The agreement includes player appearances, a Pacers debit card, courtside signage, radio spots,
hospitality and use of the Conseco Fieldhouse practice court for community relations initiatives.
As the Indiana Fever try to win their first WNBA championship, an executive with the team’s parent organization
is
optimistic the women’s basketball squad will remain in Indianapolis.
The passing of Mel Simon adds more uncertainty to the Indiana Pacers’ future in Indianapolis.
In the wake of Mel Simon’s death, Indiana Pacers’ future is in the firm grip of younger brother Herb, who now has sole ownership
of the team.
A Friday funeral is planned for a man who made a fortune building shopping malls across the U.S. and later became a prolific
philanthropist in his adopted hometown of Indianapolis. Melvin Simon, 82, succumbed this morning after a battle with pancreatic
cancer.
Melvin Simon, a tailor’s son who earned billions building shopping malls across the U.S. and later became a prolific
philanthropist in his adopted hometown of Indianapolis, has died. He was 82.
When Brett Favre signed with the Minnesota Vikings Aug. 18, cheers could be heard at MainGate Inc.’s 7900 Rockville
Road headquarters. Predictably, Favre jerseys went flying off the shelves—about 6,000 in the first 72 hours—and
MainGate gets to keep a portion of those sales. The Vikings are one of six teams the Indianapolis-based merchandising
specialist has signed deals with in 2-1/2 years, making MainGate one of the biggest retail players in the goliath of professional
sports leagues.
Members of the Indianapolis Capital Improvement Board this afternoon passed a $63 million budget for 2010 that hinges on the
City-County Council’s approval of a hike in the local hotel tax.
A newly released 2008 poll shows the Indianapolis Colts thumping the Indiana Pacers in fan support, which isn’t a
surprise given the recent fortunes of the teams. But some observers say the numbers are more a reflection of the popularity
of the National Football League and the Colts’ Peyton Manning than an indictment of the Pacers.
Marketers and grocery store insiders say The Kroger Co.’s recently announced deal to partner with the Indiana Pacers and
Indiana Fever isn’t just another sponsorship agreement.
Even with the NBA draft approaching, Pacers coach Jim O’Brien makes time for his duties as a board member and on-the-ground
volunteer for the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention. A strong commitment to community service runs in
the coach’s family.
Combined forcesâ??the gifts of time, treasure and inspiration from the athlete in concert with the programming, dedication and outreach of community leadersâ??can change the direction of young lives.
Without question, the Pacers’ road back to contending status remains decidedly uphill, but they have the talents of Danny Granger and other strong players and have worked hard to gain community support.
Taxpayers are in no mood to hand over additional subsidies to our two for-profit sports teams.
If the Pacers want the city to support it with more money, the organization needs to provide more information to the city,
and perhaps a future cut of event proceeds.
Indiana residents should be thanking Herb and Mel Simon for their multitude of contributions to the state, instead of bashing
them.
If there is any one individual who can turn around the Pacer organization and the NBA, remember, Bird is the word.
It might have been easier for Larry Bird to lead the championship game of the NCAA’s men’s basketball tournament 30 years
ago with those improbable underdog Sycamores than to right the ship he’s steering as president of basketball for the Indiana
Pacers now.
Of this, that and the other while wondering if NBA Commissioner David Stern had just taken a hit off Michael Phelps’ bong
when he proclaimed this to be "the golden age of basketball" during his all-star weekend news conference in Phoenix.
The most important piece of leverage Mayor Ballard has in negotiating with the Pacers is being willing to let them go.
