The NBA announced yesterday that the '21 All-Star Game will be played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, which "adds to the major events coming to the city, and will put the focus of the sports world on Indianapolis for the entire weekend," according to a front-page piece by Clifton Brown of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Pacers consultant Larry Bird said team Owner Herb Simon wanted the game "real bad." Bird: "He got it. Now we're going to put on a great show." NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that Indianapolis' track record of hosting major sporting events successfully "factored into the league's decision to accept the Pacers' bid." Silver: "They're in the business of hosting big events." He also noted that there was "some discussion" about playing the game at Lucas Oil Stadium instead of Bankers Life Fieldhouse to "accommodate more fans." But he said that it "seemed more appropriate to hold a basketball game in a basketball venue." Silver: "The feeling is that we're more an arena sport than a dome sport. There's no doubt we could sell out a dome, but we like the intimacy of being at Bankers Life. We belong in an arena. It's where the team plays. We want people to be close to the game." Silver did note that Lucas Oil Stadium would be used for "practices and large clinics" that weekend (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 12/14). Indianapolis last hosted the NBA ASG back in '85 at the Hoosier Dome (THE DAILY).
LOOK TOWARD THE FUTURE: In Cleveland, Joe Vardon notes the Cavaliers are "now hoping to maybe host" the ASG in '22 after having been "passed over" for '21. The Cavs started a $140M renovation of Quicken Loans Arena this year, and the team and city event planners were "hopeful" for a chance to host in '21. But sources said that local execs were "neither disappointed or really even surprised that the city would have to wait another year" (
Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 12/14). NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum said that the Cavs would have an ASG "in the near future." Greater Cleveland Sports Commission President & CEO David Gilbert said, "This was not unexpected. We were working on either '20, '21 or a future year. We still feel very good we are going to be hosting an All-Star Game sometime in near future" (
Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 12/14).
22 JUMP STREET: In Cleveland, Kevin Kleps noted L.A., Charlotte, Chicago and Indianapolis are now in line to host the next four ASGs, and '22 will "mark the league's 75th All-Star event." Cleveland hosted the 50th NBA ASG in '97, so it "would be a cool gesture for the league to bring the event back" to the city 25 years later (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 12/13). In Portland, John Canzano cites sources as saying that the Trail Blazers will "put together a bid" for the '22 ASG. But bidding for that game "hasn't opened yet." Trail Blazers Owner Paul Allen is the "longest-standing owner in the NBA who hasn't hosted an All-Star Game in his home arena." Canzano: "Portland is overdue" (Portland OREGONIAN, 12/14).
