Downtown foot traffic, Indianapolis hotels saw boost during Pacers’ run to NBA Finals

Fans filed into bars and restaurants downtown, including The District Tap, ahead of Sunday's NBA Finals game. (IBJ photo/Mickey Shuey)

Despite a heartbreaking loss in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers’ unbelievable playoff run has ignited a business boom that could add up to nearly $20 million for the central Indiana economy.

The nine-week run has led to a boost for local hotels, with rates up 34% during home games, according to data from Visit Indy. Downtown Indy has also seen a 14% increase in foot traffic and visits to attractions. Plus, nearly 282,000 national and international stories have been published about the Pacers, adding up to an estimated $6 billion in brand-building for the city, local tourism leaders said.

But, for some, the run through the playoffs has created something that money can’t buy.

“For this team to capture the city’s heart…I think that’s the biggest thing,” Pacers play-by-play announcer Chris Denari told Inside INdiana Business. “Everywhere I go, people have a Pacers hat, a Pacers jersey, a Pacers T-shirt. You go to the hardware store, the grocery store, the gas station, and there’s just something about civic pride that is so great. And I think that’s what sports is all about. It brings people together.”

Chris Gahl, senior vice president for Visit Indy, said the playoffs has led to the opportunity to showcase the city for some people who have never visited.

“We’re tracking visitors from more than 20 different countries who are coming into our city to watch Pacers basketball, and that is a big deal,” Gahl said. “We looked at Airbnb and VRBO listings. Those are surging on nights in which we have home Pacers playoff games, and that’s another lead indicator.”

Gahl also echoed the 14% increase in foot traffic downtown, which puts another spotlight on the city.

“We looked at cell phone, geolocation, mobile data, and we saw an increase…in those getting into our downtown and exploring from White River State Park all the way through Gainbridge [Fieldhouse],” Gahl said, “and again, that tells us more people are on the ground spending money.”

Beyond the games played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pacers’ run to the NBA Finals generated extensive revenue through foot traffic to restaurants and bars for away games. That was especially true for Sunday’s Game 7 in the series, which brought thousands of visitors to downtown, leading to out-the-door lines at venues like Tom’s Watch Bar, Kilroy’s Bar & Grill and The District Tap.

The arena itself also stayed busy during the away contests, hosting sold-out watch parties for fans throughout the playoffs. During the Finals, Pacers Sports & Entertainment charged $5 per ticket, which team officials said was aimed at curbing scalping (though, for Game 7, some tickets still ended up on the resale market, listed for nearly $150 apiece).

The ticket proceeds were earmarked for the youth-serving Pacers Foundation, accumulating at least $250,000 for the nonprofit, based on estimates of the total number of tickets sold for each game.

The Pacers also hosted watch parties at Morris Unity Plaza outside the arena before the Game 3 and Game 6 contests played in Indianapolis. Tickets were $20 for those events, and those proceeds also went to the Pacers Foundation.

And, between 11 nationally televised games and additional exposure through shows like ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show being held from downtown Indy, Gahl said that spotlight is invaluable.

“As we look to brand and market Indianapolis as a place to visit, as a place that you want to come and do business, and you just keep hearing about ‘Indy, Indy, Indy’ and the Pacers in a positive way, with beautiful shots coming in and out of commercials, [it’s] invaluable when you’re looking to boost the reputation and the brand of our city.”

Gahl added that the civic pride being shown by Indianapolis residents is also being seen and felt by those looking to bring conventions and meetings to the city, whether the Pacers win or lose.