Pacers' latest City Edition uniform drops, celebrates Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Nike unveiled the additional uniform for 29 teams on Thursday. The Pacers will wear its City Edition uniform seven times, beginning Nov. 12, during the 2022-23 season.

The front of the Pacers’ City Uniform for the 2022-23 season. (Photo: Nike)

The Pacers’ annual City Edition uniform became official Thursday when Nike unveiled the latest additions to team’s equipment rooms — and soon to the hardwood. This comes three weeks after a jersey photo from retail store first circulated and then was confirmed by Fieldhouse Files.

They will be worn for the first time at Saturday’s game against the Toronto Raptors, the final game of a four-game homestand. The Pacers will wear them seven times in all this season.

It becomes their fourth uniform option, along with the the Association (white), Icon (navy) and Statement (yellow) Editions.

“The 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform collection showcases the unique history and culture behind NBA teams, their cities and their shared bond with NBA fans around the world,” Christopher Arena, Head of On-Court and Brand Partnerships at the NBA, said in a statement.

This is the sixth consecutive season for City uniforms, which are replaced annually. No, these aren’t usually sketched together in a weekend. It takes time and includes many approval stages.

This is how the process has been explained to me:

Teams, in partnership with Nike, may have a lead time of two years. So they’re already working ahead on jerseys for the next few seasons. Nike sets a theme and may instruct a team on a direction to go. According to sources, the Pacers passed on Nike’s original design and then worked quickly to craft an alternative around the theme “Built For Basketball” and with the messaging involving renovations, which applies to Gainbridge Fieldhouse as much as it does with the roster.

They’ll wear these uniforms in seven games this season. (Photo: PS&E)

The Pacers are nearly finished with a $360 million renovation project that was completed over three years.

From Nike, here are the bullet points on the Pacers’ newest uniform.

• Amongst the cathedrals of basketball throughout the state that grew basketball, the Indiana Pacers 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform celebrates the past and present of Gainbridge Fieldhouse with the theme “Built for Basketball”

• Consistently noted as an architectural crown jewel and the premier venue in the country to experience live basketball, this year marks the official completion of a multi-year renovation.

• A renovation that elevated the building to provide players a distinct home-court advantage and an unmatched game night experience for fans.

• The uniform honors Gainbridge Fieldhouse’s iconic elements with a sleek design that also celebrates the new. A glimpse of the future, with a nod to the past.

• The nearly black pitch blue base is a striking departure from previous uniforms and serves as a foundation for a modern team and building. The gold truss spanning the chest and down the legs of the shorts mimic its distinct structure. The jock tag featuring “We Grow Basketball Here” harkens back to the flipper board fashion that was a staple for communicating game schedules at the older fieldhouse and beloved by fans.

• The shorts feature a new Built for Basketball badge honoring the state’s rich basketball history speaking both the building itself and the building of a team ready to pace a new legacy for the Indiana Pacers.

Of note: It’s different seeing black on the Pacers’ uniform. Their official team colors are navy, yellow and cool gray. The colors for this uniform are Loyal Blue (PMS 2766) and Pitch Blue (PMS 433).

(I think this uniform will look better on a player than in a studio photo. I reached out to the Pacers to see if they have one — and if so, I’ll add it to this story.)

Here’s what the other City Edition uniforms look like for the other 28 teams. The Utah Jazz are the only team without one.