The woman chosen as president and CEO of the city’s Super Bowl host committee isn’t exactly a household name, but those who hired her think she’ll make Indianapolis the best host city ever. Allison Melangton, 46, is the first paid member of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee, and is expected to throw planning and organization into overdrive over the next 30 days.
The city’s 2012 Super Bowl bid committee set up a Web site, www.our2012sb.com, in mid-February to encourage input from the
community–adopting a more inclusive approach than organizers did last year when bidding on the 2011 game.
Organizers for a new Indianapolis marathon and half-marathon think the event will become a national draw, showcasing downtown
monuments and historic neighborhoods. The first Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, to be held Nov. 1, is the brainchild of
Carlton Ray, a former city engineer who worked in the Hudnut, Goldsmith and Peterson administrations.
Speedway officials are in discussions
to bring an airplane race to Indianapolis. The Red Bull Air Race World Series is a 5-year-old airplane race circuit that combines
the intrigue of a high-wire circus
act, thrills of an alpine ski race, and cutting-edge technology of Formula One auto racing.
With the 2011 Super Bowl galloping off to Dallas, pressure is building to bring in more of the marquee sports events the city’s
economy has come to rely on to keep hotels full, retail businesses humming and the national and international spotlight focused
on Indianapolis.
