Haliburton and Clark Drive Parent Company to Record-Breaking Financial Success

The Indiana Pacers star guard, Tyrese Haliburton, recently graced the Indiana Fever's home court during their last game, as he often attends Fever matches to witness the performances of his colleague and friend, Caitlin Clark. In a reciprocal gesture, Fever players Aliyah Boston and Makayla Timpson, among others, were present at the Pacers' playoff game against the Knicks. This mutual support between the basketball teams, both managed by Pacers Sports & Entertainment, showcases an organic camaraderie.

"We're fortunate," said CEO Mel Raines of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, in a phone interview. "Our players are good people who genuinely like each other. The teams complement each other, but it all started with Caitlin and Tyrese's friendship."

Clark and Haliburton's friendship, often evident off the court, significantly contributed to the financial growth of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. With season ticket sales, broadcast deals, new sponsors, and renewals behind both teams' second consecutive season in the national spotlight, the organization is poised for a record-breaking revenue year.

The Fever, under the guidance of head coach Stephanie White and bolstered by the addition of six-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner, have sold out their season ticket allotment for the second consecutive year. Since the arrival of Clark, who catalyzed an explosion of growth across the league, the Fever have also attracted a handful of new sponsors, including Old National Bank, Chicken Salad Chick, and LaCroix.

This successful trajectory, coupled with the Pacers' potential advancement in the Eastern Conference finals, position Pacers Sports & Entertainment for a profitable year. While 2023-24 saw the Pacers fall to the Boston Celtics in the same round, increased playoff home games offer significant revenue opportunities.

Notably, the Fever have 41 of their 44 regular season games on national television, making them one of the most in-demand WNBA teams for hoodies, shirts, and jerseys. The Fever proactively planned their e-commerce strategy six months in advance, prepared to capitalize on their growing fanbase's interest in merchandise.

The Pacers' playoff success also bolsters their parent company, as they hold a commanding 3-1 lead against the Knicks in the conference finals. The team's deep playoff run, coming on the heels of last year's conference finals appearance, benefits both the Pacers and their sister team, the Fever, as they aspire to become "America's Team" behind arguably the game's most popular player, Clark.

Indianapolis has recently garnered attention, with race winner Álex Palou making an appearance during Game 3 of the Knicks-Pacers series. Pacers Sports & Entertainment, which also operates the G-League squad Noblesville Boom, hosted Palou and other celebrities. As celebrities continue to be drawn to Fever games, the community believes they possess sufficient star power with a core led by Haliburton and Clark.

Both teams operate under a shared services business model, owned by shopping center mogul and real estate developer Herb Simon. Recognized as the longest-tenured owner in NBA history, Simon has owned the Pacers since 1983 and the Fever for 26 years. Although he has yet to witness either team win a championship, the current season presents an opportunity for the Pacers to change that.

Raines emphasized, "We want to make our ownership proud. We want to make them proud every day, both on and off the court."

The financial growth of Pacers Sports & Entertainment has been significantly boosted by the friendship between Tyrese Haliburton and Caitlin Clark.
With season ticket sales, broadcast deals, new sponsors, and renewals, Pacers Sports & Entertainment is anticipating a record-breaking revenue year.
The Fever, under the guidance of Stephanie White and with the addition of DeWanna Bonner, have sold out their season ticket allotment for the second consecutive year and have attracted new sponsors such as Old National Bank, Chicken Salad Chick, and LaCroix.
The successful trajectory of the Fever and the Pacers' potential advancement in the Eastern Conference finals positions Pacers Sports & Entertainment for a profitable year.
The Fever's 41 regular-season games on national television make them one of the most in-demand WNBA teams for merchandise, and they have implemented an e-commerce strategy to capitalize on their growing fanbase's interest in merchandise.
The Pacers, under the ownership of Herb Simon, recognize the opportunity the current season presents to win a championship and make their ownership proud, both on and off the court.