IUPUI, Pacers negotiating deal

August 25, 2008
Back to TopCommentsE-mailPrint
jaguarsThe IUPUI men’s basketball team appears headed across town to play home games at Conseco Fieldhouse. Officials for Pacers Sports & Entertainment said they would let IUPUI make any announcement.

University officials said an announcement on the Jaguars’ 2008-09 schedule could come as soon as this week, after one last deal is finalized.

Sources close to the negotiations said the Jags would play some of its home games this season in the 18,345-seat Conseco Fieldhouse, but might still play the bulk of its games in its longtime home, a 1,200-seat gym attached to the Natatorium on the IUPUI campus. IUPUI Coach Ron Hunter recently said IUPUI wants to move at least some of its games to Conseco Fieldhouse and Pacers Sports & Entertainment want to host the games.

Sources said IUPUI is negotiating to play more games—possibly even the majority of its home games—in Conseco Fieldhouse during the 2009-10 season. Last season, IUPUI had 16 home games. The team went 26-7 last season and has received much attention since star player George Hill was selected in the first round of the National Basketball Association draft.

Although the financial terms of the deal are not clear, it could be a financial boost for both sides. Games in a higher-profile venue with enhanced amenities could drive significant attendance gains for IUPUI. Playing at the glitzy Fieldhouse also would be a solid recruiting tool for Hunter to attract the area’s best talent. Filling some holes on its calendar would benefit PS&E, and if the deal works out long-term, that might mean IUPUI would indefinitely suspend the notion of building a 8,000- to 10,000-seat arena, which could potentially compete with the Fieldhouse for events.
ADVERTISEMENT
  • CreamCrimsonAugust 25, 2008 11:48 AM
    Do 8,000 - 10,000 people want to see IUPUI basketball??? I was unaware of any plans for IUPUI to build such a facility. They need some kind of upgrade, but I don't know if 1-2,000 people in a 16,000 person venue like Conseco really solves anything or is a wise move. Maybe a few high profile games, but that has to be a little strange playing to a virtually 1/8th full arena.

    Couldn't hurt the Pacers Sports & Entertainment Company by adding events, but just doesn't seem like an all-around good move.

    IUPUI could benefit from a small or moderate sized fieldhouse or multi-use venue and pump some money into Natatorium upgrades. I'd even urge them to revamp the IUPUI Track. That could be a very nice venue with new seating all around and some basic upgrades. Soccer games, Track & Field events, H.S. Sports, NCAA meets, it could be a nice boost for IUPUI athletics and Indy.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • JoyceAugust 25, 2008 12:06 PM
    I haven't heard anything about the 8-10,000 seat IUPUI arena since the Pedigos owned the Indianapolis Ice. Thought it was a dead idea.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • MattAugust 25, 2008 12:07 PM
    The one thing a larger venue could do is help draw bigger-time opponents. If IUPUI promises a cut of ticket revenue or some other type of deal, that could help IUPUI play big-time games without signing away game only deals. That could help with IUPUI's RPI and put them in a post-season tournament, and that snowballs into better recruiting and so forth.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • IndymanAugust 25, 2008 2:03 PM
    There has been consistent talk of building a new facility at IUPUI for years. A combination basketball/tennis venue to replace the Tennis Center is usually the impetus. Short term Conseco is a good answer for IUPUI, but they really need a 8,000 to 10,000 seat arena for sports, convocations, concerts and the Tennis Center.

    This does leave a big question mark for improvements at the tennis center. Have they ever thought of using Lucas Oil? I wonder how many courts you could fit on the field, parking lots and in the Convention Center?
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment

Post a comment to this blog

COMMENTS POLICY
We reserve the right to remove any post that we feel is obscene, profane, vulgar, racist, sexually explicit, abusive, or hateful.
 
You are legally responsible for what you post and your anonymity is not guaranteed.
 
Posts that insult, defame, threaten, harass or abuse other readers or people mentioned in IBJ editorial content are also subject to removal. Please respect the privacy of individuals and refrain from posting personal information.
 
No solicitations, spamming or advertisements are allowed. Readers may post links to other informational websites that are relevant to the topic at hand, but please do not link to objectionable material.
 
We may remove messages that are unrelated to the topic, encourage illegal activity, use all capital letters or are unreadable.
 

Messages that are flagged by readers as objectionable will be reviewed and may or may not be removed. Please do not flag a post simply because you disagree with it.

ADVANCED SEARCH
Sponsored by
ADVERTISEMENT

  1. First, the Athenaeum is going to have to get past the hurdle with the Lockerbie residents and the agreement that the parcel would be residential. Second, and in my opinion, this prime piece of property should include parking, PLUS, a black box theater(s), some market rate and affordable artist housing and a plan to renovate and reconfigure the second story theater. I would negotiate to add the DeHaan property surface parking lot into the development mix, place a one story surface parking garage on the DeHaan lot on the street level (for the Dehaan tenants use during the daytime) and add a second story to the garage that would become an addition to the current second story theater and then change the direction of the theater by moving the stage across the alley and on top of the DeHaan lot parking. You can add all the stage elements that are currently missing from the Athenaeum stage to make it more attractive for use by Ballet, Opera and traveling productions. Plus, the theater changes would probably help solve some of the soundproofing issues. Alas,it does not seem to be a part of the strategic plan to conduct a study to determine best use of the property. Seems like the current plan is a quick and easy move that ignores the property best use/potential and any strategic property planning for the effect on future generations.

  2. I recall that MSA's pilings are still in the ground and hard to remove. It’s not likely any proposal will include significant underground construction/parking because of this. Start adding 2 floors of retail, 8 floors of parking and 5-10 floors of possible hotel, and/or 10-20 floors of residential, and you are at 30 floors already with possible expansion of all the uses. But then again I could be wrong.

  3. Accoriding to their website there is no deadline to the Do Not Call list. What is this article referring to??

  4. On what planet are they entitled to this largesse from the stockholders? These people make multi-million dollar salaries: Pay for your own personal travel.

  5. It matters because they're already paid enormously fat salaries: Pay for your own personal travel. Being "taxed on it" isn't a valid excuse--so what? They're still being gifted a raft of luxury perks from somebody else's money on top of an enormous, lavish salary.

ADVERTISEMENT