Blue Collar, Gold Swagger

Pacers fans try to bring last season’s swagger back

By Doug Knopf

The Indiana Pacers are not only making statements on the court, but off the court as well. Roy Hibbert along with Paul George and George Hill are sponsoring Gold Swagger and Area 55, the newly established fan sections for the team. The Pacers, in collaboration with Bankers Life Fieldhouse, have had some of the lowest attendance in the league for the past couple of years and are hoping that Gold Swagger will bring the people back.

Gold Swagger started as a campaign in last year’s playoffs to get fans involved and boost what seemed like low fan moral. With a strong performance in the post season, Gold Swagger is being established as the new identity for the young team. Billboards throughout Indiana show star players in the presence of slogans such as “no swagger without sacrifice” or “no heroics without hard work.”

The Pacers are looking for an energized crowd to back their best team in years. The perks of being in Area 55 go beyond being surrounded by other loyal members; fans are closer to the players than ever before, literally.

AP Photo/ Matt Slocum

“Roy’s taken us to the movies; we’ve been to laser tag. We kind of know these guys inside and out,” said Pacer fan Joe Murphy and a member of Area 55.

One fan, Joe Wagner, told the media, “it’s really awesome that they put stuff together where we can meet with the players. We’ve been down in the locker room with them; we’ve talked to Paul George.”

Anybody who is a fan of the NBA or of sports in general should be excited for something as awesome as this. It is always amazing for fans to get involved. Fans of the NBA are not as closely tied to a team like they are in baseball and football. Gold Swagger is an innovative way for the NBA to gain some market share in that aspect. 

           

Appealing to two distinct demographics with their slogan, “Blue Collar – Gold Swagger”, the Pacers are getting in touch with their inner-city surroundings. Everybody works hard and everybody wants swag, especially gold swag. Through this slogan, the Pacers are looking to grab a younger generation, while maintaining the presence of their faithful followers.

Crowd noise is an incredibly influencing factor in a game, especially in the NBA where fans sit courtside. With a pack of gold behind them, the Pacers look to bring the swagger back and continue on the success of last season. The best sports franchises have the best fans; look at the Yankees, the Packers, the Steelers and many others. Now, we may see the emergence of a new powerhouse with Gold Swagger.