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Pacers unveil ABA 50th Anniversary Classic Edition uniforms and custom court design

On Oct. 12, 2026 the Indiana Pacers unveiled ABA 50th Anniversary Classic Edition uniforms and a custom court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse; commemorative merchandise goes on sale Oct. 19 and the ABA-themed court is scheduled to debut Nov. 1, 2026.

BUSINESSINDY BRIEFBy BusinessIndy Editorial StaffCommentsPublished October 12, 2026 at 5:33 PM EDTLiving story · 2 sources

AI-generated illustration of the topic: Pacers unveil ABA 50th Anniversary Classic Edition uniforms and custom court design — AI illustration · Not a photograph of the reported event.

The Pacers unveiled ABA 50th Anniversary Classic Edition uniforms and a custom court design at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on 2026-10-12, the team announced through local reporting. The uniforms draw on the club’s 1971–74 look and royal blue from the Pacers’ ABA era, and the court includes elements honoring the franchise’s ABA legacy.

Commemorative merchandise is scheduled to go on sale at 10 a.m. on 2026-10-19 and the ABA-themed court is set to debut on 2026-11-01 and be used throughout the 2026–27 season. The court’s plaid lanes were created to honor coach Bobby “Slick” Leonard, and the design also references the ABA trophy, the team’s championship years and retired players. Fans can view the collection at Pacers.com/Classic and buy items at the Pacers Team Store (open Mon–Sat, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.).

WHY IT MATTERS

What changed: the Pacers are formally marking the 50th anniversary of the NBA–ABA merger by bringing back a period look and installing a themed court for games. The ABA (American Basketball Association) was the rival pro league that merged with the NBA in 1976; the 2026–27 season marks that 50th anniversary.

Who is affected and how: fans and collectors can buy the Classic Edition merchandise (goes on sale at 10 a.m. on 2026-10-19) and will see the special court at home games beginning 2026-11-01. The uniforms are a visual homage — inspired by the team’s 1971–74 kit and ABA-era royal blue — so attendees should expect a retro look on players and in-arena branding on announced ABA nights.

Why the design choices matter: the court’s plaid lane treatment explicitly honors Bobby “Slick” Leonard, who coached the Pacers to three ABA championships and three division titles, and the court includes markers for the franchise’s ABA trophies and retired players. For fans, the release is both a collectible opportunity and an in-arena experience change; for the team it’s a season-long celebration of franchise history.

What to watch next: merchandise availability at Pacers.com/Classic (and the team store) on 2026-10-19, the court debut on 2026-11-01, and further announced ABA-themed game nights and product drops promised by the team.

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Linked source published October 12, 2026 at 4:43 PM EDT. Prepared with AI assistance from the linked research; material claims remain attributed in the article.

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