PopCon Indy planning to return this summer as in-person event
The multi-genre popular culture convention is slated for July 9-11 at the Indiana Convention Center with a full lineup, organizers announced Tuesday.
Indiana Convention Center
-
NCAA’s March Madness will be test Indy was ‘made for’
The herculean effort over the next 2-1/2 months will involve city and state officials, tourism and civic leaders, and likely thousands of volunteers.
Read More -
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.
Read More -
Sports Corp. ‘very close’ to bringing basketball bubbles to Indiana Convention Center
Visit Indy President and CEO Leonard Hoops addressed the topic Friday during the monthly Capital Improvement Board meeting, indicating there are tentative plans for up to three separate bubbles.
Read More -
Pummeled by pandemic, CIB making ‘hard decisions’
But Executive Director Andy Mallon says he’s “very confident” the board will recover from not only the pandemic but also necessary spending cuts and financial hits over the next 18 months.
Read More
Articles
Massive snacks convention picks Indy over sweet home Chicago for 2021 expo
The Sweets & Snacks Expo is expected to attract more than 13,000 attendees and generate an economic impact of $10.2 million.
City-County Council approves financing plan for convention center expansion
The Indianapolis City-County Council on Monday night voted unanimously to issue up to $155 million in bonds to pay for an expansion of the Indiana Convention Center at Pan Am Plaza.
PRI cancels its December trade show at convention center
The trade show in a typical year brings upwards of 67,000 people to the Indiana Convention Center and generates an economic impact of $65 million. Last year’s event had 1,100 exhibitors and 3,300 booths.
CIB still seeing major losses, but anticipates August revenue bump
While the convention center began seeing some activity during July, those events had very little impact on the venue’s operating income for the month.
Tourism experts disagree on wisdom of planned convention center expansion
Overall attendance at Indiana Convention Center events has stagnated, but annual major conventions have seen explosive growth.
Indiana Convention Center still hosting some events despite pandemic
The pandemic hasn’t stopped all hospitality business in Indianapolis. Nearly 40,000 people have visited downtown since the beginning of July for events at the Indiana Convention Center or at major hotels.
Council panel advances financing proposal for Indiana Convention Center expansion
The full City-County Council is expected to vote on the proposals next month. After that, the financing will need to be approved by both the Metropolitan Development Commission and the Indianapolis Bond Bank.
Capital Improvement Board projects $41.6M budget deficit in 2021
The Capital Improvement Board of Marion County approved a $132.3 million budget for 2021 during its Friday board meeting—a reduction of 26.4% from this year’s budget.
Ratio principal Bill Browne talks Pan Am Plaza project
Ratio is architect for the $550 million project by Kite Realty Group Trust that includes a Signia Hilton, an expansion of the Indiana Convention Center and—eventually—a second, 600-room Hilton-branded hotel.
Performance Racing Industry hoping to hold December trade show
More than 940 exhibitors have already registered for the event, which could bring upwards of 67,000 people to the Indiana Convention Center and generate an economic impact of $65.2 million. But county health officials haven’t yet approved the event.
Proposed 40-story Signia at Pan Am Plaza to shake up hotel landscape
The $300 million hotel will be the most expensive and elaborate new lodging project built in the city since the $450 million JW Marriott complex was completed in 2011. And it will compete directly with the JW.
City, Kite reach deal for $550M Pan Am Plaza project—with up to 2-year delay
The city will not subsidize construction of Kite’s two hotels on the site but will ask the City-County Council to authorize a $150 million bond to finance an addition to the Indiana Convention Center.
Convention Center gets back in the game by hosting basketball tournament
The Nike Tournament of Champions, a 300-team girls basketball event, is expected to bring 9,000 people to Indianapolis through Sunday, injecting an estimated $8.9 million into the local economy.
Conventions rush to reschedule, make most of 2020 events
The local tourism industry is bracing for a “very tough” end to 2020, despite efforts to reopen the state by July 4.
Visit Indy to cut employee hours amid forced events lull
The tourism bureau’s 62 employees will see their work weeks cut to four days through at least April.
Capital Improvement Board braces for big losses from COVID-19 outbreak
The head of the Capital Improvement Board of Marion County, which owns and manages the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, on Friday acknowledged there will be an “obvious impact” from the virus.
Major downtown convention postponed due to coronavirus outbreak
A conference and trade show that was expected to draw nearly 10,000 people to Indianapolis is the first local convention to be postponed or called off due to the virus.
Local tourism, convention officials prepare for impact from coronavirus
Officials say no events have been canceled locally, but groups—including the NCAA and Visit Indy—are watching the news and weighing their options.
Indianapolis lands major convention for people who make decisions about conventions
The American Society of Association Executives expects draw more than 6,000 people to Indianapolis for its four-day conference in August 2026, putting Indianapolis under the microscope of key decision-makers for their respective associations.