MDC approves proposed taxing district for Indy Eleven stadium
The Metropolitan Development Commission’s approval, which came by a 8-0 vote, sends the proposal to the City-County Council, where it will be introduced Nov. 13.
Sports Venues
-
Lucas Oil Stadium not considering switch to natural grass, Colts exec says
The NFL Players Association has called on all NFL venues to use natural grass for their playing surfaces, but that type of switch isn’t practical for Lucas Oil Stadium, officials say.
Read More -
Gray Eagle Golf Course planning two-level driving range with 160-foot-tall net
Plans call for the nets at Gray Eagle’s 38-acre driving range to be almost as tall as those used by TopGolf at its Fishers facility along Interstate 69. Gray Eagle also plans to build a 5,000-square-foot bar and restaurant inside a new clubhouse.
Read More -
Indy Eleven owner still interested in MLS as part of stadium project
For years, Ersal Ozdemir has pursued a Major League Soccer expansion franchise, but each time the league has rejected his overtures, in part because the team has lacked its own venue,
Read More -
Fishers selects manager for planned $170M event center
ASM Global, a Los Angeles-based facility management company, has agreed to terms with Fishers officials to oversee day-to-day operations for the the venue and event-attraction efforts.
Read More
Articles
IU coach: Vegas tourney a setback for women’s basketball
Indiana University women’s basketball coach Teri Moren said she considered not playing the University of Memphis on Saturday night in the Las Vegas Invitational because no paramedics were on site.
NFL Players Association calls on 6 venues, including Indy’s, to change playing surfaces
The association said the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium and five other venues results in “statistically higher in-game injury rates” involving non-contact and lower-extremity injuries. The NFL disputed the NFLPA’s conclusions.
Purdue trustees approve $6.7M in Mackey Arena renovations
The project focuses on reconfiguring the men’s and women’s basketball locker rooms and player lounges, expanding the John Wooden Club area, technology updates and more efficient use of the current space.
NCAA first round draws sizable crowds to downtown Indianapolis
The four games played in downtown Indianapolis on Thursday drew about 32,610 total spectators throughout the day, split between afternoon and evening sessions that each featured two contests.
Two major public art installations announced for Gainbridge Fieldhouse plaza
A $28.5 million Lilly Endowment Inc. grant will provide funding for plaza amenities including sculptures by Honduras-based artist Herman Mejia, a community basketball court/ice rink and public restrooms.
State lawmakers propose fund aimed at attracting more major sporting events, conventions
The Indiana Sports Corp. would be responsible for administering a grant program to disperse the funds, with the organization giving money to groups across the state as well as using a portion of the funding for its own bidding efforts.
Study: NCAA basketball tourney had $47M direct impact on local economy
Hospitality officials had expected an economic impact approaching $100 million for the NCAA Final Four alone, but that estimate was made before the pandemic put severe attendance limits on the tourney.
Lebanon plans 95-acre development anchored by $25M sports facility
The massive hospitality and entertainment district is slated to be anchored by a $25 million multisport venue surrounded by apartments, hotels, medical office buildings, restaurants, stores, senior-living facilities and condos.
Developer planning $30M pickleball, tennis center in Westfield
Westfield-based EdgeRock Development is working to develop the Grand National Pickleball Center on a 25-acre site on the north side of 191st Street. The facility is expected to have 36 indoor and 16 outdoor pickleball courts.
Indy’s pro sports teams find ways to welcome gamblers
Teams are trying to earn indirect revenue from mobile sports betting, carving out areas in their facilities that cater to fans who want to follow their bets while taking in a game downtown.
Indy Eleven limiting first home game to season ticket holders
The team is set to host all 16 of its regular-season home games at IUPUI’s Michael A. Carroll Stadium this season after playing the past three seasons at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Demolition of Maryland Street garage now under way
The teardown of the 770-space structure began in March and is expected to be completed sometime this summer, followed immediately by the start of construction on the new 1.5-acre plaza space.
NCAA: Just 15 positive COVID-19 tests out of 28,000-plus taken during tourney
Officials on Tuesday also released attendance figures for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament’s 66 games—all played in Indiana.
Thomas Cook: Indy leadership continues to move boldly
By enjoying an unbroken winning streak of mayoral leadership, Indianapolis has made boldness, well…boring.
Secondary brokers say ticket demand has been mixed, but Hinkle games are hot commodity
Interest in tickets to Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games in Indianapolis is generally outpacing the demand for tickets to earlier rounds. Tickets for Hinkle Fieldhouse games are seeing the strongest demand.
NCAA tournament early rounds draw 111,000-plus spectators
The figures, obtained by IBJ on Wednesday, show an average attendance of 2,180 people per game across the seven basketball courts at six venues. All venues limited crowd sizes because of the pandemic.
In terms of chaos, this year’s Sweet 16 field is historic
The seed numbers of the 16 remaining teams add up to 94, the highest total since the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament expanded in 1985. Here’s how that stacks up against some previous years.
Limited capacity at Hinkle Fieldhouse doesn’t dim experience for fans
Even with most of the seats empty, the roar of fans could be heard outside Hinkle Fieldhouse on Friday afternoon as Virginia Tech hit a three-pointer in the final seconds to send the game into overtime.
NCAA games return spotlight to venerable Hinkle Fieldhouse
“Hoosiers” made Hinkle Fieldhouse famous by Hollywood standards, but in the college basketball world, the home court for Butler University basketball was already a star.