INDIANAPOLIS - NBA Cares “Hoops for Troops” is a year-round initiative led by the NBA, its teams and players in collaboration with the Department of Defense, USO, TAPS and other military and veteran-serving organizations to honor active and retired service members and their families.
This season, the Indiana Pacers and the Department of Defense will continue recognizing members of the military and working side by side to positively impact communities throughout Indiana.
For the 2019-20 season, the Pacers and Yuengling have teamed up to recognize and serve alongside these heroes through the following programs & events: (1) Commitment to Service Day; (2) Indy Honor Flight Breakfast; (3) Hoops for Troops Night; (4) Hoops for Troops Military Open Practice; (5) Sideline Soldiers presented by The Roomplace and (6) Seats for Soldiers.
Commitment to Service Day: Saturday, Nov. 2
3:00 – 5:00 PM
Damar Services Inc.
5125 Decatur Blvd Suite A
Indianapolis, IN 46241
As part of Hoops for Troops Week, volunteers from Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Yuengling, Pacers players TJ Leaf and T.J. McConnell along with local members of the military will participate in a Commitment to Service Day with Damar Services.
Damar Services delivers remarkable care and remarkable results for people of all ages and with a wide range of needs. The group will refurbish an area of the Damar campus that will help those who need Damar’s services.
Special Guests: Pacers Players TJ Leaf & T.J. McConnell
Pacers Legend Darnell Hillman
Indiana Pacemates
Staff from Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Yuengling
Members of the military
Indy Honor Flight Breakfast: Saturday, Nov. 9
9:00 – 11:00 AM
Woodland Terrace of New Palestine
4400 Terrace Drive
New Palestine, IN 46163
Pacer legends Darnell “Dr. Dunk” Hillman and Rik Smits, along with the Indiana Pacemates, Boomer and volunteers from Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Yuengling, will partner with Indy Honor Flight to provide and serve breakfast to veterans at Woodland Terrace of New Palestine. In addition, each veteran in attendance will receive a Pacers Swag Bag filled with items from the Pacers and Yuengling.
Indy Honor Flight transports WWII, Korea, and Vietnam veterans to see their memorials in Washington, D.C., at no charge. Indy Honor Flight is a non-profit organization crated solely to honor Indiana’s veterans for their service and sacrifice. Top priority is given to the oldest veterans. Our goal is to get the most senior veterans to visit the memorials built for them before it is too late. We also give priority to terminally-ill veterans.
Special Guests: Pacers Legends Darnell Hillman and Rik Smits
Boomer
Indiana Pacemates
Staff from Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Yuengling
Hoops for Troops Night: Tuesday, Nov. 12 vs. Oklahoma City
As part of Hoops for Troops Night, we will be recognizing and celebrating our military personnel as follows:
(1) Sideline Soldiers presented by The Roomplace
- Representatives from the USO of Indiana will take place in a pregame meet & greet with Pacer T.J. McConnell and will be treated to complimentary dinner in the Lightbound Courtside Club.
(2) Kroger High Five Club
- Children from TAPS families will high-5 the Pacers team as it comes onto the court for pregame warm-ups.
(3) Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Accession St. Vincent Teddy Bear Exchange
- Children from TAPS families will receive Pacers Teddy Bears from a member of the Pacers after the National Anthem.
(4) Honorary Scorer
- A representative from Yuengling will serve as our Honorary Scorer at that night’s game, handing the NBA Referees the official game ball.
(5) Flag Runner
- A representative from USO of Indiana will join Boomer in bringing out the Pacers team for pregame warm-ups, carrying both the US Flag and the Pacers Flag, respectively.
(6) Hoops for Troops T-Shirt Toss
- Members of the Sideline Soldiers will toss out Hoops for Troops T-shirts to the crowd during a designated time-out.
(7) Boomer In-game Dunk Show
- Representatives from the Indiana National Guard will join Boomer and the Pacers Power Pack for the 4th Quarter Boomer Dunk Show.
(8) Online auction to benefit TAPS
- Fans will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of authentically-signed Pacers items, including patriotic themed basketballs as well as items from Yuengling including a mini fridge! All proceeds from the auction will benefit TAPS.
(9) Indy Honor Flight Recognition
- WWII and Korean War Veterans who have recently taken part in an Honor Flight to Washington DC will be recognized at halftime. In addition, prior to the game, veterans will receive dinner at a local steakhouse and then parade over to Bankers Life Fieldhouse for the in-game festivities.
(10) Hoops for Troops Parachute Drop
- During a designated timeout, the Hoops for Troops Parachute Drop will take place, with items including Hoops for Troops t-shirts and camo bammies dropping for fans!
Hoops for Troops Military Practice: Tuesday, Nov. 19
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Bankers Life Fieldhouse
300 Military Men & Women, both Active Duty & Veterans from various military branches, will have the opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look at a Pacers practice. Prior to practice, guests will be treated to special meal courtesy of Levy Restaurants in the Lightbound Courtside Club followed by viewing of a team practice at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. After practice, there will be a meet & greet with the team and coaching staff.
Each guest will also receive a commemorative goodie bag that includes a Pacers Challenge Coin, Hoops for Troops t-shirt and tickets to an upcoming game.
300 Military Men & Women, Active Duty & Veterans of various military branches; entire Pacers Team & Coaching Staff
T.J. McConnell’s Sideline Soldiers presented by The Roomplace
To honor the valiant soldiers serving our country, the Pacers and The Roomplace have teamed up to present Sideline Soldiers at select Pacers home games.
This program allows military personnel and their families to serve as VIP guests at the game and be recognized for their selfless acts in protecting our country. Each Sideline Soldier and their family participates in a pregame meet & greet with Pacers player T.J. McConnell, receives lower level seats for that night’s game and is treated to a complimentary meal in the Lightbound Courtside Club, courtesy of Levy Restaurants.
Seat for Soldiers
This year-round program allows men and women in the military to attend Pacers games and be recognized for their commitment to our country. Each soldier in attendance receives a t-shirt as well as a postgame meet & greet with two Pacer players.
PLEASE NOTE: **Players subject to change.