By: Ashley Peek

Blue and gold adorned hats, signs, superman inspired capes and light up glasses decorated the members of Area 55 as they sat anxiously awaiting their All-Star in the Pacers square, located in the balcony of Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The energy was high coming off of a huge win, 108-73, over the Charolette Bobcats. Chants of “We want Roy” and “Hib hib Horoy” echoed around the room.

Everytime a simple cheer started heads would turn to see if Hibbert was approaching the awaiting fan section, and as soon as he did the noise level was near deafening.

Roy entered the room to fans immediately giving high fives and slaps on the back, he has won their approval time and time again…now it is his turn to show the members of his fan section just how much they mean to him.

With Hibbert’s parents in the crowd, he began by saying that his mom previously mentioned her desire to sit in Area 55, which was followed by many shouts of encouragement for her to join the Area 55ers.

The Mid-Season awards are a time where the big man for the Pacers can appreciate these members of one of the only fan dedicated sections throughout the entire NBA. From pre-game coverage, to blogs of admiration, to hand made portraits; there is no limit to what these fans do to show their love for Roy.

Six awards were given out during the evening:

• Rookie of the Year: Justin Beck (@JustinBeck33)
• Most Improved: Mason Sedgwick (@Livinonthe_SEDG)
• Best Dressed: Superfan (Michael Hopson)
• The Captain: Joe Murphy (@eptesicusfuscus)
• Most Intense: Colin Lott (@CLott3133Pacers)
• MVP: Kyle Brumback (@Kielbeze)

Hibbert also handed out other signed memorabilla to members of Area 55: The Game Mom with Ashley Brumback, Women’s Wrestling Champion of the World with El Pacero, and Men’s Wrestling Champion of the World with Joe Bennett, and they all posed for a group photo to end the exciting evening.

Without the dedication and work ethic that not only Roy, but his fans, put forth, then the energy that consumes Bankers Life Fieldhouse for every home game would be not nearly to the level it has reached throughout the majority of this 2012 season.

By: Ashley Peek

“Boom baby” echoes from the members of Area 55 as Paul George hits an open 3-pointer in the first half against the New Jersey Jets. But that’s not what all the hype for George is today, the hype is surrounding his invitation to participate in the dunk contest as part of the NBA All-Star weekend.

However, due to recent winners of the contest it has become all about the props, the tricks up the sleeves and the innovation of the players involved to win the fan driven competition.

So what do members of Area 55 think George has to do to win?

Gary Vengeance, a second year member of the fan section, believes he needs to go above and beyond in order to capture the attention of those watching: his first option, use Jeremy Lin, the center of a recent social media whirlwind.

“He needs to catch an alley-oop from [Jeremy] Lin as he lays on the couch he has been sleeping on and throw it down,” Vengeance said. “He’ll for sure win then.”

Second idea from Vengeance combines the most compared person to Lin, Tim Tebow.

“[Paul George] will need to catch a full-court pass from Tebow, as long as his accuracy is good,” he said. “Then do a dunk and end it while Tebowing on the court. But then again, Tebow’s pass may end up in the stands.”

No matter the measures, fans agree that George has to throw the hammer down with entertainment.

Dionne Dynlacht thinks that George should incorporate some ties to the teams hometown, Indianapolis.

“What if he made a mini Indianapolis 500 Pagoda to dunk over?” she suggested. “That’d be really cool.”

But what do all members of the Roy’s devoute section agree upon? How awesome it would be if George dunked over Roy. It has been done and documented before, here.

However Paul George himself has mentioned going beyond that.

“Trying to be even bigger,” he said. “Get Mr. Bird out there.”

No matter who, what, or how George decides to throw down his dunks, Pacers fans will be at the ready to cast their votes.

By: Ashley Peek

For the first time in his career Roy Hibbert has been named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team.

And Area 55, along with the rest of Pacer nation, could not be more proud of their big man. Throughout the entire season Hibbert has shown his dedication and all his supporters believe that this was his time to shine.

Many friends, teammates and Roy supporters showed their love through Twitter:

Congrats to All Star @Hoya2aPacer !!! Hardest working big man in the NBA!

— El Pacero (@ElPacero) February 10, 2012

Entertainment 720 Baller/Intern Roy Hibbert (@hoya2apacer) has been selected as NBA All Star!! Congrats.

— Aziz Ansari (@azizansari) February 10, 2012

Congrats to @Hoya2aPacer for making the all star team. Well deserved “big dog” aka “the big show” proud of you bro! I told u it was coming

— Dahntay (@dahntay1) February 10, 2012

Big Shout to my friend @Hoya2aPacer for getting the recognition he deserves and this was only step1 of many All Star Births! #PaceredUp!!

— ROBERT MATHIS (@RobertMathis98) February 10, 2012

Hibbert is joining a list of 11 past Pacers to play for the Eastern Conference team, including current teammate Danny Granger and past Pacers greats Reggie Miller and Rik Smits. He is the third big man from the Pacers to make the team, including Smits and Brad Miller.

The Home Court Gift Shop got less than 100 jerseys and are expected to sell out completely. The tremendous amount of support for Hibbert is synonymous with the work ethic he has been putting forth for his team.

The members of Area 55 couldn’t be more proud of their beloved player, as many of the fan in the loud fan section wore Hibbert’s All-Star jersey during the game against the Nuggets, the first night the jerseys went on sale.

“I want to thank my teammates, coaches, training staff, family and friends for their constant love and support,” said Hibbert. “I am truly honored to be in this position but my mind is still focused on the team goal of winning a championship this year.”

Be sure to follow along with Hibbert on twitter to learn more about his berth as an All-Star, @Hoy2aPacer.

The All-Star game will take place on February 26 in Orlando. Be sure to tune in and support your Indiana All-Star.

|PHOTO GALLERY | ELPACERO EXPLAINS HIS BELT (VIDEO) |

By: Ashley Peek

Area 55 celebrated its 55th straight game tonight as the Pacers took on the Jazz, but more importantly a second year veteran to the fan section, self proclaimed “biggest Pacers fan ever” El Pacero hit a milestone of his own.

On this day, February 7, 2012, El Pacero celebrates his 100th consecutive game in support of the Pacers, and only the Pacers.

“It started as only 20 to 25 games, but I thought that the ultimate goal would be one-hundred,” El Pacero said. “I thought I was going to get sick, have to be at a wedding, I play in a band, but I said no to all band gigs. No mariachi band for me. It’s been only Pacers games.”

Members of Area 55 showed their support with an “El Pacero, El Pacero, El Pacero” chant before tip off. Many fans showed their support for their friend through Twitter, but his road to 100 was not always the smoothest.

Just last week El Pacero was physically attacked by a woman on the streets of Indianapolis for his coveted Women’s Wrestling Championship belt that he wears to every game. Between headlocks and wailing, El Pacero was striped of his belt.

El Pacero managed to use his connections he has made from being at 100 Pacers games, saying that he has met a large amount of people through being in attendance at The Fieldhouse, to find out who took his belt and retrieve it from the woman.

“I put a search out to all my friends, Pacers fans, people I’ve met here,” El Pacero said. “One friend saw her and on Saturday night I found her and wrestled here and got the belt back. I am still the Women’s Wrestling World Champion.”

The super fan has also produced a song to go hand-in-hand with his Pacers persona. There is a free download available on the site, which took nearly two years to be completed.

Be sure to follow El Pacero (@ElPacero) on Twitter to keep up with his continuing tradition of making it to every Pacer game he can.

The dedication that El Pacero has given to these players and coaches is nearly unmatchable. His continual pride for the Pacers is contagious, proof of that comes in a smaller, more girl package. La Pacera mimics the fanatic and hopes to one day attend as many games as he has.

His undying love is proof of just how emotional invested a fan can become for Indiana’s team.

By: Ashley Peek

Justin Beck used Twitter to find out about Area 55, and  although it was an opportunity just for those in America, he gave it a shot. Beck  made suer to go all out in his Area 55 audition. After proving himself worthy,  the Pacers called Beck up to offer him the 56 spot in Area 55.

“It is a dream come true,” Beck said. “A privilege, an  absolute once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m used to watching them at 4:30 in  the morning not at 7 at night. Its amazing”

An opportunity in which he has became part of a family  within Area 55, even being offered a place in a fellow members home. When asked  his favorite thing about Indianapolis, he said the people.

“Everyone here is so nice,” he said. “They welcome me to be a  part of this fan section.”

Using the powers of social media, Beck found out about the  auditions from Roy Hibbert’s twitter, his favorite team member to follow is Paul George (@King24George.) “I follow every player,” he said.

Although he has been given this opportunity and has been  blessed with a place to live here in town, his visa only allows him to stay in  the states for a 90-day period. “I’ll be doing a lot of flying back and forth  at times, but it is worth it,” he said.

Beck became a Pacers fanatic in 2000 during the Reggie  Miller era.

“I feel in love with Reggie,” he said. “He just has inspired  me and all the stuff he did for Indiana.” Becks home in Australia is covered  with Miller and Pacers memorabilia.

Thirty-six hours on a plane separate Beck from his hometown  in Australia, but for now he calls Area 55 home.

“I’ll be a Pacers for life,” he said. “I’ll get it tattooed  on me if I have to.”

Twitter, what is commonly defined as micro-blogging, has  become more of a way to stay in touch with friends and create conversations  through the use of aforementioned hashtags, but as of late it has become the  first source some run to for real-time news updates. And in addition to  real-time news, it is a way to show fan appreciation for athletes and entire  sports organizations.

Roy Hibbert’s Area 55 has gained close to 750 followers  since the birth of the fan section last season, but even more notable many  members of the area turn to Twitter to stay connected, brainstorm chant ideas  and put their fandom out to the entire Twitter-verse to see.

El Pacero, the self-proclaimed biggest Pacer Fan ever, has  over 1,000 followers and has been using Twitter for the past two seasons. He  enjoys the attention he gets from his mass amount of tweets.

“My favorite aspect is to become friends with the other  Pacer fans,” El Pacero said. “Everyday a new Pacers friend follows me and that  means I have a new friend.”

For the outsiders prospective having a large amount of  followers may be a null achievement, but for anyone who enjoys Twitter earning  followers is an accomplishment.

“I feel the amount of followers and the people I follow show  me the pulse of Pacers fans and lets me get to know people better,” El Pacero  said. “Roy followed some of Area 55 and it was the greatest day of our lives.  It made me somewhat scared to tweet, knowing Roy can see it all.”

The members of Area 55 make sure to share their membership  within their Twitter bio’s. Colin Lott, a second year member, uses his Twitter  to make predictions, share photo’s, and spread the word of the Pacers  victories.

“I called that victory over Boston on Twitter,” Lott said  when asked about the Pacers big win over the Celtics on the road.

But it’s not just Twitter. The members of Area 55 have  utilized other areas of social media as well. Facebook, Youtube, Foursquare;  all often times used to show how fanatic these are individuals are for the blue  and gold.

Whether you have found yourself aboard the Twitter ship and  answering that all-too-vague question of, “What’s happening?” or still on the  sidelines waiting to dip your feet in, one thing is for sure: there is some  sort of Twitter account for you to follow for your personal enjoyment, and in  this case that of the Pacers and Area 55.

Be sure to follow the Pacers at twitter.com/@pacers  and Area 55 at twitter.com/PacerssArea55.

Area 55, Roy Hibbert’s unique fan group, filled section 101 before the buzzer  sounded with loud cheers and proud chants. The fans made sure to not let up the  entire 48 minutes of play.

But it didn’t start there. Many of the 55 members meet just south of  Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Indianapolis for a fun-filled tailgate  experience before the game begun.

The fan section is now in its second year, and for those who have returned they  believe Area 55 drives the momentum of the entire fieldhouse.

“This is the best way,” Super Fan Michael Hopson said. “You get to stand  up. You get to have fun. You get to cheer loud. “

The Pacers defeated the Pistons 91-79 but the victory did not come without the  ecstatic atmosphere created by the special area devoted to Hip Hip Ho-Roy. In a  shortened season the fan section is expected to give it all they got at every  game, and some even show their dedication in a more permanent manner.

Currently there are five members with Area 55 tattoos, and for Rob Greenway it  is just another way to show how dedicated he is to the team, and more  importantly Roy.

Starting the season with a victory is the picture perfect way for these fans to  get and stay excited for the season. And as Hibbert enters the court before  tip-off and turns and points to his hand selected fans, they all remember how  important they are to the Pacers success.