My First Indiana Pacers Game

I enjoy live sports! There's just something magical about the atmosphere of the arena, the cheers and boos, the concession stands, the overall energy of the place.

I went to Charlotte Hornets games often while living in South Carolina and I've wanted to go to an Indiana Pacers game since moving to Indianapolis at the end of October 2021. Tonight, I was finally able to get out to a game and you could guess who the opponent was. None other than my home team, the Hornets! I was completely, hilariously conflicted on who to support so I cheered for both teams.

The Gainbridge Fieldhouse is a good space for sporting events. It is spacious with a variety of seating options to meet various budgets. All of the staff members were masked and I was really impressed by how efficient parking in the attached parking garage was! The men and women tending to traffic flow were top tier! Even the gentleman who helped scan my ticket was welcoming. They set the pace for the Pacers.

Gameday energy is fueled by the concession stands. I saw a variety of options for food and beverages. Lines were at a minimal and cashless pay made the experience swift and simple. I went with loaded chicken nachos. It was standard sports event nachos with the addition of shredded lettuce, grilled chicken bits, tomatoes, and jalapeños. Since I'm still new to spicy foods, I took those off as soon as I could. The nachos did what they were supposed to do. Would I buy them again? In a pinch, yes, but I'm open to other items.

My FAVORITE part about the Pacers game was the band! I haven't seen a live drumline at a basketball game since college. The band took the experience to a whole different level! I was dancing in my seat and cheesing hard under my mask when I realized there was live music nearby.

Being back in an arena was a lot of fun! I will be on the hunt for Pacers gear this weekend. Congratulations to the Hornets tonight! I'm looking forward to being back in Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the next Pacers home game!