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.
Indiana Convention Center
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Articles
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.
Indianapolis to host international business conference
The state plans to welcome hundreds of business and economic development leaders to Indianapolis in the spring for its first-ever Indiana Global Economic Summit.
Experts say CIB is thin on liability coverage for event venues
The board carries $56 million in liability insurance for its facilities, including a $1 million general liability policy and a $55 million umbrella policy.
Wind energy conference blowing into Indianapolis in 2021
The American Wind Energy Association’s CleanPower conference and trade show will run from June 7-10, 2021, at the Indiana Convention Center. It will be the first time the event is hosted by Indianapolis.
Gen Con draws nearly 70,000 to Indianapolis, event officials say
The event, which has been hosted by the city since 2003, broke its records for exhibitors, total ticketed events, and for sales of four-day and Sunday badges.
Will debut made-in-USA expo bring big crowd?
A convention thought to be the first of its kind will take over nearly half the Indiana Convention Center for four days this fall, with a focus on promoting products manufactured in the United States.
Amid tensions, plans for Hilton hotel towers on Pan Am Plaza advance
A powerful group of hoteliers that opposes a proposal to build a pair of hotels on Pan Am Plaza scored a victory in the Legislature. But the plan to construct the project remains very much alive.
Trump to stump at NRA forum in Indianapolis
President Trump is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the NRA Institute for Legislative Action Leadership Forum on April 26, as he has done for the past two years.
Hoteliers oppose legislation that’s tied to convention center expansion
Some of the biggest hotel operators in Indianapolis say the city would not be able to absorb the 800-room and 600-room hotels planned by Kite Realty Group Trust alongside the proposed expansion of the Indiana Convention Center at Pan Am Plaza.
Visit Indy reports seventh straight year of rising visitor spending
A record 28.8 million people visited the Indianapolis in 2017, generating a $5.4 billion economic impact, according to figures released Wednesday afternoon by Visit Indy as part of its State of Tourism event.
Bill would boost CIB funding, require new 25-year deal with Pacers
A bill filed by Senate Appropriations Chairman Ryan Mishler would extend the life of multiple tourism- and entertainment-related taxes that help fund the Capital Improvement Board and expand the footprint of what’s known as the Professional Sports Development Area to capture even more tax revenue for the CIB. But there’s a catch.
Longtime CIB leader Levengood announces retirement
Nearly 30 years after coming to Indianapolis to head the city’s convention efforts, Barney Levengood is retiring later this year.
Gov. Holcomb wants to keep Pacers in Indy, will consider plans to improve CIB facilities
The Capital Improvement Board of Managers will ask lawmakers for more long-term funding that could be used in part for improvements at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The governor says he’s ready to listen.
State incentives help keep FFA convention in Indianapolis through 2031
Under an agreement with the state, FFA will receive $500,000 annually over the seven-year extension, which will help pay for convention-related expenses.
Indianapolis wins bid to host FFA convention through 2031
The National FFA Convention & Expo says the event, which draws nearly 70,000 visitors, had an estimated economic impact of $39.8 million when it was hosted here this year.
IBJ Podcast: Why the Indy CIB will ask the Legislature for millions of dollars
The Capital Improvement Board will seek at least $8 million from lawmakers to help fund what officials say will be a 25-year plan for improvements in the Indiana Convention Center, Bankers Life Fieldhouse and other facilities the CIB owns.
CIB to ask state for millions to help fund long-term needs
City convention officials are gearing up for a big financial ask of the Indiana General Assembly next year as they set out on a $120 million expansion of the Indiana Convention Center at Pan Am Plaza.
Kite seeks to minimize risk in convention-hotels project
Hospitality industry observers say this is far from an ideal time for Kite—a publicly traded real estate investment trust specializing in shopping centers—to veer outside its core business and tackle what would be a risky and colossal project that easily could cost more than $600 million.