Sep 25, 2026 · 37 min · 13 segments
Walt Lukken sat down with Mel Raines, President and CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. Long-time friends, they discussed Mel's career that started in Washington politics and has led her to sports…
Mel RainesGuest
Walt LukkenHost
Well, I do want to talk about the culture that you've built with the Pacers sports group.
But I first want to just talk about the business itself, because it's fascinating.
And what has surprised you most about the job, switching from the political world to this CEO executive position?
Yeah, I mean, even in the just dozen years I've been with the organization, I think the business has dramatically changed, not just in the valuation of the teams, but in how we look at the business and how the business is able to grow.
When you think about 12 years ago, what social media was and what it is today, I think our digital team had three people and now we have 30 people that we're covering our content.
And for us, that could mean in person, hopefully, your season ticket holder for one of the teams or both of the teams.
Or you could be coming to Disney on Ice with your family, the Cambridge Fieldhouse.
I think we've got about 400 employees in the company that support all of the teams on and off the court.
And I think everybody very clearly understands their role and how they do that, whether you're the electrician in Cambridge Fieldhouse or you're in ticket sales.
Well, I do want to talk about the culture that you've built with the Pacers sports group.
But I first want to just talk about the business itself, because it's fascinating.
And what has surprised you most about the job, switching from the political world to this CEO executive position?
Yeah, I mean, even in the just dozen years I've been with the organization, I think the business has dramatically changed, not just in the valuation of the teams, but in how we look at the business and how the business is able to grow.
When you think about 12 years ago, what social media was and what it is today, I think our digital team had three people and now we have 30 people that we're covering our content.
And for us, that could mean in person, hopefully, your season ticket holder for one of the teams or both of the teams.
Or you could be coming to Disney on Ice with your family, the Cambridge Fieldhouse.
I think we've got about 400 employees in the company that support all of the teams on and off the court.
And I think everybody very clearly understands their role and how they do that, whether you're the electrician in Cambridge Fieldhouse or you're in ticket sales.
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