UNSCRIPTED: The NBA Season Has Started But Where Are the MAD ANTS?

Unscripted
By Keith Edmonds
FWIS Contributing Writer

Its that time of year again! The 2024/2025 NBA basketball season has started with a full slate of games beginning October 22nd with the Boston Celtics being serenaded as the NBA Champions and the team to beat this season! Our Indiana Pacers will have a lot to say about who comes out of the Eastern Conference to defeat those Celtics and it will be interesting to see what happens but with that being said, our city will lose a piece of our NBA pie as our MAD ANTS have LEFT THE SUMMIT CITY! An important part of the development of each NBA franchise is the talent that comes from the G-League (Gatorade sponsors this league) which are the minor league teams that supplement each NBA franchise with quality players who have come from the lower ranks to boost the fortunes of their respective teams. The Pacers are supported by the Mad Ants who have resided here in our city since 2007 but this season will be a part of the city of Noblesville, IN where the team will rebrand before the start of the 2024-2025 season. It will be tough to see this team leave our city but when I read the reasons WHY they left it was TOTALLY understandable....

Danny Lopez, (a spokesperson for Pacers Sports & Entertainment,) said “The organization started to consider the move around the time of the pandemic because it saw an increased value in having its G-League affiliate close to the parent club, (Pacers-something it has seen other NBA teams move to as well). They were already starting to head in that direction by having the Mad Ants play several of their home games in Gainbridge Fieldhouse even while they were based in Fort Wayne. The Pacers had no issues with Fort Wayne's stewardship of the Mad Ants and that the Pacers were quick to contact the city and other stakeholders in the franchise to let them know about the decision. The move was simply made because being geographically closer helps them from a basketball perspective.”

"This was about the proximity of the team from a basketball perspective, not anything that has to do with Fort Wayne," Lopez said. "We do a ton up there in terms of the community engagement. A big piece of our annual toy drive is with the police department and the Boys and Girls Clubs up there. So, we're still going to do a lot in Fort Wayne, it's just that the team won't be there."

It's tough for the fans of the Summit City to see our Mad Ants go, but in the best interest of our fans the city of Noblesville will house a new a 3,400 seat, 85,000-square-foot arena (which the city hopes will be completed at some point for the 2024-25 season), this will be much more cozier and “fan friendly” than the Memorial Coliseum the Mad Ants former home. Until the arena is completed, the Mad Ants will play in Gainbridge Fieldhouse during the course of this current season and fans will hopefully make the adjustment during this time. The Ants have provide our city with exciting teams and players throughout the years with 2014 version (D-League) winning the championship over Santa Cruz, so it has been a tremendous run for them here.

Due to the Mad Ants name having a special tie to Fort Wayne — honoring “Mad” Anthony Wayne — the team will retire the Mad Ants nickname prior to the 2024-2025 season and choose a new mascot (which will be unveiled at a future date). We wish this team and the Pacers franchise the best of luck moving into this season and say THANK YOU MAD ANTS for your many contributions to our community! Noblesville is gaining a tremendous part of our culture here in Fort Wayne and we anticipate that you’ll be just as proud!