The Indiana All-Stars are alive and well despite what some would have our fans believe.
Growing our crowd from 5,095 in 2008 to 6,250 for the All-Star doubleheader against Kentucky in Bankers Life Fieldhouse in 2014, to go along with our boys and girls consistently beating Kentucky is a GOOD thing.
This is the message that we need to get out as we continue to bring people back to the games.
The Indiana National Guard, the IBCA Scholarship Fund and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame are among the beneficiaries of the game’s continued growth. We were able to make significant donations to all three groups. This growth has been a direct result of Steve Witty and the IBCA’s administrating the games the last few years.
The “All-Star Game Day Shootout” has gone from 24 teams in 2009 to 84 teams this past June. We not only are growing the participation level, we are making it even better. Lids donated four sets of practice gear as door prizes and, with the support of our sponsors (IBCA, Lids, McDonald’s, Best Choice Fieldhouse, Ben Davis High School and Methodist Sports Medicine), we have kept the cost of being a part of the Game Day Shootout to just $8 per player/coach (for that amount, teams receive entry into the Shootout and two games, T-shirts for their players/coaches and All-Star game tickets for their players/coaches valued at $16 each). If you would be interested in having your team participate in 2015 (tentatively June 13), please let me know at chall33@msn.com.
We are just starting a season-ticket drive for the 2015 All-Star game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. With the help of Rick Fuson and the Pacers, we are offering a 10-year ticket price freeze, preferred seat selection and a complimentary parking pass. We will release a form in the IBCA’s spring e-newsletter that will allow you to sign up for this package.
For families with children, we had goals set up in the Bankers Life Fieldhouse pavilion so youngsters could shoot for a T-shirt. Also, Freddy Fever was in attendance to offer additional game-day entertainment. We are going to continue to improve the game-day experience.
I am really excited about the direction we’re headed, and, as always, we appreciate the IBCA’s efforts as an organization.
In closing, I would be remiss in not thanking Eric Thornton, Amy Brauman, Gretchen Miles, David Benter, Clint Swan and James Blackman for their efforts with the Seniors along with Jamie Kolkmeier, Chad Ballenger, Brent Keck, Kristi Kaniewski Ulrich, Donna Keck and Terry Rademacher with the Juniors.
Hope to see you at the games in 2015!
Charlie Hall
