There’s been a lot of feedback regarding the article about the Indiana Pacers’ attendance problem that appeared in this week’s
IBJ. A growing number of readers say they won’t be going to Pacers games anytime soon—even if the team starts winning. That’s
bad news for the Pacers, since the franchise is already last in the NBA in attendance.
While league attendance is down 4 percent this year compared to last year, Pacers attendance has plummeted 22 percent. The league-wide attendance average nearing the All-Star Game is 17,100. The Pacers are drawing 12,068 through 19 home games.
Further bad news is that much of the negative reaction is coming from the business sector the franchise has tried to attract in recent years.
Tim Gravenstreter, 58, owner of Odyssey Map Store, on Delaware Street downtown, is one of the honked off fans.
“I was a diehard Pacers fan from Day One, going to the very first game the team ever had at the [Indiana State Fairgrounds] Coliseum,” Gravenstreter said.
Gravenstreter is no longer a season-ticket holder, and said he has turned down free tickets from his vendors the last two years. Those tickets are $175 seats and come with a free dinner. He said his 27- and 24-year-old sons have no more interest in the team than he does.
“I will refuse to go to see any Pacers game until every single player is gone who has been involved in a shooting, drugs or any other negative off-court incident,” Gravenstreter said. “I won’t put my butt in a seat to let them think I condone their off-court activities.”
Well, Indy sports fans, are you on the same page as Gravenstreter?
While league attendance is down 4 percent this year compared to last year, Pacers attendance has plummeted 22 percent. The league-wide attendance average nearing the All-Star Game is 17,100. The Pacers are drawing 12,068 through 19 home games.
Further bad news is that much of the negative reaction is coming from the business sector the franchise has tried to attract in recent years.
Tim Gravenstreter, 58, owner of Odyssey Map Store, on Delaware Street downtown, is one of the honked off fans.
“I was a diehard Pacers fan from Day One, going to the very first game the team ever had at the [Indiana State Fairgrounds] Coliseum,” Gravenstreter said.
Gravenstreter is no longer a season-ticket holder, and said he has turned down free tickets from his vendors the last two years. Those tickets are $175 seats and come with a free dinner. He said his 27- and 24-year-old sons have no more interest in the team than he does.
“I will refuse to go to see any Pacers game until every single player is gone who has been involved in a shooting, drugs or any other negative off-court incident,” Gravenstreter said. “I won’t put my butt in a seat to let them think I condone their off-court activities.”
Well, Indy sports fans, are you on the same page as Gravenstreter?
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The Pacers marketing department also needs to ask itself why their attendance is so low, yet college and high school basketball is still very popular. The answer is simple. We hoosiers love THE GAME. Not the pregame show, not the halftime show, not the loud annoying music that is played while the game is being played. You know what's music to our ears? The squeak of the sneakers on the hard wood, the coach calling out plays, the players communicating as they execute fundamental hoosier basketball. The Pacers front office has taken the game that we feel so passionate about, and made it just like any other NBA game.
I would rather sit in a cramped, unairconditioned Hinkle Fieldhouse because that's hoosier basketball. Maybe Larry has forgotten his roots.
Teams that have lower revenue numbers than Pacers will give away up to 5,000 tickets a game to boost their attendance numbers. When those seats then revert back to their normal prices, fans are upset that they now have to pay for tickets that used to be free. For this reason, the Pacers do not make a habit of offering large chunks of discounted or free tickets to fill Conseco Fieldhouse.
I think a more telling statistic would be to publish where the Pacers stand in paid attendance.
I don't even care if they're winning. I just want to be able to go to a game and actually support a team of young men whom I think are actually working hard to be decent citizens on and off the court.
Thugs, drug dealers and whining babies.
I think my sons high school team draws a bigger crowd. And we have more fun there.
Donnie, clean house and get us some decent, fun to watch ball players. I am tired of hearing the jokes about Indy.
It is ironic that you can have two teams, the Colts and the Pacers in one city who are complete polar opposites in terms ethics, integrity and off-court/off-field behavior.
But, the only thing that can change that is the loss of revenue to the Pacers caused by the loss of ticket sales.
Since then, my interest in the Pacers has completely waned. I haven't watch their games anymore or go to the games for the past couple of years. This is for a few reasons:
- NBA isn't as exciting to watch as it used to be. The game's rules keep changing (seemingly for the worse). Everything is sped up even more than it was in the 90s (which was already fast-tempo), so each possession means less; players can't defend without being callled for a foul; allowed travelling is worse than before (the almost 3 steps, plus a jump, then actual shot jump - ?), etc.
- The Pacers' image. This has already been discussed here, so no need to get into it again. It's no fun to be a fan of 'thugs'.
- The team's revolving door of players. In the 90s, you had guys who stuck around for a while, so it was more fun to follow a player that way. Now, it feels like revolving door, and it's difficult to get emotionally attached to a team when you don't recognize most of the players.
Some of those problems the Pacers can actually control and some they can't. But either way, I'll be watching the Colts and not the Pacers until any level of excitement comes their way.
I think a lot of people use the excuse of bad actors when they really mean bad team.
This town has always been a front runner. when the team is good Indianapolis will support them. When they are bad the fans turn on them.
It wasn't so many years ago that the Colts were blacked out on local TV due to unsold tickets. when they go bad again and the newness of Lucas wears off, there will be seats aplenty.
It may take several years for the Pacers to get competitive again but when they do, and only when they do, the fans will return.
I think much of this could have been avoided if the Pacers leadership would have stepped up and set those players straight who were a disgrace to our city back in 2004. That was never effectively dealt with or owned up to and it has been downhill ever-since. It is clear what the problem is...someone needs to step up and show that the Pacers organization respects the city and is willing to do what it takes to represent it well. Until then I think they will be hard pressed to fill the fieldhouse.
Hey and not all people who listen to hip hop and rap are thugs. I enjoy a little Snoop Dogg every now and again. Hip hop has a good beat and is great music to work out to and doesn't drive me to the thug life or to ditch my belt or even to be a 'ho.
2. Pacers will NEVER win a championship with JO as the franchise guy. He's a great guy, and a great complimentary player, but we'll never win a title trying to build around him. This is a business, and it's time for him to go.
3. Get the Pacers involved in the community. I don't know the last time I heard of the players connecting with the community...unless you count gunshots. Sorry too easy...
4. Indiana citizens know and respect the game of basketball. We will only support a team that has players with the same knowledge and respect for the game.