Gainbridge Fieldhouse is the downtown Indianapolis arena that has served as home to the Indiana Pacers of the NBA since it opened in November 1999, replacing the aging Market Square Arena. Designed by Ellerbe Becket and Blackburn Architects, the venue’s brick-and-glass facade was deliberately modeled after Indiana’s classic high school and college field houses, giving it a look and feel unlike most other modern NBA arenas.
Originally opened as Conseco Fieldhouse before later naming-rights eras as Bankers Life Fieldhouse and now Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the arena also hosts the Indiana Fever of the WNBA and has become one of the most respected basketball-specific venues in the country, prized for its intimate sightlines and old-school architectural character.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Indiana Pacers (NBA), Indiana Fever (WNBA)
- Location: Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana
- Opened: November 1999
- Capacity: About 17,000 for basketball
- Original Name: Conseco Fieldhouse (1999-2011)
- Construction Cost: About $183 million
- Notable Fact: Renovated in a three-phase, roughly $360 million project completed in 2022
A Field House Built for Basketball
Unlike most NBA venues built to double as multipurpose stadiums, Gainbridge Fieldhouse was designed primarily around basketball, echoing the intimate feel of Indiana’s storied high school gymnasiums. The steep seating bowl and exposed brick create sightlines that broadcasters and players alike have singled out as among the best in the league, with commentator Bill Simmons once naming it his favorite arena in the NBA for how close fans feel to the court.
Renovations and Naming History
The arena has carried three different sponsor names since opening: Conseco Fieldhouse, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and since 2021, Gainbridge Fieldhouse. A major multi-phase renovation, finishing in 2022 at a cost of roughly $360 million, added a new outdoor plaza and modernized concourses and premium seating while preserving the building’s signature field-house exterior.
Explore more: Explore more Stadiums.
Gainbridge Fieldhouse FAQs
Who plays at Gainbridge Fieldhouse?
The Indiana Pacers of the NBA and the Indiana Fever of the WNBA both call Gainbridge Fieldhouse home.
When did Gainbridge Fieldhouse open?
It opened in November 1999 as Conseco Fieldhouse, replacing Market Square Arena in downtown Indianapolis.
How many people does Gainbridge Fieldhouse hold?
The arena seats roughly 17,000 fans for Pacers basketball games.
Get More from Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.