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The WNBA and its affiliates would not pay state and local taxes on their activities during All-Star Weekend, which is scheduled for July 18-19 in Indianapolis, under legislation that has received broad bipartisan support.
Senate Bill 314 expands an existing income and sales tax exemption that applies to an NFL Super Bowl, NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Fours and NBA All-Star Weekend to include the WNBA and its affiliates.
Indianapolis will host the WNBA’s 2025 All-Star Game on July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The weekend is also expected to include community programs, entertainment and on-court activities such as a skills competition and three-point contest.
The Senate voted 45-4 on Feb. 10 to send SB 314 to the House, which approved it 84-5 on Thursday. Because the House amended the Senate-passed version of the bill, it now goes back to the Senate, which will consider the changes. The Senate can vote to accept the House changes or send the bill to a conference committee, where members of both chambers will try to work out a compromise. The language could also be amended into another tax bill or the state budget bill.
SB 314, if enacted, would go into effect immediately, which means WNBA organizers could begin reaping the benefits as they prepare for this summer’s event. Another bill, Senate Bill 453, includes the same language as SB 314 but would not be enacted until July 1. If that bill passed as written, the incentives would be active for All-Star Weekend, but organizers would pay taxes on its preparation activities.
The WNBA has exploded in popularity since No. 1 draft pick Caitlin Clark joined the Indiana Fever. The league saw record attendance and television ratings last season. It’s 2025 season begins in May.
“Indianapolis, with Visit Indy, other organizations, [the Indiana] Sports Corporation, has been a hub of bringing sports entertainment to Indianapolis and to Indiana,” Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, said during House debate on Thursday. “We bring millions of dollars and tourism to the state of Indiana, and this is just another way.”
The legislation exempts all revenue, expenditures and transactions incurred by the WNBA and its affiliates from all state and local taxes, includes income taxes, sales taxes and the Marion County admissions tax. The qualifying events include not just the All-Star game but “all ancillary events” associated with the weekend. The exemption would not apply to salaries and wages paid to employees of the WNBA and its affiliates that are ordinarily subject to Indiana state and local income tax.
The legislative fiscal analysis prepared for SB 314 said the amount of tax revenue that would be exempted “is indeterminable.”
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If only Hoosiers could be so lucky..
Ah, the sweet smell of tax breaks, just NOT for the folks actually living in Indiana and footing the bill! Maybe we should extend this perk to millionaires as well, so the rest of us can live vicariously through their tax-free bliss, kind of like checking into a five-star hotel and realizing the bill doesn’t come with a 30% surcharge for simply existing! Ahhh the high life!
This is why Indy has these expensive facilities – to bring these events. But out-of-town visitors don’t have to pay taxes?! So the responsibility falls on the local Pacers and Colts fans? This is insane.
It is the WNBA that doesn’t have to pay taxes. Still doesn’t make it right.
The hospitality industry, transportation, AirB&b ect ect is an economic boost when these events come to Indy. Indy has to compete with every city in the country to land these events. So what leverage can Indy give the NFL,NBA, WNBA ect to come hold major events in Indy vs Vegas or a Miami? Incentives Incentives Incentives!
And the out-of-towers who attend these major sports events generally are well enough off that the tax makes no difference to them.
If the amount of revenue “is indeterminable” is there any way it could it have been enough to 1) install decent landscaping around the Soldiers and Sailor Monument, or 2) repaint all four of the missing zebra stripe crosswalks at Washington and Meridian or, 3) do something really crazy expensive like a dog park? Asking for a friend…