Pacers, Cunningham Group teaming up and announce details on upcoming Commission Row establishment

There's a new dining and entertainment space coming in downtown Indianapolis by the Pacers' fieldhouse and here's what you can expect.

Feb. 2023: A look at the construction of the new Commission Row, which is set to open in less than a year.

If you’ve been to a Pacers game this season, you’ve surely seen the ongoing construction to the north of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

In addition to the work being done on the Bicentennial Unity Plaza, which includes an outdoor basketball court, there’s new construction nearby. Pacers owner Herb Simon has invested millions in this new 30,000 square-foot building that is going up on what was a street-level parking lot.

Smart sports owners now own more than the team, they also own the real estate nearby and have turned game days into an experience.

New England’s Patriot Place — with shopping, dining and entertainment — first comes to mind. The Buck’s Deer District in downtown Milwaukee is outstanding, an area just outside Fiserv Forum with food, drinks and activities to partake in before, during and after games.

Don’t just come downtown for the game, they say. Make it an event itself with drinks before and maybe a late dinner afterward.

Perhaps this area north of The Fieldhouse will all eventually be referred to as Pacers Plaza or Pacers Place, simplified branding referencing this entertainment complex that is targeting Pacers and sports fans alike.

A rendering of Commission Row just north east of Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Photo: PS&E)

These several blocks in downtown Indy are all Pacers — from Gainbridge Fieldhouse to their practice facility (St. Vincent Center), additional office space, the plaza and now this dining establishment.

It’s going to be a speakeasy, a restaurant and an all-in-one event space, a place fans will enjoy and the team will surely use for events and team functions, such as hosting free agents.

It will be called Commission Row and operated by the Cunningham Restaurant Group, which locals will be familiar with because they run so many favorite local restaurants such as Bru Burger, Livery, Mesh, Modita, Union 50 and Vida. (Get your green VIP cards ready.)

Construction is expected to be completed in the next year, ahead of Indy hosting the 2024 NBA All-Star Game next February. I’m sure they’re already drawing up ideas for exclusive events, for media, Pacers season-ticket holders and the NBA.

The speakeasy will be called Mel’s, after the late former owner Mel Simon. (Photo: PS&E)

So what is it, specifically?

• Mel’s: A speakeasy in the basement named after the late Pacers owner, Herb’s brother. I love this idea and believe it’ll be the best part of this addition.

• Commission Row: A high-end steakhouse with locally-sourced steaks, chops, seafood and raw bar offerings on the main level. Indy can’t get enough steakhouses. All so good yet unique in their own way.

• Above: On the upper-level will be an event space capable of hosting more than 200 guests. Think special events, company parties, premium ticket sales events and weddings. There will be a separate entrance as well, which is important.

An exterior rendering of Commission Row from across Delaware Street, by the Virginia Ave garage. (Photo: PS&E)

More details from the press release via Pacers Sports & Entertainment:

INDIANAPOLIS – Pacers Sports & Entertainment has partnered with Indiana-based Cunningham Restaurant Group to operate Commission Row, the three-level dining and entertainment complex on Bicentennial Unity Plaza adjacent to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The project will include a basement-level speakeasy, Mel’s at Commission Row, as well as the street-level chophouse and seafood restaurant and an upper-level private event space, Above at Commission Row.

A high-end steakhouse featuring the best locally-sourced steaks, chops, seafood, and raw bar offerings, Commission Row will add to the exceptional culinary mix for which Indianapolis and central Indiana have become known. Cunningham, meanwhile, has become one of the region’s most successful restaurant groups, with a long track record operating many of the most celebrated and recognizable brands here and across the region.

“Commission Row is an exciting new entertainment amenity in the heart of our city, an important addition on Bicentennial Unity Plaza that will enhance this entire quadrant of our vibrant downtown,” said Pacers Sports & Entertainment Owner and Chairman Herb Simon. “We are thrilled about the opportunity to partner with Cunningham Restaurant Group, which operates some of the city’s best culinary offerings.”

First announced in April of 2022, the project includes 30,000 square feet of dining and entertainment space and will be an important addition to Bicentennial Unity Plaza. In addition to the steakhouse, Mel’s at Commission Row, a basement speakeasy, will showcase gourmet bar-bites, a vintage ambience, and an extensive cocktail menu featuring modern twists on classic drinks, wine, and barrel-aged spirits. An upstairs special event space, Above at Commission Row, will be the perfect spot for private dinners and special occasions with a customizable menu, a separate entrance, and capacity for more than 200 guests.

“We are honored to partner with Pacers Sports & Entertainment for the Commission Row project,” said Mike Cunningham, President and CEO of Cunningham Restaurant Group.  “This dining and entertainment complex will offer a culinary experience unmatched in Indianapolis market.  One well suited to complement Gainbridge Fieldhouse, along with Bicentennial Unity Plaza and all that it will have to offer.”

The name Commission Row is itself a reference to the colloquial nickname first given to Delaware Street in the mid-nineteenth century, when the Wholesale District helped Indianapolis evolve into a center for trade and commerce. Delaware Street became a crossroad for farmers selling their wares to those making their way to and from the West. More recently, the Wholesale District has become recognized as a hotspot for the intersection of sports, arts, dining, and entertainment.

Mel’s at Commission Row pays tribute to Melvin Simon who, together with his brother, Herb, purchased the Pacers in 1983. A businessman and philanthropist whose leadership helped turn the Pacers into a worldwide brand, Mel had a remarkable impact on the city and invested in many of the assets that built Indianapolis as a global center of commerce and culture.

“This venue is not only a celebration of our rich history and the significance of our city as a crossroads of America, but it is also an important investment in our downtown and builds upon the excitement, energy, and momentum we feel every day throughout our downtown,” said Rick Fuson, Chief Executive Officer for Pacers Sports & Entertainment.

A look at the bar area inside the resturant. (Photo: PS&E)

Event space for 200+ guests atop on the upper level of Commission Row. (Photo: PS&E)