Tony George ripped in Australia
The honeymoon in Australia between the Indy Racing League and locals ended almost before it began. The day after local newspapers published huge sections featuring the IRL race and drivers, local stories came…
Sports Business
Articles
Pacers cut costs, boost marketing to break even within three years
The Indiana Pacers are ratcheting up sales and marketing initiatives while cutting costs elsewhere in an effort to simultaneously
ride out the economic storm and boost attendance. The team has little hope of being profitable this year-or even breaking
even, said Pacers President Jim Morris, but he added that within three years the franchise’s financial status should be much
improved.
SPORTS: Tony Dungy is much more than a football coach
Of this, that and the other: It was my pleasure to co-moderate (with IBJ’s Anthony Schoettle) last week’s IBJ “Power Breakfast” featuring Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy. This was the third year I’d shared the stage with Dungy, the Super Bowl-winning coach who most of us know by now is also a best-selling author, a man of deep faith, and a committed social activist, the latter best exemplified by his involvement with his mentoring program, All-Pro Dads. A Westin Hotel…
Titans turn Polian’s policy on Colts
The Tennessee Titans are willing to pay what the Indianapolis Colts would not for three players, and now hope to use the trio against the AFC South rival Colts when the teams square…
Aussies petition IRL to stay
The Indy Racing League is being greeted with much fanfare in Australia this week, but it remains doubtful the open-wheel series will return to race at Surfer’s Paradise next year.
The first two days…
Crean goes off court with recruiting
IU basketball coach Tom Crean is turning out to be quite a recruiter. And I’m not talking about basketball. Crean, who has already been named to the committee responsible for finding a short…
Titans take aim at Manning
On the day FatHead officials announced a deal that would make safety Bob Sanders the fourth Indianapolis Colts player the focus of one of their life-sized wall stickers, Tennesse Titans heas coach Jeff…
IU AD search: Who’s on first?
Where Indiana University is with its search for a new athletic director is anyone’s guess. IU officials are better—much better—at misdirection plays than its beleaguered football team.
Yesterday, IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre told the…
Pacers host historic concert
To celebrate the beginning of their 10th season at Conseco Fieldhouse, the Indiana Pacers will host the first outdoor concert in the venue’s history before the team’s home opener Nov. 1.
A free, 75-minute…
Candid conversation with Dungy
Indianapolis Colts Coach Tony Dungy likes Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. That’s just one of the interesting nuggets from this morning’s IBJ Power Breakfast featuring Coach Dungy. The coach stopped short of saying…
Marty’s party over in IRL
It’s official, kind of. Marty’s party in the Indy Racing League is over. Sources have told IBJ that IRL officials have asked driver and team owner Marty Roth (through intermediaries) to explore other options…
IU eyeing Oregon State AD
Indiana University may have a shorter list than expected for its soon-to-be-open athletic director position. The Oregonian is reporting that Oregon State University athletic director Bob De Carolis could be offered the job…
SPORTS Bill Benner: Get rid of Lynch? IU has numerous reasons not to
Critics are chirping like cicadas and basically singing the same song. One, get rid of Lynch, the sooner the better. And two, spend money, lots of it, on a “big-name” coach. If only it were as simple as the knee-jerks would have you believe. Perhaps they have forgotten, but Indiana has a lame-duck athletic director, Rick Greenspan, who won’t clean out his Assembly Hall office until Dec. 31. A search committee is vetting applicants. I’m told there are exceptional candidates…
Naming-rights deal puts Lucas Oil in competitive position
Emboldened by the deal he signed to put his company’s name on the Indianapolis Colts’ new home, Forrest Lucas has launched
an arsenal of creative-some would say unorthodox-initiatives to fortify his growing company. Many of them are designed to
help Lucas Oil Products Inc. go head to head with the oil industry’s biggest players.
IRL title sponsor hunt loses power
The Indy Racing League’s drive for a title sponsor has hit the wall.
“The economy is having a huge impact,” said Zak Brown, president of Just Marketing International, the local firm the IRL hired…
Pre-season is fan base indicator
For those who say the pre-season means nothing, I disagree. It’s a good indicator of a team’s fan base. While I didn’t expect the Indiana Pacers to draw hordes of fans for its…
Paul Newman’s legacy helping kids
In the coming years, Graham Rahal can expect more than a few thank you cards from critically ill youngsters. The 19-year-old Indy Racing League driver raised $40,900 for Flying Horse Farms with the…
Lucas: Stadium worth the cost
There have been a fair number of complaints about the new home of the Indianapolis Colts since its opening in August, from the temperature inside the stadium to traffic flow in concourses and…
Pacers give away free gasoline
The Indiana Pacers—in conjunction with sponsor Kia Motors—today are giving away free gasoline. You heard that right.
From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., Pacers players will be at gas stations at 7751 S. Meridian St. in Greenwood, 11544 Allisonville Rd. in…
Son of ex-Pacer chronicles change
Game of Change, a documentary directed by Jerald Harkness, will be featured at the 2008 Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis, beginning Oct. 18. Harkness, who is the son of Jerry Harkness, a two-time…