The Pacers' season-ticket renewal rate is currently 92%, and team officials expect them to hit 95% "by the time the season tips off in October," according to Anthony Schoettle of the INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL. Pacers Sports & Entertainment Senior VP and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Todd Taylor is "looking for an overall attendance increase" of about 5% and "possibly more depending on how quickly" rookie F Myles Turner and newly-signed G Monta Ellis get up to speed. Meanwhile, the Pacers' sponsorship sales are up about 20% over last season with "recent deals signed with Red Bull, FanDuel, Gatorade, Papa John’s, Community Health Network, UPS, Steak n Shake, Finish Line and Stanley Tools." Taylor "expects to announce a multi-year deal for a new naming rights partner for the team’s practice court at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse within the next week." Because single-game ticket sales "declined last year" in the wake of F Paul George's injury, overall per-game attendance "dropped from 17,501 for the 2013-14 season to 16,864 last year." Taylor is "confident this year’s new-look team will drive attendance back to 17,500 or above." He said that sales "got a big boost" after Turner was selected with the 11th pick in June's NBA Draft and when the team signed Ellis. While the Pacers' marketing department "will continue to emphasize the team in their ads," Taylor said that Turner, Ellis and rookie G Joe Young "will be incorporated in the team’s marketing 'right away'" (IBJ.com, 7/15).
