A local group led by the Indiana Sports Corp. is bidding to bring the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials to Indianapolis for the fifth time. But the event wouldn’t be in the 4,200-seat IUPUI Natatorium. Instead, officials want to host the 2016 trials in 63,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium.
People who come to Indianapolis for business, ball games or other reasons could pay more for their visits if local officials decide to raise taxes on car rentals and professional sports tickets early next year.
A study released Thursday says the tourism industry in Indianapolis had an economic impact of nearly $4 billion in 2011, a 10-percent increase from the previous year.
Organizers of the Big Ten football championship played in Indianapolis say they’ll consider making changes for next year’s game in an attempt to boost attendance.
The Performance Racing Industry Show will return to Indianapolis for five years starting in 2013, bringing about 40,000 guests and millions of dollars of visitor spending with it.
Visitors pay among the highest travel taxes in the nation when they come to Indianapolis — 17 percent on hotel rates, 15 percent on rental cars and 9 percent on meals.
The Gen Con Indy gaming convention and the MotoGP race are among several events the city is hosting that could produce an economic impact of $150 million, according to the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association.
Helped in part by the Super Bowl, the county’s occupancy rate increased 8.4 percent, to 63 percent, compared with the first six months of 2011, according to a report by Tennessee-based Smith Travel Research.
With a new Indianapolis Colts coach and quarterback on the field, Anderson officials expect to see an increase in training camp attendance this season that will help boost tourism in Madison County all year.
As crowds get bigger, businesses take more notice.
Officials are emboldened by the financial results of the city’s first time hosting the NFL championship game in February, which produced a direct economic impact of $176 million, according to a study commissioned by the Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee.
Temporary metal bleachers have been built along a track at the Shelby County Fairgrounds to replace the 133-year-old wooden grandstands destroyed in an arson last month.
CIB and city tourism leaders say that the money was well spent considering the game could translate to $300 million in direct visitor spending over the next several years.
The annual Fire Department Instructors Conference attracts nearly 30,000 visitors to downtown. But with Race for the Cure on Saturday, demand for hotel rooms is even stronger, particularly toward the end of the week.
League officials said a Super Bowl Village like the one in downtown Indianapolis will now be a requirement for future cities hosting the big game.
Preliminary financials show the board that manages the city’s sports and convention facilities so far has lost nearly $350,000 due to the Super Bowl. That figure is expected to grow to $800,000.
Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman says the $400,000 initiative will help draw visitors and have a "lasting impact" on Indiana's towns and cities.
NCAA swimming championships being held at the IU Natatorium this week kick off six years of collegiate swimming championships that are expected to generate millions of dollars for the local economy.
The Indiana State Fairgrounds generated $124 million in visitor spending in 2011 and has an annual impact on the local economy similar to a factory employing 500 people, according to a study released Wednesday.
Officials are confident attendance at the Big Ten men’s basketball tourney will top last year’s total of more than 86,000 and could surpass 90,000 for the first time since 2006.
