Dale Neuburger: A peak behind the sports event curtain
Revelation: Not all sports events are problem-free, irrespective of the athlete or spectator perspective.
Sporting Events
Articles
Interest heating up for NCAA hoops tourney tickets, but matchups will determine demand
Tickets for many of the early game have sold out, although there are still seats available for games at Lucas Oil Stadium, where capacity is the largest. For other venues, tickets on some of the bigger resale web sites were being advertised for more than $250. Most were less.
IBJ Podcast: Spiffing up downtown Indy before March Madness arrives
Host Mason King talks with Downtown Indy Inc.’s Bob Schultz, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s Jeremy Kranowitz and the Arts Council of Indianapolis’ Julie Goodman about the projects and cleanups they have planned.
Undaunted by COVID, city tourism pros pack events into early 2021
Officials are hopeful new virus cases won’t ruin plans to host two dozen events in the first quarter of 2021—including efforts to bring the full NCAA men’s basketball tournament here.
Despite virus, city bids to host dozens of sports events
Local officials are betting big on Indianapolis’ continued success as a sports city by submitting two dozen bids for championship-level events slated through 2030.
NFL broadcasts to feature phantom fans cheering stellar plays
The NFL is set to kick off its 2020 season Thursday night in Kansas City, where 16,000 fans are expected. But it will sound as if 76,416 spectators are cheering thanks to NFL Films, which is supplying prerecorded audio specific to each NFL venue.
New Indy 500 date could come just when tourism industry needs it most
The race—rescheduled for Aug. 23—is on an otherwise open weekend in the city’s summer event calendar, which could fill hotel rooms at a time they would otherwise have been empty.
21 organizations from across Indiana selected for All-Star grants
The $1 million initiative was announced in October as a legacy project tied to next year’s All-Star festivities, with each group receiving up to $50,000 in funding for youth-serving projects.
Indianapolis plans to make 2021 All-Star Weekend a tribute to basketball
Fresh off a trip to Chicago for this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend, city officials are contemplating how best to celebrate the sport when the city hosts the event next year.
Pagenaud wins his first Indy 500 with late pass
Simon Pagenaud’s win gave team owner Roger Penske his 18th victory in his 50th year at the track.
Indianapolis gets one-year extension as host of NFL Scouting Combine
The extension, announced Wednesday, means Indianapolis will keep the event through at least 2021. It has hosted the combine since 1987.
Indy wants the NFL Draft, but not right away
Indianapolis is making moves to host the NFL Draft in coming years, but it’s unlikely the city will aggressively pursue it until a slew of previously scheduled events have occurred.
Danica Patrick to join NBC’s Indy 500 team
No longer a professional racer but still one of the sport’s best-known figures, Patrick will be a studio analyst on race day for the network’s inaugural coverage in May.
NFL Combine could ink new Indy extension deal later this year
The five-day NFL Combine has been hosted in Indianapolis since 1987, and efforts are underway to ensure the showcase calls the city home for the next several years.
IndyCar to debut titanium cockpit protection in Indianapolis 500
The device dubbed "Advanced Frontal Protection" will officially debut when practice begins next month and is expected to be used for the remainder of the IndyCar season.
Financial services firm inks deal to sponsor Indianapolis 500
Financial services firm Gainbridge has reached a multiyear deal to become the presenting sponsor of the Indianapolis 500, race officials announced Thursday. It becomes just the second presenting sponsor in the race’s history.
Local merchandiser MainGate lands deal with NASCAR track owner ISC
Indianapolis-based retail merchandiser MainGate has inked an exclusive deal with the owner and manager of numerous NASCAR tracks, including Daytona and Talladega, to provide licensed gear and set up a new web store.
Attendance remains steady for third running of Red Bull Air Race
Attendance for this year’s Red Bull Air Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was down only slightly from a year ago. The event was in the third year of a three-year contract, but IMS officials aren’t ruling out a return.
Q&A: Golf pro overcomes disability, wins state title
Six years after golfer Brad Fellers was diagnosed with a rare bone malady that caused him to lose feeling in his right hand, he has qualified for the 2019 PGA Professional Championship.
Colts training camp sees attendance surge after switch to Grand Park
With three days remaining, the Colts camp has already received more visitors than it did in its final year at Anderson University. But the crowd numbers are still well below what they reached early this decade.