Episode

Mel Raines on leading Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Indianapolis’ sports future

Podcast
Indiana 250: Off the Record with Nate Feltman
Published
Dec 30, 2025
Duration seconds
3573
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://traffic.megaphone.fm/ANAIA4123089292.mp3
Audio
https://traffic.megaphone.fm/ANAIA4123089292.mp3
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/indiana-250-off-the-record-with-nate-feltman-6601517/episodes/mel-raines-on-leading-pacers-sports-entertainment-and-indianapolis-sports-future
Markdown
/podcast/indiana-250-off-the-record-with-nate-feltman-6601517/mel-raines-on-leading-pacers-sports-entertainment-and-indianapolis-sports-future.md

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Summary

On this episode of Off the Record, host Nate Feltman sits down with Mel Raines, CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. The discussion takes a deep dive into Raines’ unexpected career journey as she traces her upbringing in South Bend to studying telecommunications Indiana University leading to an unanticipated entry into politics, including work for U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, multiple Republican National Conventions, and the White House under Vice President Dick Cheney. Raines reflects on returning to Indiana to help deliver Super Bowl XLVI, her leadership experience in Washington, and her transition into professional sports. She also shares insights from leading the $400 million Gainbridge Fieldhouse renovation and discusses plans for the Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center now under construction downtown.