after a financial company. Later, it became Bankers Life Fieldhouse. In 2021, Gainbridge, another financial company from Indianapolis, became the new sponsor, giving the arena its current name.
Contents
Arena Design and Features
The look of Gainbridge Fieldhouse is special. Its brick and glass outside walls were designed to remind people of classic Indiana high school and college sports buildings. Unlike many other big arenas in North America, this one was built mainly for basketball games.
Even though it's great for basketball, the arena can also fit an NHL-sized ice rink. However, when hockey is played, there are fewer seats available, about 12,500, because of how the rink fits in.
How the Arena Got Its Name
The arena's name comes from companies that pay to have their name on the building. This is called "naming rights." When it first opened, it was called Conseco Fieldhouse. Conseco was a financial company located nearby.
In 2011, Conseco changed the arena's name to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, after one of its other companies. After many years, that naming deal ended. Then, in September 2021, Gainbridge, a financial platform from Indianapolis, became the new naming partner. That's why it's now called Gainbridge Fieldhouse!
Exciting Events and Games
Gainbridge Fieldhouse has seen many memorable moments in sports and entertainment.
Basketball Highlights
The first NBA game played here was on November 6, 1999. The Indiana Pacers played against the Boston Celtics. Later that season, the Pacers made it to the 2000 NBA Finals. Games 3, 4, and 5 of that championship series were held at the fieldhouse.
The Indiana Fever also had big moments here. They played in the 2009 WNBA Finals and hosted games 3 and 4 of the 2012 WNBA Finals, where they won the championship! In 2024, the arena hosted the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, bringing many basketball stars to Indianapolis. The arena also hosted games 3, 4, and 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
College and Other Sports
The fieldhouse often hosts the Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament and the Big Ten Conference women's basketball tournament. It also welcomed the 2011 NCAA Women's Final Four.
From 2011 to 2021, the arena was home to the Crossroads Classic. This was an annual event where four Indiana college basketball teams played. The arena has also hosted games for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2017, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Wrestling and Other Events
WWE has held many of its popular shows like Raw and SmackDown at the fieldhouse. It also hosted big pay-per-view events such as SummerSlam (2008) and Fastlane in 2023. Famous wrestling group The Shield had many important moments here, including their debut and reunion.
The fieldhouse has also hosted Professional Bull Riders events and even midget car racing and outlaw kart racing on a special dirt track built inside. High school sports, like state finals for wrestling and basketball, are also held here.
Concerts and Shows
Gainbridge Fieldhouse is a popular spot for concerts. Many famous musicians have performed here. In 2019, Metallica set a new record for the most people at a concert in the venue, with 18,274 fans!
Arena Upgrades and Renovations
The arena has been updated over the years to make it even better. In 2012, a huge new scoreboard was added. It has two large high-definition video screens, each about 50 feet long, plus other screens facing the baselines. A new sound system was also installed.
In 2019, a big renovation project began, costing $360 million. This project was finished in late 2022. It added a new outdoor entrance area, new indoor gathering spaces, and many improvements inside. These upgrades helped make sure the Pacers will stay in Indianapolis for at least 25 more years.
Awards and Recognition
Gainbridge Fieldhouse has received many awards for being a top sports venue. In 2005 and 2006, it was named the No. 1 venue in the NBA by the Sports Business Journal. The Ultimate Sports Road Trip even called it the "best of the best" among all major sports venues.
In 2004, the fieldhouse hosted the FINA Short Course World Swimming Championships. They temporarily installed two swimming pools inside the arena! A record 11,488 people attended one of the swimming events, which was the largest crowd for a U.S. Swimming event outside of the Olympics.
A sportswriter named Bill Simmons said in 2022 that Gainbridge Fieldhouse is "incredible." He noted that it feels different from other NBA arenas because it was built specifically for basketball, making fans feel very close to the action.
Seating Capacity
The number of seats in the arena has changed slightly over the years:
| Years | Capacity |
|---|---|
| 1999–2006 |
|
| 2006–2016 |
|
| 2016-2021 |
|
| 2021–present |
|
Images for kids
-
A Pacers' preseason game, showing the original scoreboard, during the Conseco Fieldhouse era
-
Satellite view of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, showing the former Conseco Fieldhouse name
-
Lobby during the Conseco Fieldhouse era
-
Balcony view of the 2013 Crossroads Classic
See also
In Spanish: Gainbridge Fieldhouse para niños
- List of basketball arenas
- List of NBA arenas
- List of music venues in the United States
- List of indoor arenas in the United States
- List of attractions and events in Indianapolis
