Pacers execs said that the popularity of the team's marketing campaign around the 30th anniversary of the movie "Hoosiers" has "exceeded expectations on almost every level," according to Nate Taylor of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Pacers Senior VP and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Todd Taylor said that merch sales "have increased" by more than 25% from last season. The team’s Hickory merch "has been purchased in 41 states and seven countries." Taylor: “What Hickory has allowed us to do is have people be able to participate with the Pacers without feeling like they have to be 100 percent, all-in hardcore Pacers.” But many people at the start of the season "were skeptical of the idea." Another concern was if people outside of Indiana "would understand the marketing strategy." The "turning point came after the Pacers’ first game in the Hickory uniforms." Pacers F Paul George said, “I feel like it brings energy, if anything. The fans enjoy it. We enjoy it." Beyond the jerseys, the Pacers have used the Hickory-themed games to "honor Indiana basketball legends." The Pacers also have discussed "creating a mini-documentary series as soon as next year that would be a modern library of basketball history in the state on the Pacers’ website that is entertaining and enlightening for fans." Taylor also said that the club "will wear the cardinal red and gold fewer times next season." He said, "We’ll probably wear it, I would guess, six times or so next year." Taylor added that it is "too early to know if the Pacers will renew their deal with MGM to continue wearing the Hickory uniforms or if five years will be enough time to honor and celebrate Indiana’s basketball history" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/17).
