Pacers, City Of Indianapolis Deep In Negotiations To Keep Franchise In Indy

by spstevenson on Jan 2, 2010 9:39 AM EST in Indiana Pacers News

The City of Indianapolis and the Indiana Pacers are in the midst of weekly negotiations at the moment to keep the franchise settled in the Hoosier State.

According to the Indianapolis Star, members of the city's Capital Improvement Board and Pacers officials are meeting as often as twice a week to try to come to a conclusion about the team's future. Paul Okeson, Mayor Greg Ballard's former chief of staff, has become the lead negotiator for the city and he's given the city and team a deadline to finalize the deal -- April.

The story broke this summer that the Pacers were hemorrhaging money to try to operate Conseco Fieldhouse throughout the year. The Pacers organization said that in order to break even financially, the franchise needs assistance from the CIB to operate the building. Today's Star story did not give a number that the Pacers are asking for in the negotiations. Mayor Ballard gave the Star the following quote:

"There's no question I'd like to have the Pacers here. (But) we have to make sure it's the right deal for the taxpayer." -- Mayor Greg Ballard

Hopefully we'll begin hearing more about these meetings and get some numbers on what exactly the Pacers are needing to make this work and stay in Indianapolis. Check out the jump for links on tonight's Pacers game against the Timberwolves.

Bruno and Pacers.com offers a preview for tonight's game against the Timberwolves. Bruno notes that the Pacers have fallen behind by 15 points or more in the first quarter of each of the past four games. Add that to the blue and gold's New Year's Resolution list.
Mike Wells writes about Mike Dunleavy's recent struggles and the guard/forward gave his thoughts on his knee issues. Here's what Mike Dunleavy had to say: "I think it's a combination of things. I'm hardheaded and I tend to think it's not my knee or my legs and things like that. Other people who have watched me and seen me on a daily basis say it is. Maybe that has something to do with it and certainly playing with a new group of guys, I haven't played much with anybody out there."
Pacers-Timberwolves preview here at CBSSports.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune previews tonight's contest.
Bleacher Report wonders whether the Pacers can stop being so awful in the new year.

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The Pacers need to stay

the Hoosier state with no pro basketball team? Crazy

by dbcb on Jan 2, 2010 11:39 AM EST reply actions

We can't lose the Pacers can we??

We need the blue and gold here in Indy. I know ticket sales have dropped, but if Mel Simon is confident in the current reconstruction (and I hope to hell he is), then ticket sales will pick up when a winning product is on the floor. I wish all fans were like me and supported their team through thick and thin, but the truth is that most fans are kinda fairweather. They buy tickets to games when it’s the fashionable thing to do. Watching a sub 500 team isn’t really fashionable. Hang in there Mel, the near future will bring a better product, more ticket and merchandise sales, and all will be well in Pacers land.

Confucious say "He who dives for loose balls need proper fitting athletic cup!"

by Wise Master on Jan 2, 2010 5:21 PM EST reply actions

Yes we can lose the Pacers. Conseco Fieldhouse was built in a time where the Pacers were one of the elite teams. It is a basketball shrine and arguably the best basketball venue in the world. Not only is it built with all sorts of great attributes that you see and do not see, but those great attributes cost a lot of money. Money the organization is having issues trying to corral. The recession socked the Indy economy right in the gut. Add the fact the Pacers are in their current awful state doesn’t help matters. It’s expensive to go to one of those games, and who’s gonna fork over serious money to see seriously terrible basketball? If the Indiana Pacers organization becomes a sunk cost, then it is very possible.

Oh, and by the way, it’s a little difficult for Mel Simon to hang in there. The man died of cancer not too long ago.

by hoosier3060 on Jan 3, 2010 1:43 AM EST reply actions

Hey, Mayor Ballard!

After the Pacers got beat down tonight by the Knicks, how about moving the team to Seattle, or Kansas City or St. Louis or here in Pittsburgh? After tonight’s game, this team is embarrassing your city, and must be forced to move out of state.

Philip Fitzsimmons says Padres rule,Dodgers suck!

by Philip Fitzsimmons on Jan 4, 2010 1:17 AM EST reply actions