There’s no credible confirmation that the NBA or the Indiana Pacers approved a $77.5 million renovation project for 2025 for Gainbridge Fieldhouse. That number is actually tied to another project entirely—an elite training facility for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever.
What’s Actually Confirmed
In mid‑January 2025, Pacers Sports & Entertainment officially unveiled a $78 million (often rounded from $77.5 million) Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center, a standalone three-story, 108,000 sq ft facility set to break ground in August 2025 and open before the 2027 WNBA season .
This facility will feature:
Two regulation‑size courts
Strength & conditioning, yoga/Pilates, spa‑like recovery areas (sauna, infrared light therapy, hydrotherapy, float tanks)
Lifestyle support amenities such as a hair & nail salon, childcare space, podcast/content studio, full‑service kitchen, outdoor courtyard, mental wellness zones, and a Fever team store .
Fans on Reddit have reacted positively, with one user describing it as:
> “A 1‑stop shop for their players,” including “childcare, hair and nail salon… massage, infrared light therapy, sauna… podcast studio…” .
What About the Pacers & Fieldhouse Renovations?
In 2019, a $360 million renovation (including tech upgrades, an outdoor plaza, interior enhancements) was completed between 2020–2022 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse .
More grandiose claims (like $2.5 billion or $5.3 billion, or a new 60,000-seat arena) surfaced but lack verification from reputable sources and appear to be speculative articles .
Summary: Reality vs. Rumor
Claim Status Details
$77.5M renovation approved by NBA or Pacers for 2025 Not accurate No evidence supports this for Gainbridge Fieldhouse
$78M Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center Confirmed Announced Jan 2025, groundbreaks Aug 2025, opens before 2027
Massive new Fieldhouse overhaul ($2.5B / $5.3B / 60k seats) Unsubstantiated No credible coverage or official confirmation
Bottom Line
The claim that the NBA or Pacers approved $77.5 million for 2025 renovations is incorrect. The true project at that price point is the Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center, a significant investment in women’s pro basketball—not a renovation of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Want a deeper dive into budgeting, financing, architecture, or community impact? I’ve got you covered.
