Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Home of the Pacers

It’s oftentimes hard for fans to remember that behind the games we love to attend and watch, professional sports (and I would even argue college sports) are a business.  Everyone involved from the owners all the way down to the stadium workers and anyone in between make decisions every day that may not be in the best interest of the fans.  Even the athletes aren’t immune to this.  I still remember my heartbreak when Jacoby Ellsbury left for the Yankees after the Red Sox 2013 title.  But he made the decision that was best for him- he’s got paid way too much to be average to below average, and way more than the Red Sox knew he was worth (apologize for the cheap shots, I may still not be over it).

We got to see some of that heartbreak firsthand during our first night in Indianapolis.  It was the first return of Paul George, who had been their superstar for years before demanding a trade.  The Pacers begrudgingly obliged and traded him to the Thunder in return for a couple of relatively unproven players: Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.  The narrative immediately after the trade was pretty close to unanimous that the Pacers had gotten the short end of the deal, but Oladipo had been a pleasant surprise in his increased role and was thriving in the state where he went to college.  The Thunder superstars, on the other hand, hadn’t quite figured out how they could all coexist.  Even so, the Indianapolis fans were none too pleased with the man they used to love, and we couldn’t wait to help them show their displeasure!

The Seats

Similar to the Cavs game, I didn’t want to spend a crazy amount on these tickets, and with it being a big game for the city, any seats the lower bowls were pricier than I was willing to spend.  However, I still liked our seats more than the Cavs game the night before, despite being another section up.  We were basically in the same general area, but instead of being the top row of our section, we were the first row.  We got to spread our legs out and had a great unobstructed view of the floor.  We also sat by some cool people from the area who gave us some suggestions on how to spend the next day.

The Bankers Life Fieldhouse has taken the spot of my favorite NBA arena after this game.   When you first walk up, the entrance is all glass, which gives it a really clean look.  They have this super cool atrium behind the glass that literally took my breath away, and they paid tribute to the thing the city is probably best known for, the Indianapolis 500, with a Pacers themed car on display.  It’s easy to get around, and the whole look and feel was great.  Perhaps what put me over the edge, however, is that they have boards around the concourse that show how long of a wait each concession stand in that area is.  Such a great touch for fans!
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In terms of the game, it was pretty lackluster.  Not in the fact that it wasn’t close- it actually was.  But neither team played well.  Oladipo struggled shooting, and Oklahoma City was clearly a flawed team.  I’m a Carmelo Anthony apologist, since the first year I really got into the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament was the year he lead Syracuse to the title, but his inability or unwillingness to accept a different role has hurt him, especially this late in his career.  Steven Adams of all people was the Thunder’s leading scorer, and they did just enough to spoil the home team’s quest.

The Eats

We did a little bit of research and found a bar and grill near the arena called Kilroy’s that had good reviews.  One of the things that most appealed to us was their drink deals, and we came in pretty excited to see what the Long Islands were all about.  They have an overwhelming number of flavor options, but I started with peach and Joel went with strawberry.  I liked his better, so we happily shared. 

The drinks were great, but the food was even better.  We split a buffalo chicken dip for an appetizer and my mouth is watering right now thinking about it.  It’s safe to say that this was the best thing we ate on the trip, hands down, and we certainly didn’t skimp on great food.  I probably got a pulled pork sandwich for the main meal, but I honestly can’t remember because all I can think about is that dip.
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One note if you go here (you definitely should, it was our best and cheapest dinner of the trip) is that it fills up quick before the game.  We got there just in time to get a seat- within 15 minutes of sitting down, it was standing room only.  It made the atmosphere awesome, though, and there were plenty of bars and TV’s to go around!

Other Deets

Starting in Indianapolis, we made the step up from private room to private home for our AirBnB.  Granted, we were still on the property they were living on, but we were in the cutest little backyard addition that was perfectly furnished, adorable, and easily accessible.  This is the only one we’ve ever stayed in that Joel made sure I noted so that we could use it again if we ever come back.  Indianapolis in general was less expensive for AirBnB than all the other cities, but we really felt like we got a ton of bang for our buck.  One note, however, is that when you’re in situations when you’re accessing your spot via the back yard, make sure you get the address right.  We may or may not have inadvertently trespassed on their neighbor’s property.

Our check-in time was pretty late in the afternoon, so beforehand we decided to stop at the Edinburgh Outlet malls just outside of town.  I judge all outlet malls by their Nike outlet, and this may have been one of the best we’ve been to.  We bought 4 pairs of shoes for under $100, and it isn’t like we were settling for shoes because they were cheap.  I’m even wearing a pair we got there today!
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Despite all the driving (nearly 5 hours from Cleveland) this was one of my favorite days of the Midwest Winter trip.  I’m bummed they don’t have a baseball team, because I want an excuse to go back!  When do they host the next men’s basketball Final Four?