WTHR |Conseco Fieldhouse marks ten-year anniversary

Conseco Fieldhouse marks ten-year anniversary

Jennie Runevitch/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - Conseco Fieldhouse celebrated its ten-year anniversary Friday night with a Pacers game and a tribute to the team's late owner.

City leaders also reflected on how the facility has shaped not only basketball, but also business downtown.

When Market Square Arena went down and Conseco Fieldhouse went up, the southeast side of downtown became a true destination.

"If Conseco weren't here it would be a challenge and we're very glad that it is here," said Julia Watson, Vice President of Marketing at Indianapolis Downtown, Inc.

The Fieldhouse turned ten years old Friday, exactly one decade after the Pacers played their first game on this court, beating the Celtics in a sell-out. Since then, Conseco has hosted more than 200 public events each year, from concerts to swimming to rodeos, drawing nearly two million visitors.

Along with sports and entertainment inside, Conseco also created a business boom in the wholesale district. The streetscape now is dramatically different from a decade ago.

"Anytime you have a $183 million facility like the Fieldhouse open, it has a big impact. It brings people downtown on a regular basis," Watson said.

Dozens of bars, restaurants and businesses located near Conseco, now benefit from the arena, and contribute to the downtown economy.

But the heart of the Fieldhouse is still basketball. On the facility's ten-year anniversary, the Pacers honored their history with a tribute to the late Melvin Simon, raising a permanent banner bearing his name.

"Melvin was not only our owner but was our biggest fan," said Pacers Vice President Greg Schenkel. "It's the highest form of tribute and honor that a team can pay to an individual."

After ten years, the seats aren't as full as that first game and the Fieldhouse faces an uncertain financial future.  But its leaders say this shrine for basketball and catalyst for commerce is ready for its next ten years.