Indiana Pacers' Home Arena Gets New Name; Is Shock to Many Fans

It was announced yesterday that the home arena of the Indiana Pacers, Conseco Fieldhouse, had been renamed Bankers Life Fieldhouse, for the principal subsidiary of the newly renamed Conseco, now known as CNO Financial Group. 

Many Pacers fans were outraged at the renaming of the venue—one woman on TV even suggested that it should have been renamed "Colts Fieldhouse," which, in itself, would be rather strange, as no pro sports team has supported another area team's naming rights. 

Even more so, fans haven't forgotten about Conseco, which ranks behind Enron and WorldCom as the biggest financial disaster in U.S. history and has been the butt of many a comedian's jokes.  (Conseco filed for Chapter 11 in 2002.)   Conseco has been quietly removing its name in the midst of its reorganization, leaving its name only on the Fieldhouse and the street adjoining it. 

Still, when fans learn that the same company has lent its subsidiary's name to the venue in the 13th year of a 20-year contract, they know that a rose that smells by any other name is still a rotten rose.

So what should the venue have been renamed?  A couple of ideas lurked in mind—among them, restoring the name back to Indiana Fieldhouse, as it was originally intended.

Unfortunately, so many venues now have corporate entities, so that is impractical. 

Two other names have been suggested—Dunkin' Donuts Arena, since there is now a Dunkin' Donuts on the Fieldhouse premises, and Gatorade Center.  The sports drink was (and still is) manufactured in Indianapolis and was a by-product of locally owned Stokely-Van Camp, which sold the rights to PepsiCo (which, in turn, has the naming rights to Denver's Pepsi Center).

Perhaps if Conseco goes belly up and surrenders the naming rights, these naming options should be made available.