April 12, 2017 – As the 2016-2017 basketball season comes to a close, the Indiana Pacers are giving thanks for long-time locker room attendant Matt Hayden. Rideshare company Uber surprised Hayden today by committing to provide him with rides to and from Bankers Life Fieldhouse throughout the 2017-2018 Pacers season.
"Matt's unwavering presence, tenacity and commitment to the Indiana Pacers has not gone unnoticed," said Indiana Pacers Vice President of Basketball Operations, Peter Dinwiddie. "I cannot imagine a Pacers game without him. We're so grateful that Uber was able to make sure Matt continues to be a meaningful part of Pacers game days."
Hayden was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 14 months old. But rather than let this be a setback, Hayden has embraced life to the fullest. At a young age he embraced sports, focusing on wrestling at age eight and working for the Pacers beginning at age 14. He now spends what little free time he has training for the 2020 paralympics. Hayden, the Pacers' longest-serving locker room attendant, has become a living legend for fans attending games.
As the Pacers were preparing for the final game of the season against the Atlanta Hawks this afternoon, members of the Indiana Pacemates and Uber Greenlight Hub Manager Josh Moore surprised Hayden and his mother, Lori, at their home with the news of the gift. Full video footage of the surprise is available below.
"Uber is proud to provide Matt with a reliable ride to and from each game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse," said Moore. "Matt is a cornerstone of the Pacers community, and we all know a home game simply wouldn't be complete without his passion and unwavering commitment to the Pacers."
Pacers fans can also now depend on Uber to get to and from the game by taking advantage of the new dedicated Uber pick-up and drop-off zones outside Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Fans that request an Uber from Bankers Life Fieldhouse may be directed via the Uber app to the new Uber Pickup Zone located in the alley between East Maryland Street and Bankers Life Court to find their Uber.