The last seven years haven't been particularly kind to the Indiana Pacers. Not because of their win-loss records - they've managed just below .500 records in that time - but because of their abysmal attendance numbers.
Ever since the Nov. 19, 2004, brawl that occurred at The Palace of Auburn Hills, the home court of the Detroit Pistons, the Pacers have struggled with attendance, posting bottom third in the league numbers since the 2006 season.
This season though, the Pacers are battling the Miami Heat for a shot at reaching its first Eastern Conference Finals since the 2003 season. The attendance still hasn't returned, however. The Pacers finished with the second least amount of total attendance in the NBA.
But some Ball State students see the playoff series against the Heat as the turning point for the franchise on getting local fans motivated again.
Junior English education major Christina Shoptaw said she avoided even watching the team for the last few years, not because of the lack of competitiveness, but because of the off-the-court and on-the-court issues that have occurred with players over the years.
This year, Shoptaw traveled with friends to Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals in Indianapolis.
Aaron Daeger, a senior computer technology major, traveled with Shoptaw but was able to get his seat upgraded to the second row from the court. Daeger said he attends around 10 games a year now, but also watched far less games because of the conduct of the team on and off the court.
"It was kind of hard and I felt ashamed to be a Pacers fan," Daeger said. "You want to know that your money is going to an organization that's working their hardest to be the best they can for you and if people are going around causing crimes and getting arrested, I know I didn't go to nearly as many games when they were going through that tough time because I don't want to support players that don't have the best interests of the fans at heart."
Brad Huber, a senior telecommunications and journalism news major, said the team lost a lot of support because the Pacers have lacked many likeable players, but this group has done a much better job at representing the Pacers and giving back to the community.
"I think the general consensus is there's a lot more excitement around now about Pacers basketball," Huber said. "I think this community and college students around are really starting to embrace this team again and I think we'll see that continue in the coming years.
"It's more the quality of players as to why they were unwatchable versus their poor records," he said. "I think if you have a good group of players and you're still not winning, I think it's easier to be a fan of [them]."
Daeger said the atmosphere at Game 4 was unbelievable.
"It was unlike anything I've ever witnessed before," he said. "The fan bases down there was amazing. Almost every play you were standing on your feet. You never had a chance to relax."
Huber was there for Game 3 and said he was impressed with the energy.
Daeger said if the Pacers are able to get past the Heat and win a championship, he's not sure how it would impact the state and area.
"Just for a small market team like this to make it to the ultimate plateau, it would be awesome to witness," Daeger said. "It would definitely send chills down my spine."
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