Indiana Pacers jersey QR code partnership does more than just share team content with fans

The Indiana Pacers have struck an innovative partnership with a local tech startup, which allows fans to access exclusive team content – but also helps those in need

20:49 ET, 13 Jun 2025Updated 21:03 ET, 13 Jun 2025

The Indiana Pacers have had a scannable code on their jerseys for over a year

INDIANAPOLIS – For over a year now, the Indiana Pacers have had an unusual patch on their jersey – one that features a QR code.

The patch is a result of the NBA team’s partnership with Spokenote, a tech startup from Fishers, Indiana, providing businesses with scannable code patches that help them connect with customers. Upon scanning, they prompt an attached video message – an innovative way to engage with the audience.

The Pacers – who are battling the Oklahoma City Thunder in their first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years – are the first pro sports team to wear a QR code on their jerseys. In their case, Indiana fans get access to exclusive, never-before-seen content. It’s also been used to offer in-game promotions, such as a souvenir ticket giveaway.

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But one Pacers-utilized QR code serves a particularly noble purpose. During interviews and press conferences, head coach Rick Carlisle often sports a top with a special patch that also features the logo of his Drive & Dish program, which provides free nourishing food to Indiana residents in need.

That code leads to a video that shows Carlisle explaining the mission of his charitable efforts alongside a link that can be used to make a donation. “Well, Spokenote is one of our major sponsors. They’re helping me out with spreading the word,” Carlisle said of the initiative.

“This is a QR code, you scan it and a video comes up on your phone. Drive & Dish is a charity to address food insecurity in the state of Indiana. Started it a little over two years ago.

“We’ve raised a little over half a million, as I said, each year. Each year, we’ve been able to help more people. People in Indiana should never have to deal with food insecurity. There’s plenty of food in Indiana. The challenge is logistics. So this charity helps with logistics.

Rick Carlisle has a code on his top that supports the Pacers head coach’s charitable efforts

“We work with Gleaners. We deliver food to those that need it. It’s been a great effort. I’ve got some really great people that are supporting it. I’m very grateful.”

Carlisle’s efforts should receive a major boost with his QR code visible to an audience of millions thanks to Indiana’s trip to the NBA Finals.

Although the first three games of the series saw a 23 percent decline from the 2024 matchup between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks, it still averaged 8.95 million viewers.

And the Pacers’ heroics in Game 3 led to a TV rating spike on Wednesday night, attracting an average audience of 9.19 million and recording a peak of 11.54 million at 11 p.m. ET as Indiana cruised to a 116-107 win, taking a 2-1 lead.

On the flip side, the NBA Finals performed exceptionally well on social media, generating more than 1.5 billion views globally – a record through three games, per Videocites.