Indiana Fever Stadium: Gainbridge Fieldhouse History, Facilities and More

The Indiana Fever Stadium is Gainbridge Fieldhouse, a state-of-the-art arena with significant ties to basketball's deep roots in Indiana. Answering the question, Where is Indiana Fever stadium located, it is in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, at 125 South Pennsylvania Street and is considered as the Fever's true home ground because it was designed specifically with basketball in mind, unlike many multi-purpose arenas. Gainbridge Fieldhouse opened in November 1999, the year before the Fever's inaugural WNBA season in 2000, making it their exclusive home court since the franchise's inception.

Indiana Fever Stadium History

Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the esteemed home of the Indiana Fever, opened its doors on November 6, 1999, originally under the name Conseco Fieldhouse. It marked a significant upgrade for Indianapolis's sports landscape, replacing the Market Square Arena. Market Square Arena, which had served as the home for the Indiana Pacers since 1974, was becoming outdated by the late 1990s. There were many limitations in providing modern facilities to the fans, particularly the inability to accommodate the expanding demand for luxury suites, which had become a crucial revenue stream for professional sports venues. Its demolition in 2001, just two years after Conseco Fieldhouse opened, symbolized a clear shift towards modern, fan-experience-driven arenas.

Conseco Fieldhouse underwent its first name change in December 2011, becoming Bankers Life Fieldhouse when CNO Financial Group acquired Conseco's naming rights. Most recently, in September 2021, the Indiana Fever arena was rebranded to its current name, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, following a new partnership with the Indianapolis-based financial services platform.

Indiana Fever Stadium Capacity

As per the recent estimation, we can say that Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Indiana Fever play, is a pretty amazing place for basketball! The Indiana Fever Stadium capacity is around 18,000 fans, which is a big deal for WNBA games. When that many people show up, the atmosphere becomes energetic with super loud cheers and super energetic, giving the Fever a real home-court boost that can totally rattle the other team and fire up our players. Even though it's a huge arena, the design of the Indiana Fever Stadium was made focusing on a classic "fieldhouse" feel, aiming to make even a large crowd feel intimate and connected to the action on the court.

The recent surge in popularity, particularly with the arrival of Caitlin Clark, has led to huge demand for Fever games. Many Indiana Fever games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse have achieved full attendance or sold out, especially matchups against popular teams or those featuring star players like the Las Vegas Aces and Chicago Sky.

Highest Scoring Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

The highest-scoring game at the Indiana Fever Stadium was a combined score of 187 points when the Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury 98-89 on August 16, 2024. This was the Fever's highest-scoring game of that season at their home arena.

The game was a display of offensive firepower from both sides. As we know that for the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark led the charge with a standout performance, recording her 10th double-double of the season with 29 points and 10 assists, along with five rebounds. She was incredibly efficient from the free-throw line, going 9-of-10, and hit four three-pointers. Kelsey Mitchell also tied her season-high with 28 points, draining six three-pointers in the process, and passed Allie Quigley for 17th on the all-time made three-point field goals list. Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively, with both pulling down nine rebounds.

On the Phoenix Mercury's side, Kahleah Copper had a game-high 32 points, complemented by eight rebounds and six assists. Natasha Cloud added 19 points with five three-pointers, and Diana Taurasi contributed 16 points. As we have seen, the Fever jumped out to a significant lead early, scoring 33 points in the first quarter and holding a 54-37 advantage at halftime, ultimately maintaining their lead to secure the victory.

Indiana Fever Record at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Stadium

The Indiana Fever home stadium showcases the growth of the team from season to season. While their overall win-loss record at the arena isn't consistently dominant throughout their history, the Fieldhouse has been the backdrop for their most memorable successes.

Notably, Indiana Fever Stadium was the site of the Fever's greatest achievement, which is their 2012 WNBA Championship victory. In the decisive Game 4 of the Finals, the Fever defeated the Minnesota Lynx 87-78 on their home court, securing their first and only league title. As we have seen, they also made deep playoff runs and reached the WNBA Finals at Gainbridge in 2009 and 2015, though they ultimately fell short in those series. The arena has consistently hosted numerous playoff games during its strong stretch of 12 consecutive postseason appearances from 2005-2016.

Some of the importance of playing in the home court is that playing in front of a supportive, often sell-out crowd at Indiana Fever Arena provides the Fever with a significant psychological boost, generating energy, intimidating opponents, and influencing momentum.

Indiana Fever Championship History at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

The Indiana Fever has celebrated one WNBA Championship at their home arena, Gainbridge Fieldhouse (then known as Bankers Life Fieldhouse). As we know, they have achieved this championship by defeating the Minnesota Lynx in 2012.

As per the 2012 game stats, we can say that it was a great season for the Fever, as they got the chance to show their skills and strengths, particularly that of Tamika Catchings, who would be named the Finals MVP. Under the coach Lin Dunn, they finished the regular season with a 22-12 record, earning the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference. Their playoff journey faced elimination twice in prior rounds against the Atlanta Dream and Connecticut Sun, only to battle back and win decisive Game 3s.

In the WNBA Finals against the defending champion Minnesota Lynx, who held home-court advantage, the Fever showed their mettle. After splitting the first two games on the road, Indiana returned to Gainbridge Fieldhouse with the series tied 1-1. They dominated Game 3, winning 76-59, with Shavonte Zellous delivering a then-career-high 30 points. Then, in the championship-clinching Game 4 on October 21, 2012, in front of a roaring home crowd, the Fever defeated the Lynx 87-78. Tamika Catchings led the team by securing 25 points and finally securing the team's first and only WNBA title on their home court.

Upcoming Indiana Fever Sports Performance Centre

The Indiana Fever is all set to open a million Sports Performance Center, a dedicated, state-of-the-art training facility designed exclusively for the team. This impressive new complex will span 108,000 square feet and is expected to break ground in August 2025, with a projected opening timeline set for before the 2027 WNBA season.

As per information, it will include two regulation-sized basketball courts for practice, along with extensive strength and conditioning areas. Beyond traditional training, it emphasizes players' well-being with a full-service kitchen for customized nutrition, a spa-like retreat offering massage, infrared light therapy, saunas, steam rooms, a float tank, and hydrotherapy pools for recovery. There will also be dedicated yoga and Pilates studios, mental performance spaces, a private outdoor courtyard, and even lifestyle amenities like a hair and nail salon, childcare space, and a content production studio.

We can say this investment of the team in the sports center is a game changer for player development, as this move shows how much they take care of their athletes by giving them the best resources to succeed in the WNBA and achieve championships for the team.