Indiana Pacers give big breaks to local chefs

State of play: Gainbridge Fieldhouse has become a launching pad for restaurants through a 2-year-old program that invites chefs to sell signature dishes on the main concourse near Section 17.

The big picture: Participating chefs receive mentorship and exposure to thousands of potential new customers for two games — or longer, if sales are strong — while the Pacers gain food variety and local credibility.

Zoom in: Two restaurants — Mambos Cheesesteak Grill and Taste of Innova Wings & Greens — parlayed the guest program into permanent locations at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

• Monique Hawkins, a marketer who enjoys cooking at home, opened Taste of Innova along with her daughter, Kara Hawkins, an architect, in 2021 at the AMP at 16 Tech.
• Taste of Innova's initial stint at Gainbridge Fieldhouse turned into a big break, leading to 25% revenue growth at the AMP as Pacers fans became repeat customers.

• The restaurant has since opened a location at Lucas Oil Stadium.

What they're saying: "This definitely increased our business and our brand awareness," Monique Hawkins tells Axios.

What's next: The Pacers are bringing in 10 chefs for select games this season, including:

• Michael McFarland, Smokin' Barrel Barbeque
• Myka Gurvitz, Eve's Garden Deli
• Brittany Moore, Krab Head
• Karyn Lander, Purely Joy LLC
• Ron Gilmore, 1313 Eatery
• Eric Bankhead Jr., CookedByEj
• Aries Crowell, The Zodiac Chef
• Chef Ego, Kitchen Ego Catering
• Turon Cummings, Soul Kantina
• Chef Melanie, Melanie's Menu