Hoosiers to have a ‘ball’ with NBA events

Article posted by Coliseum, June 30^th, 2023

Image: NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star 2024 Host Committee announced recently that the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night will be held at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana (US) on February 17^th.

‘NBA’ stated that as one of the most anticipated events during NBA All-Star, the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night brings together many of the league’s brightest stars to showcase their skills in AT&T Slam Dunk (an annual NBA competition held during the NBA All-Star Weekend), the Starry 3-Point Contest (the Three-Point Contest is a NBA contest held on the Saturday before the annual All-Star Game as part of the All-Star Weekend) and the Kia Skills Challenge (a three-round competition where the teams of three players amass ‘Challenge Points’ throughout each round. The team with the most points is crowned champion, but tie-breaker rules are in place if necessary). The 73^rd NBA All-Star Game will be held on February 18^th at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

New York (US)-based the National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams. It is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and is considered the premier professional basketball league in the world.

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The State Farm All-Saturday Night brings together the NBA’s biggest stars in a celebration of the skills that make the NBA great. With three action-packed events, it’s always one of the most eagerly anticipated nights on the NBA calendar.

The National Basketball Association All-Star Game is a basketball exhibition game hosted every February by the National Basketball Association and showcases 24 of the league’s star players. It is the featured event of the NBA All-Star Weekend, a three-day event which goes from Friday to Sunday.

The National Basketball Association All-Star Weekend is a weekend festival held every February during the middle of the NBA regular season that consists of a variety of basketball events, exhibitions and performances culminating in the NBA All-Star Game held on Sunday night.

The 70,000-capacity Lucas Oil Stadium is a multipurpose stadium in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It replaced the RCA Dome as the home field of the National Football League’s (NFL’s) Indianapolis Colts and opened on August 16^th, 2008.

The 18,000-capacity Gainbridge Fieldhouse is an indoor arena located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It opened in November 1999 to replace the Market Square Arena. The arena is the home of the Indiana Pacers of the NBA and the Indiana Fever of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).

‘NBA’ further stated that 10,500 tickets will go on sale to the public for $24, $49, and $79 on July 24^th. Fans in Indiana will have the first opportunity to buy and should sign up to receive more information about the on-sale process at Pacers.com/AllStar2024. Additionally, the Host Committee will purchase and distribute 2,400 tickets free of charge to the local partners, community groups and non-profits.

Said Rick Fuson, head honcho of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, “The State Farm All-Star Saturday Night is one of the most exciting and entertaining nights in all of sports, and holding it at the Lucas Oil Stadium, one of football’s most iconic venues which was also thoughtfully designed for basketball events, enables us to make it more accessible than ever to our community. This focus on community is one of the ways that will make the NBA All-Star 2024 in Indianapolis so special and unique, and I am grateful to our friends and partners at the NBA and the Capital Improvement Board for working with us to make this possible.”

Indianapolis, Indiana (US)-based the Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E) is the corporate identity exemplified by the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, Fort Wayne Mad Ants (an American professional basketball team of the NBA G League affiliated with the Indiana Pacers), Pacers Gaming (the Indiana Pacers esports and gaming team), Pacers Foundation, Inc., (public charity founded by Pacers Sports & Entertainment), and Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Its team of inspired and dedicated employees promises to deliver quality entertainment and unparalleled service.

The Host Committee also announced that, thanks to the generosity of IndyGo, the Indianapolis Foundation, and donors to the Indy Championship Fund, IndyGo buses will be free for all riders for the duration of the NBA All-Star 2024 from February 15th-18th. Buses will offer extended service, ensuring that riders will have easy transportation home following downtown events. The Pacers Bike Share, operated by the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, will also be free during the four days of NBA All-Star 2024.

Stated Joe Hogsett, Indianapolis Mayor, “Between two top-tier sports venues, four days of free public transit, and one of the most walkable downtowns in America, the NBA All-Star has never been more accessible or fan-friendly. It’s no surprise. When it comes to hosting large events, Indianapolis does it like nobody else.”

In addition to hosting one of the most beloved annual All-Star events, the use of the Lucas Oil Stadium allows organizers to maximize this versatile downtown facility for fan engagement. The NBA All-Star Saturday Night festivities will take place on the South end of the stadium, with roughly 35,000 seats surrounding the court, while the North end will be used for concerts and performances. More details on those events will be shared at a later date.

Added Kelly Flatow, Head of Events, NBA, “We are thrilled to bring the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night to the Lucas Oil Stadium, where the event will be enjoyed by more fans than ever before. We appreciate the incredible collaboration from the NBA All-Star 2024 Host Committee and the Capital Improvement Board to bring this to life, further helping us realize our vision in building an inclusive and fan-first NBA All-Star 2024.”

Indianapolis (US)-based the Capital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County (Indiana) was created in 1965 by the Indiana General Assembly and empowered to finance and manage capital improvements.

The walkability and connectivity of downtown Indianapolis help make the City ideal for hosting large events of this kind. For decades, the City and State leaders have invested in downtown sports amenities that are both world-class and convenient for fans and visitors, and the proximity of the Lucas Oil Stadium to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indiana Convention Center and other key locations will make the NBA All-Star 2024 experience as fan-friendly and community-centric as possible.

Said Andy Mallon, CIB Executive Director, “The NBA All-Star and All-Star Saturday Night exemplify how our community comes together to celebrate our venerated sport of basketball with exciting and affordable events, and we can’t wait to welcome fans to the Lucas Oil Stadium for the activities we’re hosting. I am grateful to IndyGo and Pacers Bike Share for offering free transportation for those wanting to make the trip from the Fieldhouse to the Stadium, and for those who haven’t visited the stadium in a long time or who are ready to make their first visit, the NBA All-Star Saturday Night is the perfect time to check it out.”

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