Kevin Hart and Pacers Sports & Entertainment are teaming up.
On Thursday, Pacers Sports & Entertainment announced it had partnered with Hartbeat, an entertainment company founded by Hart. According to the release, the partnership will “deliver exciting, culture-driven experiences to Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever fans and the Indianapolis community.”
Hartbeat will serve as Pacers Sports & Entertainment’s official “cultural curator.” The partnership will bring entertainment opportunities to Gainbridge Fieldhouse and greater Indiana. Stand-up comedy, musical acts, halftime shows, festival, scripted content and merchandise collaborations were listed in the release.
“When it comes to delivering world-class fan experiences, we want to continue to raise the bar and this partnership does just that,” PS&E CEO Mel Raines said. “As our official cultural curator, Hartbeat will be instrumental in creating unique and exciting experiences and content for fans that elevate our brands, community and growing fanbase.”
The partnership will begin July 18-19 with a music and comedy festival at the WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis.
“We’re excited to team up with Pacers Sports & Entertainment to deliver fresh, engaging experiences and content that bring fans closer to the organization and the sport,” said Hartbeat President Jeff Clanagan. “This partnership reinforces our commitment to leading the way in comedy, culture and sports. We can’t wait to see all of the fans this summer and collaborate with PS&E to take Indy’s entertainment scene to the next level.”
USA TODAY Women of the Year Pacers CEO Mel Raines relishes building community through sport
Hartbeat has produced series like Hart’s “Cold as Balls” and Shaquille O’Neal’s “All-Star Comedy Jam.”
“Hartbeat is a dynamic industry leader with extensive experience transforming high-impact moments into enduring cultural movements,” said EVP of Strategy and New Business Ventures at PS&E Joey Graziano. “Our creative collaboration with Hartbeat will redefine the fan experience in sports and entertainment and set a new standard for the intersection of basketball and culture. This partnership is for every fan. We’re thrilled to tap into Hartbeat’s creativity, distribution network, and access to talent to amplify our family of brands and deliver exclusive live performances and content to our global and growing fanbase. This partnership will produce a year-round lineup of new programming and events that will continue to showcase Indianapolis as a premier entertainment destination.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers Sports & Entertainment partner with Kevin Hart, Hartbeat