Gainbridge Fieldhouse facts for kids
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Gainbridge Fieldhouse in 2012 (then named Bankers Life Fieldhouse)
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 Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Location in Indianapolis
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Location in Indiana
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Location in the United States
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| Former names | Conseco Fieldhouse (1999–2011) Bankers Life Fieldhouse (2011–2021) |
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| Address | 125 South Pennsylvania Street |
| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 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, 2023–present) Indiana Firebirds (AFL) (2001–2004) Fort Wayne Mad Ants (NBAGL) (2023–2024) |
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Gainbridge Fieldhouse is a large indoor sports and event center in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It opened in November 1999. This arena is the home court for the Indiana Pacers (a men's basketball team) and the Indiana Fever (a women's basketball team).
The fieldhouse also hosts many other events. You can watch college basketball games, including big tournaments. It's also a popular spot for concerts and even ice hockey games.
Contents
How the Name Changed Over Time
When the arena first opened, it was called Conseco Fieldhouse. A company named Conseco bought the rights to have their name on the building. This company was based nearby in Carmel, Indiana.
Later, in 2011, Conseco changed the arena's name again. It became Bankers Life Fieldhouse, named after one of their other businesses.
After many years, in 2019, the company decided not to continue their naming sponsorship. Then, in September 2021, a new company stepped in. An Indianapolis-based financial company called Gainbridge became the new naming partner. That's why it's now known as Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Big Renovations and Updates
In 2019, a huge project started to make the fieldhouse even better. This renovation cost about $360 million. The plans included a new outdoor entrance area and new gathering spaces inside. Many parts of the interior were also improved.
As part of this deal, the Indiana Pacers basketball team promised to stay in Indianapolis for at least 25 more years. Most of the construction work happened when the Pacers were not playing. Because of the renovations, the Indiana Fever women's basketball team had to play their games at other locations for parts of 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Designed for Basketball
Gainbridge Fieldhouse was built to feel like a classic Indiana high school or college gym. This means it was mainly designed for basketball games.
While it can host ice hockey, the seating for those games is a bit smaller. It can fit an NHL-sized ice rink, but the seating is set up differently for hockey.
Exciting Events Held Here
Gainbridge Fieldhouse has seen many exciting events over the years. From championship games to huge concerts, there's always something happening!
Basketball Highlights
The very first NBA game at the fieldhouse was on November 6, 1999. The Indiana Pacers played against the Boston Celtics. In 2000, the Pacers even made it to the 2000 NBA Finals! Games 3, 4, and 5 of that series were held here.
The Indiana Fever women's basketball team has also had big moments here. They hosted games in the 2009 WNBA Finals and won the championship in the 2012 WNBA Finals on their home court!
The fieldhouse often hosts the Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament and the Big Ten Conference women's basketball tournament. These are big college basketball events. It also hosted the 2011 NCAA Women's Final Four.
From 2011 to 2021, the fieldhouse was home to the Crossroads Classic. This was an annual event featuring four major Indiana college basketball teams.
Other Sports Events
The fieldhouse has hosted other sports too. The Indianapolis Ice hockey team played here from 1999 to 2004. The Indiana Firebirds, an arena football team, also played here from 2001 to 2004.
In 2002, some games of the 2002 FIBA World Championship (a big international basketball tournament) were played here. This included the semifinals and the final game.
The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) have also brought their bull riding tour to the fieldhouse. In 2015, the arena even hosted a special auto racing event called the Indy Invitational. This event featured midget car racing and outlaw kart racing on a temporary dirt track.
High School Sports
Beyond professional sports, the fieldhouse is important for local high school athletes. It hosts the state finals for wrestling and both girls' and boys' basketball for the IHSAA. Sometimes, other high school tournaments are held here too.
Concerts and Shows
Gainbridge Fieldhouse is a major concert venue in Indianapolis. Many famous musicians and bands have performed here. For example, Metallica set a new attendance record in 2019 with over 18,000 fans! Other big names like Billy Joel, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, and Elton John have also played at the fieldhouse.
Wrestling Events
The fieldhouse is a popular spot for professional wrestling. WWE has held many of its shows, like Raw and SmackDown, here. It has also hosted major pay-per-view events such as The Great American Bash (2006) and SummerSlam (2008).
The fieldhouse is famous for some big moments for the wrestling group The Shield. They first appeared here in 2012, broke up here in 2014, and even reunited here in 2017!
Cool Features: The Scoreboard
In 2012, a huge, modern scoreboard was added to the fieldhouse. It has two large high-definition video screens. Each screen is about 50 feet long and 21 feet high! There are also smaller HD screens facing each end of the court. This new design makes it easier to see the action from almost any seat. A new sound system was also installed.
Awards and Recognitions
Gainbridge Fieldhouse has won several awards. In 2005 and 2006, it was named the No. 1 venue in the NBA by the Sports Business Journal. In 2006, "The Ultimate Sports Road Trip" called it the "best of the best" among all major sports venues.
In 2004, the fieldhouse hosted the FINA Short Course World Swimming Championships. For this event, a large swimming pool was temporarily built inside the arena! Over 71,000 tickets were sold for the four-day event. One night, a record 11,488 people attended, which was the largest crowd for a U.S. Swimming event outside of the Olympics.
Seating Capacity
The number of seats available at Gainbridge Fieldhouse has changed slightly over the years.
- 1999–2006: 18,345 seats
- 2006–2016: 18,165 seats
- 2016–present: 17,923 seats
- 2021–present: 17,294 seats
Images for kids
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A Pacers' preseason game, showing the original scoreboard, during the Conseco Fieldhouse era
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Satellite view of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, showing the former Conseco Fieldhouse name
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Lobby during the Conseco Fieldhouse era
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Balcony view of the 2013 Crossroads Classic
See also
In Spanish: Gainbridge Fieldhouse para niños
- List of basketball arenas
- List of music venues
- List of indoor arenas in the United States
- List of National Basketball Association arenas
- List of American Basketball Association arenas
- List of attractions and events in Indianapolis
