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Pacers to open Balcony Level to put more fans in Fieldhouse stands

Evan Fournier of the Orlando Magic and Justin Holiday of the Indiana Pacers battle for an inbound pass in the last minute of the fourth quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Jan. 22, 2021, in Indianapolis. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indiana Pacers will again increase the number of fans inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse after successful games during January, the team said Tuesday.

The team said on Twitter that Balcony Level seating will open starting Sunday to increase the number of fans at games. The Pacers will host the Philadelphia 76ers at 7 p.m. Sunday.

The first games with fans Jan. 20 had up to 1,000 tickets sold; that was the first Pacers game with fans at Bankers Life Fieldhouse since March 10, when coronavirus restrictions began in Indiana.

The Indiana Pacers hosted their first game of the season Dec. 23 with no fans present.

The team has previously noted that the Marion County Public Health Department will allow 25% capacity, roughly 4,500 attendees, for Pacers home contests.

Indiana State Department of Health reported Tuesday that 80 more Hoosiers have died from COVID-19, for a total of 9,432. A total of 614,946 Hoosiers have tested positive for the coronavirus.