INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indiana Pacers celebrated Hispanic and Latin American culture on March 29 during a “Noche Ene Be A” event at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the team hosted the Miami Heat and introduced its first Spanish-language radio broadcast.
Fuego 92.7 FM and La Mega Indy 105.1 FM aired the broadcast, with Gustavo Luques providing play-by-play. The NBA launched the event as part of its 20th-season initiative to engage Latino and Hispanic communities through basketball and cultural programming.
The halftime show featured Pavel & Direct Contact, an Indianapolis-based band performing Latin jazz, pop, and salsa. Pianist Pavel Polanco-Safadit said the five-minute set incorporated the Pacers’ robot and the Pacemates dance team.
Vocalist Leah Crane said the group prepared extensively for the performance and described the experience as exciting. Savannah, a member of the Pacemates, said the performance emphasized representation and creativity.
“It was amazing,” Savannah said. “It really meant a lot to us. It was just a really beautiful moment for this night. It was really about representation and creativity and to be able to highlight the Latino community.”
Fans were offered culturally inspired food, including esquites, coctel de campechana, pozole-style wings, and churro ice cream sundaes. Concourse activities included cultural trivia, product sampling, and a contest in which one fan won a trip to see the Pacers play the Brooklyn Nets on April 9.
The Indy Chamber Hispanic Business Council participated by recognizing central Indiana entrepreneurs on the court. Pacers players also wore special warm-up gear honoring Hispanic and Latino culture, consistent with leaguewide practices during the program’s 20th season.
For more information or to purchase tickets for upcoming Pacers games, visit nba.com/pacers.
