Pacers hosting 2022 draft party at northside bar
On Thursday, June 23, fans are invited to The District Tap Northside for the NBA Draft.
A Pacers draft party is the latest thing to return following the pandemic. With the team having three selections, including No. 6 being their highest pick since 1988, fans are welcome to join the Pacers’ official viewing party.
On Monday, a little more than two weeks before the NBA Draft, the Pacers sent out invitations to the free party to its mailing list. And there’s a Facebook event for it.
The Details
When: Thursday, June 23 beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: The District Tap Northside; 3720 E 82nd St 46204
For: Pacers fans 21 and older
Cost: Free to attend
Guests: Former players, Pacemates
Note: The draft will be televised nationally on ESPN.
I distinctly remember being at a huge draft party back in 2010. First of all, it was so long ago that the Twitter image I posted is no longer available in the tweet I sent out because it was with a third-party. (So I posted it above.)
The Fieldhouse has also been renamed twice since then.
It was held at The Fieldhouse and they had the 10th overall pick. Gordon Hayward was taken by the Jazz at 9, then the Pacers selected Paul George.
The reaction then heard by fans wasn’t “boo!” … it was “who? PG played at Fresno State in California so the majority of fans had never seen him play.
By my count, this is the first public draft party since 2015, when the team was in the lottery and selected center Myles Turner 11th overall.
Last year, a private event was held at Carmel's Midtown Plaza.
And in 2020, the team provided season-ticket holders with a video packed with interviews with players and then-coach Nate Bjorkgren.