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Larry Bird Makes Pit Stop in New York for Indiana Pacers 2021 All-Star Bid

By Ben Gibson

Apr 23, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers fans cheer who are standing behind Pacers president Larry BIrd and owner Herb Simon in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cleveland defeats Indiana 106-102. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers fans cheer who are standing behind Pacers president Larry BIrd and owner Herb Simon in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cleveland defeats Indiana 106-102. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Indiana Pacers and the city of Indianapolis are making their pitch for the 2021 All-Star Weekend, and Larry Bird showed up at the NBA offices in a IndyCar to deliver the bid.

With the 2021 NBA All-Star Weekend up for grabs, the city of Indianapolis and the Indiana Pacers decided that they needed to get commissioner Adam Silvers attention.

And what better way to show off some Indiana pride than to show up and the NBA’s offices in New York in a custom IndyCar?

Larry Bird rolled down 5th Avenue with a big smile on his face, something you don’t see everyday. That something could be the smile or the IndyCar on 5th Avenue, so you can interpret that to your liking.

Obviously this was a photo-op created to make a splash, but that doesn’t mean Bird didn’t enjoy himself according to Pacers.com.

"“The Indianapolis 500 is the largest one-day sporting event in the world and Larry Bird is a Hall of Famer. Put the two together going down 5th Avenue in New York – it’s a unique and fun thing.”The sight of the Hall of Famer from French Lick driving through downtown Manhattan made for an unforgettable photo op, but no one seemed to enjoy it more than Bird himself.“Only in New York,” Bird quipped. “You go through your life and you grow up hoping you get to do something special – That was really special. I enjoyed that and being here in New York made it even more special.”"

If their bid is successful, the All-Star Weekend will return to Indiana for the first time in 36 years. The city of Indianapolis last hosted the All-Star Game in 1985.

Having the All-Star Game won’t be cheap according to the Indianapolis Business Journal, but could give the area a $100 million boost.

"While the economic impact for the All-Star weekend could easily top $100 million, the host team alone would face expenses of up to $9 million in the two- to three-year run-up to the game, said Marc Ganis, president of Sportscorp Ltd., a Chicago-based sports business consultancy that does work for the NFL, NBA and several of those leagues’ teams.Soft costs, such as time-consuming demands on team staff, could run the bill even higher. “I wouldn’t underestimate the distraction this event will have on the entire [host] team’s staff,” Ganis said. “It can be all-consuming … for multiple years.”"

Next: Miller Time Podcast Episode #189: Bird’s the Word

With the franchise possibly in a state of flux as Paul George’s future uncertain, this is a bit of positive news after getting swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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