Indianapolis board OKs Pacers' plans for practice facility

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indianapolis' Capital Improvement Board has given its unanimous approval to a contract allowing the Indiana Pacers to build a $50 million practice facility.

Board President Earl Goode said Monday the five-story, 130,000-square-foot St. Vincent Center would be built in downtown Indianapolis across the street from Bankers Life Fieldhouse. That venue is the home of the Pacers and the WNBA's Indiana Fever.

The Pacers will pay for construction of the building on land owned by the Capital Improvement Board. It's scheduled to open in 2017.

The Indianapolis Star reports (http://indy.st/1Hu4Iiq ) the practice facility will have two full basketball courts and offices for the Pacers and the NBA team's parent company, Pacers Sports & Entertainment.

Pacers officials have said a state-of-the-art practice facility will help attract free agents and retain players.

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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com