The plaza is expected to feature a translucent, year-round canopy, large swings and green spacePACERS
Pacers officials are planning on creating a "major public plaza" north of Bankers Life Fieldhouse as part of the team's new deal to remain in Indianapolis for another 25 years, according to the INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL. The team is "not relying on it as a major revenue generator." In addition to "seasonal amenities, the plaza is expected to feature a translucent, year-round canopy, large swings, tables and chairs, and an abundance of green space." Plans call for the outdoor plaza to "host concerts and other public events, along with a public ice-skating rink in the winter and a public basketball court in the summer." Pacers President & COO Rick Fuson said, “It becomes a year-round entertainment opportunity." The Pacers are "using successful plazas that other NBA teams opened in recent years as a blueprint" for the project as they "hope to entice visitors to the plaza during cold-weather months by operating an ice-skating rink that will be as large or larger than the rink at Rockefeller Center." Visit Indy Senior VP/Marketing & Communications Chris Gahl said that the plaza "might be a selling point to meeting and convention planners drawn to walkability and public amenities." The Pacers have had "preliminary talks with Visit Indy and Downtown Indy about collaborating on events, but have not discussed specifics" (IBJ.com, 4/19).
