INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — NBA All-Star Weekend organizers announced Wednesday that the popular Saturday Night Skills Challenges will take place Feb. 17 at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts.
The league’s 73rd All-Star Game will be played the next day at the Indiana Pacers.
Splitting the stadiums nearly doubles the seating capacity, from approximately 17,200 for NBA games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, to 35,000 for slam dunk contests and 3-point contests among other events. And because the skill challenges will be held at the south end of Lucas Oil Stadium, The north end of the stadium opens for concerts.
Organizers have not yet announced the entertainment lineup for All-Star Weekend.
The host committee said it would purchase 2,400 tickets to distribute to local organizations.
Indianapolis has hosted eight NCAA Men’s Final Fours with Lucas Oil Stadium hosting the event three times since its opening in 2008, most recently in 2021 when the entire NCAA tournament was played to limited capacity in Indiana during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Saturday night State Farm All Star is one of the most exciting and entertaining nights in all of sports, and staging it at Lucas Oil Stadium, one of football’s most iconic venues that is also thoughtfully designed for basketball events, enables us to make that happen,” said Rick Fosson, President. CEO of Pacers Sports and Entertainment, “it’s more accessible than ever to our community.”
The host committee announced that IndyGo bus tours will also be free from February 15-18 with extended night service.
Indianapolis was initially selected to host the 2021 All-Star Game, which was played in Atlanta in March due to COVID-19 protocols. This is the second time the city has hosted the NBA All-Star Game – the first since it was held in 1985 at the then RCA Dome.
Skill Challenge Celebration Tickets It goes on sale July 24th.
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