Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird yesterday "delivered Indianapolis' bid" to host the '21 NBA All-Star Game to Commissioner Adam Silver at league HQ in a specially themed Pacers Indy car, according to a front-page piece by Zagoria & Taylor of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Pacers President & COO Rick Fuson, who accompanied Bird to N.Y., said that if Indianapolis were awarded the game, the event would be "privately and publicly funded." Fuson added that Pacers co-Owner Mel Simon has "committed to making a significant contribution." The Pacers' pursuit of the event "began two years ago." Fuson was "part of a seven-person delegation from Indianapolis" that went to Toronto in '16 and New Orleans this year to "research how those cities managed and operated the NBA events surrounding the All-Star Game." For the past five months, the Pacers, Indiana Sports Corp. and Visit Indy have "collaborated on the Pacers' bid." Yesterday was the last day NBA teams "could submit their bids," and the league "hopes to announce which city is awarded" the '21 ASG in October. With Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center within walking distance of one another, the Pacers "hope that convenience for fans, league officials and corporate sponsors will resonate with Silver and the league's owners when picking the host city." Zagoria & Taylor note the Pacers' bid also "includes statewide outreach and a legacy project." Meanwhile, Fuson "had the idea for Bird to drive the Indy car based on an Indianapolis 500 presentation." Bird, despite his inexperience in an Indy car, "negotiated the five-block stretch without a hitch" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/25).
