When the Pacers brought in 36 different players for pre-draft workouts, they couldn’t use or tour the locker room. When players already on roster remained in town to work out, they couldn’t use the locker room. When the Pacers brought in their two draft picks, Myles Turner and Joe Young, the rookies couldn’t check out their new lockers.
That’s because the organization is making major upgrades to their locker room at Bankers Life Fieldhouse for the first time since the building opened in November, 1999.
(Under coach Jim O’Brien, a players lounge was converted into a film room.)
That includes the main locker room area, weight room, video room and equipment room. It’s not that they were unusable, but that they were due for upgrades to better serve the team and appeal to players.
The construction has been ongoing this offseason. That has forced staff members to work in a locker room area across the hall. That has sent the coaching staff to another private area.
But once it is done, the place should look much sharper and adapt to the ever-changing NBA environment.
A few construction photos:
The Pacers’ locker room isn’t the only area at Bankers Life Fieldhouse getting a facelift. Over the last year many other areas have been renovated including, but not limited to: Fever locker room, the concourses, marketing office, the Krieg DeVault Club Level, and the entry pavilion. And soon, the team will announce a new naming rights deal for their practice court.
(On a personal note, I was disappointed to see the rotating flip-board in the pavilion above the box office replaced. It was memorable item and provided a unique feel to the Fieldhouse. Now in its place: a video board.)
More photos:
