Things to Do at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Complete Guide to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
About Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Walk toward Gainbridge Fieldhouse on a game night and the first thing that hits you is the warm glow of its red-brick facade against the Indianapolis skyline. Opened in 1999 as Conseco Fieldhouse, the arena was deliberately designed by Ellerbe Becket to echo the look and feel of a classic Indiana high school fieldhouse, and the effect is uncanny.
The exterior blends so seamlessly with the surrounding downtown buildings that you might mistake it for a civic landmark rather than a professional sports venue. Step through the Entry Pavilion, though, and any quaintness evaporates. A soaring Grand Staircase sweeps upward, the air hums with the low rumble of a crowd settling into seats, and the smell of grilled bratwurst and warm pretzels drifts from the concession stands.
Home to the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever, Gainbridge Fieldhouse also hosts concerts, WWE events, and touring shows that keep the building busy well beyond basketball season. The arena underwent a sweeping renovation branded the Fieldhouse of the Future, which added the outdoor Bicentennial Unity Plaza where a public basketball court appears in summer and an ice-skating rink takes over in winter.
That sunken plaza, built where a parking garage once stood, gives the building year-round energy even on nights without a scheduled event. Inside, the bowl is steep and intimate in a way that larger arenas struggle to replicate. You sit close enough to hear sneakers squeak on the hardwood and feel the bass thump through your seat when the PA system fires up player introductions.
It is, for whatever reason, one of those buildings that rewards repeat visits, because the sightlines and the acoustics shift noticeably depending on where you sit.
What to See & Do
The Entry Pavilion and Grand Staircase
The moment you cross the threshold, the Entry Pavilion opens into a tall, light-filled atrium that smells faintly of popcorn and feels more like a hotel lobby than a sports arena. The Grand Staircase rises ahead of you in broad, sweeping flights, and the brick-and-steel detailing overhead nods to Indiana's industrial heritage. On event nights, the staircase becomes a river of blue and gold as Pacers fans funnel upward, their chatter echoing off the glass walls.
Bicentennial Unity Plaza
Outside the arena's main entrance, this sunken outdoor plaza replaced a demolished parking structure and turned dead concrete into a gathering space that hums with activity. In warmer months you will hear basketballs bouncing on the public court and smell food-truck smoke curling through the air. Come winter, the court transforms into an ice-skating rink, and the cold Indianapolis wind carries the scrape of blades on ice. It gives the Fieldhouse a public face even when no event is scheduled inside.
The Bowl and Sightlines
Indiana's basketball culture demands intimacy, and the seating bowl delivers. The upper decks are pitched steeply enough that you feel suspended over the court rather than pushed back from it. During a Pacers game, the acoustics concentrate crowd noise into a roar that you feel in your chest, and the hardwood gleams under the overhead lights with a brightness that photographs never quite capture. Concert configurations shift the stage and lighting rigs. But the steep rake keeps even the far seats surprisingly close to the action.
Concession Stands and Local Food
Beyond standard arena fare, the concession areas carry Indiana-inspired dishes alongside local craft beers. The smell of charcoal-grilled burgers and smoked pork mixes with the yeasty sweetness of fresh soft pretzels. Craft beer options lean toward Indiana breweries, so you might find a pale ale from a local taproom rather than the usual national labels. Lines build fast near tip-off, so arriving early pays off if you want to eat without missing the opening minutes.
Behind-the-Scenes Tours
On non-event days, walking tours run on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 in the morning, 12:30, and 2:30 in the afternoon, each lasting roughly 90 minutes. Guides take you through locker rooms, press areas, and courtside zones that most ticket holders never see. You will smell the fresh wax on the court and hear your footsteps echo in tunnels designed for player entrances. Reservations need to be made at least 14 days ahead, and comfortable shoes are a must since you cover a lot of ground.
Practical Information
Opening Hours
Gainbridge Fieldhouse opens its doors approximately 90 minutes before scheduled events. On non-event days, the building is generally closed to the public unless you have booked a behind-the-scenes tour, which runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The outdoor Bicentennial Unity Plaza keeps its own schedule and tends to be accessible during daylight hours year-round, though seasonal activities like ice skating follow winter hours.
Tickets & Pricing
Event tickets are handled through the standard digital ticketing platforms, and mobile entry is the norm here, so have your phone charged and your tickets loaded before you arrive. Buying in advance is worth it for Pacers games and major concerts, where walk-up availability can be thin. Season-ticket holders and suite guests enter through dedicated lanes that skip the general queue, while everyone else funnels through the main gates. Tour reservations need to be booked at least two weeks ahead through the venue's official site. Relative to other NBA arenas, ticket costs for Pacers games tend to sit in the moderate range, making it more accessible than watching a game in a coastal market.
Best Time to Visit
Pacers games from November through April are the marquee draw, and a Friday or Saturday night game brings the most electric atmosphere. That said, weeknight games are noticeably easier to navigate, with shorter lines at security and concessions and a calmer walk from your parking spot. If you are visiting Indianapolis specifically to see the Fieldhouse and do not need an event, the Tuesday and Thursday tour slots give you full access to areas the public never sees. Summer and early fall bring concerts and special events, so the building stays active even outside basketball season.
Suggested Duration
Arrive an hour early for events. Clear security, grab food, explore the concourses. A Pacers game runs roughly two and a half hours. Budget about four hours door to door. Tours last approximately 90 minutes. Visiting just the Bicentennial Unity Plaza and exterior? 30 to 45 minutes gives you a comfortable look around.
Getting There
Gainbridge Fieldhouse sits on South Pennsylvania Street in downtown Indianapolis. This makes it one of the easier major arenas to reach on foot. Most downtown hotels are within a 10- to 15-minute walk. You will pass Monument Circle coming from the north side. Driving is straightforward since interstates feed directly into downtown.
Parking on event nights fills fast. Check garage availability ahead of time. Several privately operated garages and surface lots surround the arena. Costs climb as you get closer to the building. City bus routes serve stops nearby. This avoids parking hassle entirely. It tends to be the most budget-friendly option. Rideshare drop-offs work well.
Expect a short walk from designated zones on busy nights. The Fieldhouse is not connected to the downtown skywalk system. On cold or rainy nights you will walk outdoors. Dress for the weather. Then dress a layer warmer. The arena itself runs cool inside.
Things to Do Nearby
The true center of downtown Indianapolis sits just a few blocks north. The limestone monument rises high enough to anchor the city skyline. An observation deck at its top has a panoramic view of surrounding streets. It pairs well with a pre-game walk. The circle is lined with restaurants and shops. These give you somewhere to kill time before doors open.
This massive stadium sits about a mile southwest. It is connected to the convention center. Home to the Indianapolis Colts. Catching a Pacers game one night and a Colts game the next is a logistically easy double header. Few American cities can match this.
A diagonal stretch of galleries, restaurants, cocktail bars, and independent shops runs northeast from downtown. The sidewalks smell like coffee and pizza dough. Storefronts are painted in colors loud enough to catch your eye from a block away. It is the best post-event destination. Skip the hotel bar. Come here instead.
This stretch of Virginia Avenue sits about a mile southeast of the Fieldhouse. It holds some of Indianapolis's most acclaimed dining. The walk takes you through Fountain Square. Neon signs and old brick buildings give these streets character. The downtown core lacks this. A pre-game dinner here followed by a walk to the arena makes for a solid evening.
Victory Field sits just west of downtown in White River State Park. It is home to the Indianapolis Indians minor-league baseball team. During baseball season, catch an afternoon Indians game and an evening Pacers game. This is an underrated Indianapolis double feature. Victory Field is widely considered one of the finest minor-league parks in the country.
Tips & Advice
Tours & Activities at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
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