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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowTourism and conventions drive a substantial part of Indianapolis’ economy and underpin the city’s downtown. In this Quick Hits look at a competing convention city, Cincinnati boasts more convention space, but Indianapolis draws more guests.
Convention center space
Indianapolis…………………………. 419,700 sq. ft.(1) Cincinnati ……………………………….750,000 sq. ft.
Hotel rooms metro area
Indianapolis………………………………………. 30,210 Cincinnati ………………………………………….25,000
Hotel rooms downtown
Indianapolis………………………………………… 5,478 Cincinnati …………………………………………… 3,200
Room nights (2008)
Indianapolis……………………………………..658,000 Cincinnati ……………………………………….. 187,887
Annual budget
Indianapolis……………………………….$10.2 million Cincinnati ……………………………………$5.8 million
Promotion staff
Indianapolis………………………………………………51 Cincinnati …………………………………………………25
Annual visitors
Indianapolis………………………………… 21.9 million Cincinnati ……………………………………….. 5 million
Downtown restaurants
Indianapolis…………………………………………… 200 Cincinnati ……………………………………………… 154
Major conventions (2009)
Indianapolis: National FFA, Dealer Expo, Fire Department Instructors Conference, Gen Con, Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration, Music For All Bands of America Grand Nationals, Circle City Classic, Disciples of Christ General Assembly, Do It Best (twice annually), Drum Corps International World Championships
Cincinnati: USA Gymnastics, Educational Testing Service, United Auto Workers, U.S. Department of Education, National Association of Freewill Baptists, Gospel Music Workshop of America, State Wars Hockey, Youth Specialties
Major events (2009)
Indianapolis: Indianapolis 500, 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, NCAA Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional, Big Ten Women’s and Men’s Basketball Tournaments, Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration, Indiana State Fair, NHRA Mac Tools U.S. National Drag Racing Championships, Red Bull Indianapolis GP, National Association of Professional Baseball Winter Meetings
Cincinnati: Flying Pig Marathon, MLB’s Civil Rights Game, Macy’s Music Festival, Taste of Cincinnati, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, Cincy Cinco, Black Family Reunion, U.S. Gymnastics Junior Olympics
Major attractions
Indianapolis: White River State Park (Indianapolis Zoo, Indiana State Museum, NCAA Hall of Champions, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art), Central Canal, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Conner Prairie, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Cincinnati: National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Kings Island, Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, Newport on the Levee Entertainment District and Newport Aquarium, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Newport Aquarium, BB Riverboats, Ride the Ducks, Cincinnati Cyclones Hockey
(1) includes Lucas Oil Stadium, 183,000 sq. ft.; does not include 328,000 sq. ft. of convention center expansion now under construction
Sources: Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau
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