Indiana politicians consider Super Bowl ticket offer

The opportunity to buy Super Bowl tickets from the Indianapolis Colts forced some elected officials to make a tough decision.

And we’re not talking about ethics. Rather, the question was whether to shell out $800 per ticket, plus hotel
costs and airfare.

Indianapolis City-County Councilor Jackie Nytes would prefer to spend her
money on the symphony or theater, but the Democrat decided to suck it up and head to Miami so she could
see what’s in store for her constituents when Indianapolis hosts the Super Bowl in 2012.

“I don’t have this kind of money to throw around,” Nytes said. “I’m making
choices.”

Nytes will be one of several city councilors in attendance through a special
offer from the Colts. The team, which plays in a largely taxpayer-funded stadium, set aside tickets for
elected officials.

The tickets are priced at face value, but the general public can’t score the seats for the same
price. On the secondary market, Super Bowl tickets are selling from about $900 to $8,000 apiece.

Although the tickets
aren’t free, they are considered a lobbyist gift, at least in the state of Indiana. The team must report any tickets they
sell to state legislators within seven days of the transaction. As of this morning, the team had not filed any reports with
the Indiana Lobby Registration Commission.

Members of Congress do not have to report Super Bowl tickets as a lobbyist
gift.

IBJ talked to a smattering of congressmen, state legislators and city councilors about their Super
Bowl plans. Some who attended the game in 2007 aren’t going this year, though they wish they could.

“It’s just a pretty expensive trip,” said Rep. Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis.

U.S. Rep. Dan Burton would like to be in Miami again this year, but the Republican has too many
events going on in his home district, press secretary John Donnelly said. U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer, who
recently announced that he plans to retire because of his wife’s illness, also won’t be repeating
the trip.

That might leave U.S. Rep. Mike Pence as the only member of the Indiana congressional delegation
in Miami. The Republican from Columbus went to the Super Bowl in 2007, and this year he’s taking his son. “He
only goes when the Colts are playing,” press secretary Daniel Son said.

Other congressmen said they weren’t
going, or weren’t clear about their plans. Sen. Evan Bayh’s press secretary didn’t respond to an inquiry. This
is the first year that U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, a Democrat from Indianapolis who was elected in 2008 to a seat held by his
grandmother, could take advantage of the Colts’ special offer himself. As of late Wednesday, Carson had not decided
whether to go, spokeswoman Glendal Jones said.

Colts officials, who are already in Miami, could not be reached
for more information. The Indianapolis Star has reported that the Colts received ticket requests from 32 legislators
and four members of Congress, as well as 26 of the 29 city-county councilors. Republican City-County
Council member Bob Cockrum does not expect to see nearly that many of his colleagues in the stands. Based
on conversations at meetings this week, Cockrum said perhaps half the council members will be in attendance.

This year will be a second trip for Cockrum, who said, “It’s sort of the opportunity
of a lifetime.”

Cockrum, who has four children, had to make some tough choices about
how to use that second ticket. In 2007, he decided to take his middle son, who worked for a hotel and
had access to a discounted room.

This year, Cockrum’s youngest son, who was miffed about being passed over
three years ago, is taking the ticket.

The rare opportunity to attend one of the most-watched events in professional
sports might be a perk of elected office, but Cockrum does not think it’s inappropriate.

“Anyplace
I’ve ever worked, there have been perks,” he said. That includes free parking spaces and holiday turkeys, he said.

Gov. Mitch Daniels will be in Miami, but not just for fun. Daniels’ schedule includes some meetings about economic
development and with the Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee. On Saturday, Daniels will host about 300 people at an Indiana
Economic Development Corp. event in Coconut Grove.