Gainbridge Fieldhouse Game Day Guide
Indiana Pacers · Indianapolis, IN
Know Before You Go
- Bag policy
Backpacks, hard-sided bags, and bags larger than 6 x 10 x 2 inches are prohibited.
A medical-equipment bag may be only as large as needed for the required device. All guests and bags are subject to security screening.
- Bag storage
Oversized bags may be stored for a fee, subject to availability, at the Hyatt Place Indianapolis Downtown valet bell desk across from the Fieldhouse.
The off-site desk is at 130 S. Pennsylvania Street. Prohibited items found during screening must otherwise be discarded or returned to safe storage away from the venue.
- Gate opening
Pacers door times vary by game; verify the specific event listing or call Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 317-917-2500 before traveling.
- Mobile tickets
Gainbridge Fieldhouse uses mobile tickets displayed on a phone; tickets are not emailed for printing, and screenshots are not accepted.
Use the Pacers or Ticketmaster app or Ticketmaster mobile web, then add tickets to the phone wallet before arrival. Transfer tickets in advance when a group will enter separately.
- Re-entry
All exits beyond the ticket point are final; guests cannot leave a Pacers game and re-enter.
- Prohibited items
Prohibited items include alcohol and illegal drugs, recording gear and professional cameras, backpacks and oversized or hard-sided bags, projectiles, cans and coolers, offensive clothing, drones, fireworks, lasers, tactical gear, face coverings, noisemakers, view-obstructing objects, outside food or drink, pepper spray, poles, oversized or pole-mounted signs, skates, selfie sticks, and weapons.
Management may reject other items and may change the list for a specific event.
- First aid
The primary First Aid station is on the Main Concourse near Section 7, with additional stations staffed for some events.
Every arena level has an AED. Report an emergency to the nearest usher, security officer, Guest Services representative, or staff member.
- Nursing and lactation
Mothers Rooms are on the Main Concourse at Section 2 and on the Krieg DeVault Level at Section 119 beside Guest Services.
- Family restrooms
Gender-neutral restrooms are near KeyBank Suite 1, Main Concourse Section 2, Krieg DeVault Section 109, and Balcony Sections 204 and 216.
Changing tables are in accessible stalls of men's and women's restrooms on every level and in gender-neutral restrooms.
- Tickets for children
A child needs a Pacers ticket once the child reaches 24 months old; a ticket is also required for any child who will use a separate seat.
- Guest services
Guest Services desks are in the Entry Pavilion at the Delaware Street entrance, Main Concourse Section 2, Krieg DeVault Section 119, and across from Balcony Sections 206/207.
For a discreet in-game report, text the issue to 707-TIMEOUT (707-846-3688).
- Service animals
Individually trained service dogs are welcome and must remain under the handler's control and within the guest's seating area.
A dog may be removed if it is uncontrolled or not housebroken. Contact GuestServices@Pacers.com for accommodation questions.
- Smoking and vaping
Gainbridge Fieldhouse is smoke-free, including pipes, e-cigarettes, and vaporizers, and smoking is prohibited within eight feet of entrances and exits.
Designated outdoor smoking terraces remain inside the ticket point, just outside the southwest stairwells on the KeyBank Level.
Game Day Timeline
What the day looks like at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, hour by hour.
Arrive downtown
Park in a nearby garage (connected via skywalk) or walk from a downtown hotel. Explore the canal walk or South Meridian restaurants.
Pregame dining
Kilroy's, Yard House, or St. Elmo Steak House are popular pregame spots. Georgia Street has casual bar options.
Doors open
Enter Gainbridge Fieldhouse and watch warm-ups. Check out the Pacers heritage displays and team store.
Find your seat
Settle in. The arena has a compact, intimate feel for 17,923 seats.
Game time
Indiana basketball fans are knowledgeable and passionate. The crowd knows the game. Games run about 2-2.5 hours.
Halftime break
Hit the concourse for pork tenderloin sandwiches and Sun King beers.
Post-game scene
Walk to Georgia Street or South Meridian for postgame drinks. Use the skywalk to your hotel or garage.
Tips & Fan Reports
Be there 30 minutes before doors open if you want a good spot in line. Doors are usually 1.5-2 hours before tip. Go to the far line on the left since it moves faster.
Mass Ave arts district (10 min walk) has the best pregame dining and cocktail bars in Indy.
Indianapolis's enclosed skywalk system connects many downtown hotels directly to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. No need to go outside.
The skywalk system is Indianapolis's secret weapon. Walk from hotel to garage to arena without going outside.
Georgia Street (connected to the arena) becomes a pedestrian promenade on game nights with food and entertainment.
Indiana is a basketball state. The crowd is knowledgeable. They appreciate good basketball from both teams.
Pacers tickets are among the most affordable in the NBA. Great value.
A single-compartment drawstring bag meeting the NBA size is the only backpack that gets in.
A clutch at 6 by 9 by 1.5 inches is the ceiling, and hard-sided bags are refused at any size.
Park in the Virginia Avenue Garage and cross on the third-floor sky bridge. It matters in an Indianapolis winter.
Before the Game
Gainbridge Fieldhouse sits at 125 South Pennsylvania Street in downtown Indianapolis and publishes no tailgating policy. It has no lot to hold one in. Its bag rule is among the tightest anywhere: 6 by 9 by 1.5 inches, a small clutch, for every event. Backpacks are refused apart from single-compartment drawstring bags meeting the NBA size, hard-sided bags are out at any size, and purses or diaper bags that look like backpacks are handled case by case. Door times vary by event rather than following a standard rule, so they need checking per game. The closest covered parking is the Virginia Avenue Garage at 155 Delaware Street, entered off Maryland Street and joined to the building by a sky bridge on the third floor.
Where to Go Before the Game
Virginia Avenue Parking Garage, 155 Delaware Street
On the northeast corner of the building and the closest covered parking, entered off Maryland Street and connected to the Fieldhouse by a covered sky bridge on the third floor, so you never step outside.
Known for Closest covered parking · Entrance off Maryland Street · Sky bridge on level 3
The Plaza doors, Pennsylvania and Delaware Streets
The street-level way in for anyone not coming through the garage bridge. The ADA drop-off zone is on Pennsylvania Street.
Known for Street entry · Pennsylvania & Delaware · ADA drop-off on Pennsylvania
Julia Carson Transit Center
Two blocks from the Fieldhouse, which makes the bus a genuine option rather than a fallback.
Known for 2 blocks away · Bus transit
Downtown Indianapolis parking
Garages and street parking throughout downtown within walking distance. Denison Parking handles parking and bus parking enquiries on (317) 916-1760.
Known for Walking distance · Street and garage · Denison Parking
Pregame Rules
What Gainbridge Fieldhouse allows before the game, and what it does not.
- The maximum bag size is 6" x 9" x 1.5", a small clutch-size purse, and this is the policy for all events.
- Backpacks are not allowed, except single-compartment drawstring bags meeting the NBA bag-size requirements, and media backpacks screened at the media entrance.
- Hard-sided bags, and any bag larger than 6" x 9" x 1.5", are not allowed.
- Purses and diaper bags that resemble backpacks but are sized and purposed differently are allowed case by case, subject to management approval.
- Door opening times vary by event and should be checked against the specific event.
- The Fieldhouse is at 125 South Pennsylvania Street. Guests may enter via the Virginia Ave. Parking Garage bridge, or the Plaza doors from Pennsylvania and Delaware Streets.
- The Virginia Avenue Parking Garage at 155 Delaware St, on the northeast corner, is the closest covered parking, entered off Maryland Street and connected by a covered sky bridge on the third floor.
- The ADA drop-off zone is on Pennsylvania Street, and the Julia Carson Transit Center is two blocks away.
- Denison Parking can be contacted on (317) 916-1760 for parking or bus parking near the Fieldhouse.
Weather
Gainbridge Fieldhouse is indoor, so these are the conditions for the parking lot and the walk in, not the seats.
Across the NBA season the warmest month is October, with an average high of 65°F, and the coldest is January, when the average low is 19°F. April is the wettest month at 4.5 inches and January the driest at 3.1 inches.
That January low ranks 3rd coldest of the 30 NBA venues, and April here ranks 8th wettest.
October
3.2 inchesDecember
3.3 inchesJanuary
3.1 inchesMarch
3.7 inchesApril
4.5 inchesWhat to Bring
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Outside food and drinks are prohibited, but baby formula and plastic baby bottles are permitted.
- A card or a phone wallet
Gainbridge Fieldhouse is cashless and accepts credit cards and contactless payments such as Apple Pay at every point of purchase.
- A coat for the walk in
January lows average 19°F between the lot and the door at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
- A rain layer for the walk in
April averages 4.5 inches of rain outside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Game day timeline
Official venue page / team game day guide
- Pregame
Gainbridge Fieldhouse official site: A-Z Guide, What to Know Before You Go, and Directions & Parking
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
- Venue policies
Current Gainbridge Fieldhouse A-Z, accessibility, prohibited-items, parking, visitor, and dining guidance reviewed for Indiana Pacers policies.