Official: Pacers can't afford to run Conseco

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis Capital Improvement Board official is urging the city to take over the cost of operating Conseco Fieldhouse, saying the Indiana Pacers can no longer afford it.

The Indianapolis Star reported on its Web site Monday that board Vice President Pat Early said the Pacers are losing about $30 million this season and can't afford Conseco Fieldhouse's annual $15 million operating cost.

Early urged the board to take over the cost of running the fieldhouse to protect the health of the downtown Indianapolis economy.

"It's important that everyone understands the Pacers can't participate any more financially," Early said. "They are already participating with millions of dollars every year. We are going to have to find a solution."

Greg Schenkel, Pacers vice president of corporate and public relations, acknowledged the team had lost money for nine of the past 10 years. He said the Pacers were seeking help only with Conseco Fieldhouse's costs, not team expenses.

"We have responsibility for operation of the team, we're not asking anybody to absorb that," he said.

He said the team was working with the Capital Improvement Board to find a solution.

The team has suffered from lagging attendance and off-court troubles in recent years. The franchise's reputation began to decline with the brawl between Pacers players and Detroit Pistons fans in 2004, and it hasn't recovered despite a rebuilding of the team.

This weekend, the fieldhouse hosted the Women's Big Ten Basketball Tournament. On Thursday, the IU men's basketball team will face Penn State in the first round of the Men's Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the venue.

Monday's report came as the board faces a $43 million shortfall that includes $15 million for Conseco Fieldhouse and $20 million for Lucas Oil Stadium, the new home of the Indianapolis Colts.