Indiana Pacers Tickets - Hard Times in Indy for Both Pacers and City

Things aren't looking great for the Indiana Pacers, and we're talking something fiercer than the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl in 2004 that literally got fans in Detroit up out of their seats and into the action. Yes, the Pacers are in trouble again, but this time it's not just because of the team's soiled reputation. It turns out this current economic crisis has been affecting more than just middleclass America, and Indiana Pacers co-owner Herb Simon has recently been subject to both economic turmoil and bad timing (whether or not those two are related is up for individual speculation).

In a statement made this week, Simon let Hoosiers know how badly Conseco Fieldhouse has been losing money, slipping further into the cracks of debt. Simon claimed that the Pacers have lost money in nine of the last 10 years (including the year the Pacers made the NBA Finals), and Pacers Sports & Entertainment president Jim Morris confirmed Simon's claims, stating that the Pacers have lost $200 million since the Simon brothers bought the franchise in 1983. The point of Simon's public talk this week was to bring to the attention of the Indiana public the possibility of further funding, calling upon citizens to possibly even make up for some of this debt in tax money before the team relocates or is forced to go under.

This, of course, has been a controversial and very touchy subject to the same city that just funded a large chunk of the massive Lucas Oil Stadium, the new home of the Indianapolis Colts, and perhaps this football palace is partly to blame for leaving Conseco Fieldhouse in its shadow (literally), making it hard to sell Indiana Pacers tickets. Conseco continues to be an Indiana landmark and top tourist attraction to the city, and losing this venue would potentially be catastrophic for downtown Indianapolis. Regardless, the Indiana Pacers are now in the middle of a push-and-pull deal that left Herb Simon scratching his head, telling the Indiana public that the future of the Pacers in Indianapolis might be murky in the upcoming years. While not threatening to move the Pacers elsewhere, Simon made a statement that "there comes a point where you have to say, 'Maybe I can't do this anymore.' Certainly my family, if I'm not here, is not going to be able to do it."

Simon's speech reiterated the point that the Pacers have been losing substantial amounts of money and will need some sort of game plan to boost the team's revenue in the near future. This is all coming up now because of a clause in the Pacers' lease signed in 1999 allowing the team to renegotiate with Indianapolis' Capital Improvement Board after 10 years, leaving this year to make some crucial moves.

Unfortunately for the brothers Simon, the Indiana Pacers are having a less-than stellar year and are in last place in the Eastern Conference's Central Division with a 28-38 record. Injuries have plagued the Pacers all season long, and this seems to be one team that just cannot catch a break. Pacers fans continue to be loyal, however, and things may not turn out to be as grim as they're currently being projected to be. If you want to prove your faithfulness to Pacer blue and yellow, get tickets to a game online and head down to the glorious Conseco Fieldhouse to catch Danny Granger and Co. in action!

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