A local company may not be in the mix of naming rights candidates for the arenaGETTY IMAGES
The naming-rights deal for Bankers Life Fieldhouse ends June 30, 2019, but Pacers Sports & Entertainment execs say that they "aren't going to rush to finalize a new sponsor just to beat the deadline," according to Dana Benbow of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Since the announcement last March that the "partnership was ending," a Pacers sales team has been "working to find a new naming sponsor." The Pacers contracted Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment to "pitch the naming rights across the country and internationally." It is "possible a local company won't even be in the mix of naming rights candidates." Independent sponsorship consultant Jim Andrews said that the odds are "better it will be a company that isn't headquartered in Indianapolis, but has some presence in the city." What the arena's sponsorship is worth is "anyone's guess," as NBA venues have "garnered a wide range of dollar figures." JP Morgan Chase will be paying a reported $15-20M annually over 20 years for the rights to the Warriors' new Chase Center. Andrews said that a "more realistic" figure for the Pacers' home would be similar to Moda Health's $4M/year deal with the Trail Blazers. Pacers Senior VP and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Todd Taylor said that the team is "looking for a stable company with similar business values" (INDYSTAR.com, 3/21).
