Photo gallery: Downtown preps for All-Star Weekend
Workers continued hanging banners and organizing retail and event spaces downtown on Sunday in advance of All-Star Weekend, which kicks off Thursday and runs through the All-Star Game on Feb. 18.
Workers continued hanging banners and organizing retail and event spaces downtown on Sunday in advance of All-Star Weekend, which kicks off Thursday and runs through the All-Star Game on Feb. 18.
When thousands of basketball fans, journalists and corporate sponsors land in Indianapolis next week for All-Star Weekend, organizers say they’ll be treated to a more elevated experience than they would have been in 2021, when the city was originally slated to host the event.
If you can’t score tickets to the actual NBA All-Star Game or the official dunk contest, there will be plenty of other opportunities to meet some league greats and watch some quality basketball action throughout the weekend of Feb. 16-18 at the Indiana Convention Center.
The 2024 All-Star Host Committee picked 24 projects across Indiana to receive funding meant to benefit youth. Each received up to $50,000—except one, a project at Crisamore House—that received more.
Hosting an NBA All-Star Weekend is a complicated and costly endeavor, but Indianapolis officials say the city and its civic partners can pull it off more easily than can many locales because of a history of experience with large-scale events.
Kristin Mays-Corbitt was 9 years old and on crutches when the NBA All-Star Game came to town in 1985. Now, 39 years later, Mays-Corbitt is on NBA All-Star 2024 Host Committee and is co-chair of the communications committee, which handles marketing and branding.
Stowers did not make the boys basketball team at North Central High School, but he said the game taught him lessons about character development and team building that he uses today. He is co-chair of the community engagement committee for the NBA All-Star 2024 Host Committee.
The Indianapolis-based Million Meal Movement, with more than 6,000 volunteers, aims to pack more than 1 million meal pouches during the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service from 4 p.m. Feb. 15 to 4 p.m. Feb. 16 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Juan Gonzalez grew up in soccer-mad Colombia, but basketball drew him to Indianapolis, where he has become one of the city’s leading bank executives. He is serving on the board of the NBA All-Star 2024 Host Committee and as co-chair on the event’s operations committee.
Indianapolis native Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
IBJ arts and entertainment writer Dave Lindquist talks about the All-Star Weekend schedule of concerts and other entertainment so far and explains what central Indiana residents can do to enjoy the festiities—even if they don’t have a ticket to the game.
Each program is guaranteed to receive at least $100,000, with the organization represented by the winning team receiving an additional $240,000.
At Newfields, IUPUI alum and former Indiana Pacer George Hill will host a Feb. 17 party billed as All-Starry Night. Pan Am Tower will showcase basketball-themed historic exhibits.
The NBA has contracted with 29 of downtown’s 35 lodging properties, with each committing at least 90% of their inventory at negotiated rates and minimum four-night stays, according to Visit Indy.
Stephen Curry, the NBA’s all-time 3-point king, will take on the reigning WNBA 3-point shootout queen and single-season record holder Sabrina Ionescu in a battle they both have encouraged.
Finding one’s way into Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Feb. 18 for the flagship event of NBA All-Star Weekend will cost a pretty penny, if any tickets can be found at all.
Over the years, All-Star Weekend has become a cultural magnet for entertainment and fashion. It’s known as a vibrant destination among Black residents coast-to-coast.
The performance by the country-pop star is one of three concerts planned at the Indiana Convention Center during NBA All-Star Weekend.
Most of the 125,000-plus fans who are expected downtown for the NBA All-Star Weekend Feb. 15-18 won’t be at the big game. But local residents and others without game tickets will still have plenty of opportunities to get in on the action.
The high-profile billionaire, who graduated from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, will keep a 27% stake in the NBA franchise and maintain control of basketball operations.