Fan Central is hub for those looking for ‘unique vibe,’ shelter from cold
The convention center is home to Playoff Fan Central—a free event featuring obstacle courses, photo opportunities, a store, food and drink and various other activities.
Indiana Convention Center
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Catholic event expected to attract 50,000-plus to Indianapolis
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved plans Wednesday for Indianapolis to host a National Eucharistic Congress, a five-day summer event that organizers say could draw as many as 80,000 people to the city.
IBJ Podcast: Why a Chicago trade show displaced by the pandemic picked Indy
IBJ reporter Mickey Shuey talks with John Downs, the CEO of the National Confectioners Association, to find out why the group decided to host its signature trade show—The Sweets & Snacks Expo—in person this year and how it picked Indianapolis to be the event’s location.
CEO: ‘There’s a groundswell of support’ for candy expo to return to Indy
Indianapolis this week welcomed the Sweets & Snacks Expo at the Indiana Convention Center—its first major trade show since March 2020. John Downs, chief of the organization that organizes the event, said he’d like to see it return to Indianapolis in the future.
Capital Improvement Board sees first financially positive month since pandemic
The operator of the city’s convention facilities reported its best monthly financial performance since the pandemic led the Indiana Convention Center to temporarily close down in March 2020.
National FFA moving ahead with in-person convention in October
The Indianapolis-based group devoted to agricultural education said Wednesday morning that it expects anywhere from 30,000 to 40,000 people to attend its convention this fall at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium.
Wi-Fi upgrades coming to convention center after pandemic delay
The aging system has created friction between the CIB and some users of the convention center—most notably Gen Con, which wrote in 2018 emails it was concerned the Wi-Fi system was falling short of meeting its needs.
Gen Con reschedules to September, plans ‘hybrid’ event
In a statement on Gen Con’s website, event organizers said they believe the calendar change is the “best approach both to meet the many challenges of the moment and to explore possibilities for the future.”
Photo gallery: Basketball fans, volleyball players, revelers bring life back downtown
Hundreds of people—many of them in town for the Big Ten men’s and women’s tournaments—turned Georgia Street into a destination again, hitting the bars, riding scooters and listening to bands.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.