Turner’s Block is a family within Bankers Life Fieldhouse for Indiana Pacers fans
By Evan Graham
As the Indiana Pacers’ season comes closer and closer, there will be loud noises in the field house once again.
The Indiana Pacers announced that Myles Turner and T.J. Warren will have fan zones this season at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. As many fans wanted, the Pacers and Turner will bring back Turner’s Block for another season and then Warren will bring Warren’s Warr1ors for the first time.
Player-sponsored fan zones have been making noise in the Fieldhouse for some time, with Turner’s Block now returning for its fourth season. In the past, Bankhouse Life has hosted The G2 Zone (Paul George and George Hill), Area 55 (Roy Hibbert), The Born Ready Crew (by Lance Stephenson), and The Blue and Gold Zone (by the Pacers themselves).
How to Get In
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When sign-ups come around, there is a process for fans to get involved. When first signing up, they ask you for basic information and a picture or video showing your Pacers pride, and if you would like half or full season tickets if selected.
After that is complete, they will choose between individuals and ask for you to audition in front of the players. This year, of course, Pacers fans will be auditioning in front of Turner and Warren themselves.
Last year, Pacers fans had to audition in front of Turner, Turner’s mother, Edmond Sumner, and two Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
Now that sign-ups have closed for this upcoming season, this week will decide who’s in and who’s out. This Thursday, participants will be auditioning to be in either Turner’s Block or Warrens Warr1ors. The amount of fans that want to participate has increased in recent years, which means more competition for those who plan on returning.
Being Noticed
As an article from IndyStar detailed, the crowd gets creative:
"To fill in the empty audio space, sure, Turner’s Block will throw out an “O-ver-a-ted.” Or to mock an NBA veteran who misses the rim, the fans will sing out “Airrrrrrrrrball.” There are times, they even shout the same mantra high school cheerleaders use “De-fense. De-fense” or “M-I-S-S-I-T — Miss it.”"
Turner’s Block has gotten national attention from media outlets for jeers that it starts toward star players when they come to town.
When LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers came to Indy following rumors that a majority of the young Lakers core was on the trading block in return for Anthony Davis, (then of the New Orleans Pelicans) Turner’s Block took advantage of the opportunity.
https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1092947061585182721
Personal Experience
Personally, I have been in Turner’s Block for the past three seasons and trying for a fourth. The excitement of being around so many other people who share a similar passion is amazing.
The atmosphere outside of the sections is great. There are so many other people who share the same love and passion for the team not in the fan zone.
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Bankers Life Fieldhouse is basically one big fan section that has some loud outliers. Being in the section for multiple years gives people another family. Within the section, there are so many different types of people.