Event manager makes career shift after pandemic job loss
Former JW Marriott employee Lisette Woloszyk watched things go from bad to worse in March, as cancellations for the city’s hotels racked up alongside COVID-19 cases.
Tourism & Hospitality
Articles
Spectators to be allowed at Big Ten men’s, women’s tournaments in Indy
A limited number of spectators will be allowed to attend the Big Ten Conference’s men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in Indianapolis this month, the conference announced Thursday morning.
March Madness will help restaurants. But how much?
The city will host an unprecedented number of games with the entire tournament being played in Indiana. But the pandemic will limit capacity at both games and restaurants.
Tournament’s economic impact will turn on number of fans who come
Even after the NCAA said Feb. 19 that some spectators will be allowed at the games, local tourism officials and economists are still tempering their financial expectations.
NCAA tournament tests won’t be included in state’s public dashboard
The Indiana Department of Health told IBJ that the state’s COVID-19 testing data, which has been updated daily since the pandemic began almost a year ago, is limited to information on Indiana residents.
NFL owners working to implement 17-game schedule for 2021 season
The deliberations about when to implement the 17-game season are tied in part to the completion of new broadcasting contracts with the television networks, according to people familiar with the planning of owners and the league.
Fans to be allowed at NCAA men’s basketball tourney games
Most of the games will be played at a handful of venues in Indianapolis, while remaining games will be played in West Lafayette and Bloomington.
Capital Improvement Board ends 2020 with $40M deficit
The agency, which operates the Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Victory Field, was hit hard by the pandemic, with annual revenue off more than 50% from the previous year.
Newfields president resigns amid staff, community pushback
Charles Venable, who came to Newfields in 2012, stepped down Wednesday amid controversy over a job posting.
Indiana should see some economic recovery this year, economist says
Indiana’s economy should start to recover this year from the damage of COVID-19, but the economy likely won’t fully rebound until late 2022 or early 2023, a Ball State University economist says.
Dozens of Newfields employees sign letter calling for ouster of Venable
The letter said staff members spent four hours Monday “listening to members of senior leadership attempt to explain themselves, their actions and their plans,” but were left feeling “more distrustful and confused” about their future after the meeting.
Virus curtails tournament’s festivities; organizers still engaging community
The pandemic that landed March Madness in Indianapolis is also the complication that will strip some of the tournament’s ambience, but local officials are organizing safe activities.
Salon leaving downtown after 36 years, opening new barber shops
MDG Salon | Studio owner Travis Moore said Thursday that the company’s downtown Indianapolis salon is closing, but the business will consolidate operations at MDG’s Carmel location starting March 1.
County health department indicates fans could be a go for NCAA tournament
Dr. Virginia Caine, executive director of the health department, said she expects the NCAA to formalize a request regarding fans “within the next one to two weeks,” and indicated recent data related to positive tests and hospitalizations is promising.
Allegiant adding nonstop service to Boston, Los Angeles
Routes to both cities begins at the end of May. The airline also plans to offer service from Indianapolis to Rapid City, South Dakota, in August for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
IMPD ‘excited’ about role in March Madness
Deputy Chief Joshua Barker says the challenge requires lots of planning and coordination—with the NCAA, the Indiana Sports Corp., local businesses, and even other police departments throughout the region.
Lilly Endowment pledges $905,000 for downtown’s NCAA beautification effort
The Indiana Sports Corp. on Friday said it has received the grant to support ongoing beautification and programming efforts in downtown Indianapolis leading up to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in March.
City, groups launch beautification effort to prepare for March Madness
Local officials are scheduling neighborhood cleanups, public art initiatives and a slew of other efforts to help the city put its best foot forward when March Madness takes over downtown next month.
Big Ten moving men’s basketball tournament to Indianapolis, sources say
The tournament will be played March 10-14 at Lucas Oil Stadium, sources say, because the women’s basketball tournament is already planned for Bankers Life Fieldhouse on overlapping dates.
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.