Old News: Glen Campbell opens Market Square Arena
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Glen Campbell performing on TV in early 1974. Photo: Tony Russell/Redferns
Fifty-two years ago this week, Glen Campbell became the first performer to take center stage in a venue that would leave a lasting legacy in the city of Indianapolis.
Why it matters: Market Square Arena was more than a home for the Pacers and where Elvis played his last show.
- The arena was an early centerpiece of Indianapolis' push to revive its struggling downtown and establish the city as a destination for sports and entertainment.
Driving the (old) news: On Sept. 15, 1974, Campbell thrilled MSA's opening-night crowd during the arena's inaugural public event.
- It was part of a big year for Campbell who debuted an NBC television special called "The Campbells Are Coming" in May, and reunited with songwriter Jimmy Webb to release his 27th studio album in October.
- Campbell's show at MSA was followed by Kool & the Gang days later and John Denver the next month.
- The venue's sports life started when the Pacers played their first regular-season game there Oct. 18, losing to the San Antonio Spurs 129-121 in double overtime.
Zoom in: The idea for a downtown sports facility grew out of Indianapolis' desire to provide a new home court for the Pacers while revitalizing the area.
- Two Ball State architecture students, Joseph Mynhier and Terry Pastorino, developed the concept that would become Market Square Arena in 1970.
- Construction began in 1971 with a final price tag of about $23.5 million.
- When it opened, it was among the largest sports arenas in the country at roughly 17,000 seats.
State of play: The Pacers played at MSA through 1999, including their transition from the ABA to the NBA in 1976.
- The building also became Indy's premier large concert venue, hosting acts like Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson and KISS.
- It was demolished in 2001, but its role in Indy's transformation lives on. The city's sports-focused development strategy has helped turn downtown into a national tourism destination for big events.