A little over 48 hours before they tip off the 2022-23 season, the Pacers were out in the community on Monday afternoon, surprising shoppers at four Indianapolis Kroger locations.
Pacers players spread out across the city alongside members of the Pacemates and Pacers Hype Crew dance teams, mascot Boomer, and Pacers Sports & Entertainment staffers to give away $25,000 in gas and groceries.
“It’s really exciting,” said Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was one of four players who visited the Kroger on E 65th Street. “A lot of smiles on people’s faces. A lot of fun.”
At each location, Pacers players went inside the store to mingle with shoppers, handing out $25 Kroger gift cards and autograph cards that also featured a voucher to receive free tickets to one of three home games this week, part of Opening Week Presented by Kroger.
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Fans also had the opportunity to spin the prize wheel and receive Pacers swag. Some fans were alerted to the pop-up event by following the team on social media and downloading the official Pacers mobile app, which revealed the locations a half-hour before the players arrived, but many others were unsuspecting shoppers running daily errands, which led to many stunned reactions.
“It’s always good to put a face to a name and I think that us as basketball players, we’re seen on the court, but no one really knows us as people,” Pacers forward Oshae Brissett said. “So being out here just interacting and talking to people, letting them know that we’re regular people, we do exactly what they do now, go shop (for groceries), I think it’s good to be out here.”
The players spent time conversing with fans, posing for pictures, and signing autographs. Outside, Pacers staffers were also handing out gift cards and tickets at the gas pumps, providing an extra lift to those who were looking for a quick fill-up.
Smiles abounded throughout the evening at each Kroger store. And plenty of fans took the opportunity to express their excitement for the start of the new season, which officially begins on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, when Indiana hosts Washington. The Blue & Gold then will face San Antonio on Friday and Detroit on Saturday to close out a three-game hometand.
“I’ve ran into a lot of people that have said, ‘Oh, I’ve got my tickets for the first game,” Brissett said. “’I got my tickets.’ So it’s great to know that the fans are as pumped up as us. I think the first night on Wednesday’s going to be amazing.