Basketball is a way of life in Indiana, and fans often follow players from high school to college and onto the NBA. Indiana’s NBA team is the Pacers, and they play their home games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse right in downtown Indianapolis. If you like basketball and want to take in a game, here are some ways you can do it like a local.
Getting There
Some Pacers tickets come with parking passes, but if you don’t get these, make sure to get downtown early on game day. If you want to find a space in a parking garage, it’s important to beat the crowds. The mall is nearby with parking that is $2 for the first three hours and $5 after that. Other lots in the area near the area range from $5 to $20.
Pregame
Since you need to get downtown early to get parking, you should have time to grab a bite to eat and a drink before the game. And if you don’t have tickets, you can just stay and watch the game from one of these local places. Try Kilroy’s for weekly specials and a fun environment or Coaches which is a great place for both before and after the game. If your Pacers experience is one for the whole family, Scotty’s is a restaurant nearby with a kid’s menu and a large menu with food that everyone will like.
Where to Sit
There are no bad seats at Bankers stadium, but for some of the best views, try to find seats down low. Check out the view from each area by going to the official Pacers website to get a 3D tour and choose where you want to sit. If you want to elevate your game experience, try the club level. This area has food and drink service so you can keep watching the game even if you decide you need a snack or want a drink.
Don’t Skip the Halftime Show
Halftime is usually when you get up to use the facilities or get something to eat, but the halftime shows at Pacers games are something you shouldn’t miss. You can even make your gameday experience even more memorable, with the Fan Experience halftime show. This includes a performance on the main court, use of Star Rooms if they are available, recognition of your group on the LED ribbon board during halftime, and a complimentary picture.
Best Indy Places to Watch The Game
If you don’t have tickets to the game, there are plenty of places you can go in Indianapolis to watch on a big-screen TV. Ale Emporium has 12 projection screens and over 80 flat screen TVs, and Stacked Pickle has fifty-inch screens and 92-inch projectors so you can see the game no matter where you sit in the restaurant.
Locals love the Pacers, and everyone has their own way of watching the game. Whether you head to Bankers Life Fieldhouse to see a game in person or you get together with friends to watch them play at a local bar or restaurant, you can enjoy the game like a local.
Image via Pixabay
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