The new home of The Indiana Pacers has been renamed from The Indiana Fieldhouse to The Conseco Fieldhouse.
A recent news article reported...
Conseco Fieldhouse to be New Home of NBA's Indiana Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 1998--The Indiana Pacers and Conseco, Inc.
(NYSE:CNC) today announced a 20-year agreement for naming rights to the Pacers' new arena.
The Conseco Fieldhouse, an 18,500-seat facility with a "retro" look that pays
homage to Indiana's rich basketball heritage, will open for the 1999-2000 National
Basketball Association season.
Pacers co-owners Herbert and Melvin Simon, Conseco Chairman Stephen Hilbert, Pacers
President Donnie Walsh and Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith made the announcement at a
joint press conference. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"On behalf of both myself and my brother Melvin, I want to say how pleased we are
that a company with the stature and community spirit of Conseco has chosen to align itself
with the new fieldhouse," said Herbert Simon. "The combination of the new
sporting facility, a team on the move with a great Hoosier tradition, and a locally based
company that has national recognition presents a winning combination of which all
residents of Indiana should be proud."
Conseco, based in Carmel, Ind., an Indianapolis suburb, is a Fortune 500 financial
services organization dedicated to providing its customers with solutions for both wealth
protection and wealth creation. Through its subsidiaries, Conseco is one of the nation's
leading providers of supplemental health insurance, retirement annuities and universal
life insurance.
"This is a proud day in Conseco's history," Hilbert said. "This sponsorship
agreement with the Pacers is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Conseco, and it couldn't
have come at a more perfect time. Conseco has embarked on a comprehensive program to build
its name into a national financial services brand. Sponsorship of the Conseco Fieldhouse
affords us a unique opportunity to build awareness of the Conseco name among those we rely
upon for our success, including agents, consumers and the local community. The Pacers
organization has played a major role in revitalizing downtown Indianapolis and Conseco is
proud to join the Pacers in this effort.
"Experience from other companies indicates that naming sponsorships build national
name recognition more quickly than any other form of advertising," Hilbert said.
"And because we depend on the local community for employees and support services,
we're counting on sponsorship of the Conseco Fieldhouse to bring us a higher profile in
the Indianapolis community as well.
"Our long-term commitment to the Conseco Fieldhouse also clearly states that Conseco
intends to do its part to support Indianapolis' drive to remain a world-class city. The
Conseco Fieldhouse will be a one-of-a-kind showplace, building on Indiana's basketball
history, and will make the downtown area an even more exciting and vital place to work and
live."
Mayor Goldsmith said, "Indianapolis' competitive position requires enlightened
corporate involvement. Conseco's commitment will allow us to be competitive in the NBA
game."
"The company you choose as a naming partner is a very big decision because that
relationship is going to be in all parts of the building for a very long time," Walsh
said. "We looked around the country for people that might be interested in doing
this, and Conseco stepped up to be our naming partner. I don't think it can be any better
than when you have a local company of the stature and prestige of Conseco to become your
partner in the building. We're very happy with Steve Hilbert's decision to do this and we
know this is going to be a very beneficial relationship for everyone involved, including
the City of Indianapolis and the State of Indiana."
CONTACT:
Conseco, Inc.
Jim Rosensteele, 317/817-2893
World Wide Web: http://www.conseco.com
Investor Hotline: 800/4-CONSECO
Fax-on-Demand: 800/344-6452
Here are pictures of the Pacers New and Current Arena
Market Square Arena
A view of the Outside of the Arena
Views of Indoor Pictures
The Indiana Pacers Current home, Market Square Arena
Is currently Hosting The Indiana Pacers and a semi-hockey team, The Indianapolis Ice. Some facts about the arena include
Address: 300 E. Market St. Indianapolis, IN 46218
Opened: Sept 15, 1974
Capacity: 18,000 (Concerts) ; 17,300 (Basketball) ; 6,000 (Minimum)
Phone # 1-317-639-6411 (MSA Administrative Offices)
Phone# 1-317-263-2100 (Indiana Pacers)
E-mail: scross@marketsquarearena.com (general e-mail MSA)