Source: Indianapolis Monthly
After witnessing Friday’s overtime victory over the Portland Trailblazers in person, the Indiana Pacers bolster the NBA’s best home record of 24-2. The record reflects the electricity in Bakers Life Fieldhouse’s home crowd, an arena filled with homegrown Indiana passion. With 8 seconds left in a game against the second best team in the western conference, George Hill forced overtime with a three-point basket; needless to say, the building erupted. However, there would not be as many fans jumping out of their seats only a few seasons ago. In 2011, the Pacers had the worst home attendance in the NBA and numbers were not that much better as recently as last season. But the Pacers were set on track to a have a successful home court four seasons ago with the addition of Roy Hibbert’s own Area 55.
Area 55 is section number 55 in Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and was established for the goal of home court dominance. The section is filled with 55 fans, accompanied by friends and family, who were hand chosen for free tickets by the center himself. The point was to bring a college atmosphere to the NBA. Like Duke’s Cameron Crazies or Indiana’s Hoosier Hysteria, college basketball is chockfull of arenas with passionate fans that bring true home court advantage. However, many NBA analysts believe that the home crowd does not transfer to the professional game. This notion is challenged by Area 55 and the recently created G2 Zone, which is supported by the team’s Paul George and George Hill. As chosen fans, the participants equip themselves with outrageous costumes, signage, and booming cheers that can rival almost any arena in basketball.
Whether you believe that the home crowd can influence an NBA game or not, the creation of Area 55 changed the atmosphere at Pacer’s home games. Bankers Life Fieldhouse will always be filled with fans that have passion and care about the team, and I think that this translates into success on the court. When a team knows that their fans will be there- cheering when they hit the big shot, booing at the questionable foul call, silent during the free throw- there must be a comfort which elevates the players’ game.
Beyond The Glory 