While capacity is back to normal for Indiana Pacers home games this season, there are some COVID policy changes that fans should be aware of before heading to a game.

Gainbridge Fieldhouse, previously known as Bankers Life Fieldhouse, has new safety protocols in place for the 2021-22 season.

The rules are much less restrictive than last year, which will come as great news to Pacers fans and concert-goers who plan on visiting the arena.

Gainbridge Fieldhouse mask policy

It’s been a slow crawl back to normal for basketball fans in Indianapolis.

While masks are recommended at Gainbridge, they are not mandatory, and there are no social distancing requirements in place.

Sports fans have had to learn all sorts of new health and safety requirements since the start of the pandemic. The rules often vary from one city to another, and every sports league and arena has taken a different approach.

At the start of the NBA season, the Pacers could only bring in 1,000 fans per game.

That gradually increased over the year, but the Marion County Health Department still had a 25% capacity cap in place for Pacers home games. The limits left many fans on the outside looking in.

Thankfully for the faithful, the Pacers capacity is back to normal this time around. If you weren’t able to catch a game last season, you can return to the Fieldhouse now.

Bankers Life Fieldhouse no more

Gainbridge Fieldhouse is the new Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The Pacers have been playing at Bankers Life Fieldhouse since 1999. The building originally opened as Conseco Fieldhouse but switched its name over to Bankers Life in 2011.

Bankers Life owned the naming rights for the building until June 2019. It took two years for the Pacers to find a new company willing to take over.

Even with the new name, it’s still the same building. However, the new owners have been doing construction on the property for most of 2021.

With construction still going on, but almost complete, some concession options may not be available.

In addition, the skybridge in the Virginia Avenue Parking Garage is currently closed. Guests will have to cross Delaware Street on the ground floor to make their way into the Plaza doors.

Gainbridge Fieldhouse goes cashless, ticketless

In order to prioritize health, safety, and convenience, Gainbridge Fieldhouse is moving to a cashless system for all concessions and stores within the facility.

For guests that do bring cash, there will be cash-to-card machines available throughout the property.

These machines come at no cost to guests and change cash into a card that is accepted anywhere inside the arena where credit and debit cards are accepted.

The arena is also moving toward a digital ticket model. You can access your tickets through the Ticketmaster app or the web, and add the tickets to your phone’s wallet. Tickets will not be emailed or available to print.

Screenshots of your tickets also will not be accepted.

Once you’re in, it’s time to enjoy the game. Here’s how the Pacers are looking this season.

Chris Duarte, latest Indiana Pacers odds

The Pacers have been off to a rough start so far this season.

A 2-6 record isn’t an ideal way to come out of the gates, but there are still some bright spots on the horizon.

First and foremost, Caris LeVert is back in action.

The forward missed the start of the season thanks to a stress fracture in his back. LeVert averaged nearly 21 points per game in 35 outings for the team last season.

Betting on the Pacers has been rough from game to game, but there’s an interesting futures option that’s growing in popularity.

Chris Duarte is making a name for himself during his debut season with the Pacers.

The Oregon basketball product is putting up 17.8 points per game for the Pacers right now. That’s the second-highest scoring average for a rookie behind Scottie Barnes’ 18.1 mark.

Duarte been a huge part of the team’s wing depth with TJ Warren still injured.

His numbers will put him in the Rookie of the Year running if they hold up over the course of the season.

However, the betting odds for the award haven’t caught up with his performances. If you like Duarte’s upside for the award, then betting on him to win could be an undervalued option right now.