A look at $26.5 million Bankers Life Fieldhouse upgrade

The changes range from the simple – painting of stairwells – to the complex: constructing a private, high end, club serving liquor, beer and gourmet food for court-side ticket holders.

They range from a new basketball court to upgrades to concessions.

And they will give Pacers players a locker room reconstruction with a new Versaclimber machine for workouts, and the Fever a new jet tub as part of their own locker room refurbishing.

The 10-year, $26.5 million update to Bankers Life Fieldhouse is an extensive hodgepodge of a to-do list.

The city's Capital Improvement Board approved its 2016 budget last week, including $8.5 million for Bankers Life. A portion of that money will go toward the $26.5 million upgrade.

The funds are not newly allocated, but part of a larger, $160 million deal the CIB agreed to last year to keep the Pacers in Indianapolis.

That agreement locks the team into Bankers Life for 10 years, with three, one-year renewal options. In exchange, the city agreed to provide $160 million to cover operating costs and facility upgrades.

Specifically tagged in that multimillion dollar deal is $26.5 million to the Pacers to keep its fieldhouse updated and fan friendly.

The CIB's 2016 budget noted that the $8.5 million "could fund projects such as concession upgrades, furniture replacement, domestic water heaters, portable seating and floors."

"Could," said Barney Levengood, executive director of CIB, making it clear that none of the money has been targeted yet to any specific projects.

The budget approval came at the same meeting during which the CIB approved the Pacers' request to build a $50 million, 5-story, 130,000-square-foot practice facility on land owned by the CIB. That project will be privately funded by the Pacers.

While the practice facility, named St. Vincent Center, is mostly for Pacers players and staff, the refresh at Bankers Life will include perks for fans.

The Star asked for a list of "approved refresh improvements" at Bankers Life, outlined in CIB records.

Basketball: Pacers locker room reconstruction including a Sharp media board/TV upgrade in training room and Versaclimber.

Box Office: Interior renovations and will call kiosks (six in pavilions).

Concessions: Equipment and concession stand concept updates (main, balcony, club, kitchen, carts).

Fever: Refurbish locker room (including that new jet tub).

General construction: Replace club level center sections (103,104, 105) with loge box seating; combine six club level suites to form a club suite area; create new private, high end, all-inclusive (liquor, beer, food) club on event level for courtside rows 1 and 2; recreate Locker Room Restaurant experience for courtside rows 3-7; remove wall between party suite and two adjacent club suites and replace with sliding partitions; stairway to event level;stairway from entry pavilion to main concourse;slightly modify Legends area to target medium to large groups (attractive all-inclusive price with ballpark fare food and drink – popcorn, hot dogs, nachos, soda; wall guards/bumper in event level; and new cabinets/counters in concession, restrooms, trash can units.

Information technology: Network fiber upgrades, re-cable, phone refresh, network infrastructure and computer room/data center relocation to event level southeast.

Operations: Zamboni (already delivered to fieldhouse); two high-speed overhead doors for the dock ramp; entry pavilion fans; escalator cleaning machine; new snow removal machine; furniture replacements.

Painting: Founders and club level wall covering; paint stairs and stairwell; and paint walls and doors in all public areas.

Miscellaneous: LED boards and window coverings.

Follow Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow.