Got Ideas? Let’s Hear Them!
March 4th, 2008 by Mark MilesIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
After the media event announcing the 2012 Super Bowl bid on 2-19, it was time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work on making sure the technical aspects of the bid are up to par for the NFL. Last week we hosted a bid committee meeting to give out assignments related to specific aspects of the planning - everything from public safety and hotels to transportation/parking and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Lots of details and requirements… Fortunately, we have a great team led by Jack Swarbrick at Baker & Daniels with expert volunteer support from individuals representing companies and organizations across our community, and well as professional expertise from the Indiana Sports Corporation, ICVA, Capital Improvements Board, NCAA, Conseco Fieldhouse, the Colts and more.
As we’ve made clear, community input will also be critical to the bid… our Community Advisory Council is planning its first town hall meeting for mid-March, with more to come, and we’re also reading through comments from our forum and partner sites on a daily basis.
Last week, we received a lot of good feedback from folks who have attended sporting events out of town - Super Bowls in Miami and Pasadena, Final Fours in Atlanta, Tampa Bay and New Orleans and many more. The comments uncovered a common thread - in many cities, stadiums are isolated from downtown areas, and attractions like clubs and restaurants are too spread out to feature a central hub of activity. Time spent driving or catching a cab adds up, and there is little opportunity to build a “festival” atmosphere.
Indianapolis, with our compact downtown, could avoid these issues. As we dive further into our discussion of the Super Bowl Village, we’re finding this is an invaluable asset.
Among the comments we received, there were some concerns raised about Indianapolis’ ability to stage cutting-edge parties and events that can match cities like Miami. I do believe that Indy can throw a great party with something for everyone, and would assert that our committee is open to new ideas and a diverse array of perspectives on what makes a Super Bowl City… so keep your comments coming, be specific, and volunteer your time if you feel that your expertise could be valuable in this area.
On a lighter note, Victory33 posted this on the IndyStar.com forum: “I went to Wrestle Mania in the Hoosier Dome back in ‘92… gonna be pretty hard to top that venue and lineup. Hulk Hogan stunning defeat of Sid Justice will forever be etched in my mind.”
You’re right, that will be a tough act to follow – but with your help, we’ll give it our best shot.
This week, tell us more about what Indianapolis does well and what we can do better.
Mark Miles
President & CEO of Central Indiana Community Partnership
ContactUs@OUR2012SB.com
I put this suggestion/idea on the indystar/Colts forum. I don’t know if you read it but I thought it would be pretty cool. Plus, the field is not being used during this time, so why not make good use out of it.
“Here is a idea that could get us an extra 300,000 + sqft, and another space for a concert or convention. Since the RCA Dome is coming down and the new CC will be built. Instead of scraping the teflon roof, why doesn’t the city save it and somehow enclose Victory Field with it. It’s right across from the CC and the new JW Marriott. It will be protected from the weather and we don’t have to spend whatever on huge tents because we already have it.”
I was thinking on this more and the city could probable put up temporary skybridges both from the CC and JW to Victory Field. Another idea came from the military. We had a Enlisted club that was broken into four different clubs. One was country, one was R&B(rap),one was dance/techno. and the last was just a place to listen to todays music. The point was, is that it was a all-in-one place to gather without driving around. Victory Field could do that.
Since Indianapolis does not have a great mass transit system (yet), it would be nice to at least offer free shuttle service from the airport to downtown hotels days before and after the Super Bowl. The shuttles could offer pamphlets with a schedule of activities and other sites around town, dining, etc. and/or a continuous video about Indy and the scheduled activities to get everyone welcomed properly and in the mood!
Having a shuttle from drowntown to the fashion mall will get the Super Bowl here in 2012. :)lol
When we do this, let’s try to put on quality pre, half-time and post game shows. Just like the big shows for the Pan-Am Games open and close, the annual Circle of Lights celebration, et.al., Indy can do massive well connected shows that have flow. The past shows at the SB have been filled with gaps and were boring in terms of field effects and movement. Like the old movie said, “My Dad’s got a barn and my Mom can help make the costumes. Let’s put on a show!” No other city in the U.S. can put on a show like Indy. Get up Indy! SB 2012, it is our destiny.
I think Indianapolis needs to really consider putting in a monorail system between the airport to downtown. This would mean that you could travel from across the world, arrive in Indianapolis, get your hotel room, eat, shop, visit museums, attend sporting events, etc without even having to get a taxi or walk more than a few blocks outside if you didn’t want to. Downtown Indianapolis is a priceless and very unique resource and directly connecting it to the world for a cheap rate would benefit the city tremendously. A direct connection from the airport that runs 24/7 and does not require having to wait for a taxi or have the uncomfortable feelings of being in a taxi would be amazing! While on the rail, advertise Indianapolis on monitors since you have visitors locked in the train anyway for the short trip
There are many times when I fly back to Indiana and am picked up at the airport by local friends. What do we usually do first? Hit up Downtown. I would love to hop on the rail and meet them downtown without having to get a taxi. Rail connection would also show the world that Indy is an up and coming city that can compete with anybody on big events. There would be a small fee for each ride and solar power could be used to help offset some of the cost. Worth a shot, right? I would be impressed. Maybe if the idea goes off well, other lines from the suburbs could be connected to it.
There just needs to be a location downtown to put a station and a place to put the track. I’m not an engineer.
Has anyone forgotten the largest, one day sporting event in the world is helf every year in Indianapolis? Followed in a very close second the the Allstate 400 at the brickyard. Every year the city plays hosts to MILLIONS of people and events throughout the city and the state, with no issues. Indy can do this, no sweat.
After attending the Super Bowl Bid meeting Monday evening, I was challenged to think about one of the topics of discussion: the legacy that Indianapolis would incorporate into the bid package for the NFL owners. My understanding was that Indianapolis started by presenting the legacy of childhood fitness and obesity in the bid last year. The group was then encouraged to go beyond that and find something that would broaden this scope. My suggestion would be a state wide commitment to an all-encompassing wellness program that would supplement and expand the NFL’s initiative for children to exercise. Rising health care costs is an increasingly difficult problem that our country is facing. Starting with the children is a great first step but it only tackles half the issue. To truly leave a legacy, Indianapolis needs to target the schools and adult employment through businesses.
Here is my suggestion on how a wellness program could work. This is tailored primarily to businesses, but could easily be implemented in schools too. It starts with a wellness assessment which includes a paper form/survey, blood pressure tests, stress profile, dietary questions, etc. It measures the physical, psychological, and nutritional sides of people’s lives. From that point you would:
1. Get a number ranking that determines your individual program.
2. Twice per year a physician checks out your employees.
3. Program- monthly coaching on site, email updates and newsletters on trends/innovations, discounted one-on-one sessions, online support for meal planning, exercise, etc. It also could offer health club memberships and on-site studio programs like karate for a flat fee.
Problems- lack of incentive for employers to offer this to employees. No support from insurance companies or the government. Insurance companies may offer discounts on rates but you have to use their “wellness plan,” which isn’t as beneficial and is presented at a higher premium. We need to make this a priority and attractive offering for businesses to give to employees along with their medical, dental, and other benefits.
Other table ideas: Our table discussed ways in which the Super Bowl Village could be unique, alluring for the NFL, and exhilarating for fans. Here are some of the highlights:
1. Create a Vegas style atmosphere with covered streets and LED lightning. The idea being to create an “indoor,” feel for festivities while illuminating Indianapolis from above.
2. Have individual streets in the village be focused on different themes. One street could to dedicated to celebrating all 32 NFL teams with representatives, information, history, local cuisines, etc. Another street focused on the NFL and football itself. While another would celebrate Indiana.
3. The NFL has another initiative: the global expansion of the game. Perhaps invite key members from London. Mexico, etc to take a part in the festivities.
4. The Super Bowl Village and weekend should be catered to the kids and adults. Have a circus at Conseco, turn Victory Field into a winter snow park (sledding down the outfield), and having skating rinks are just a few of the ways to include the kids.
I like the idea of reusing the RCA Dome Roof, but would it be feasible instead to tent Monument Circle? While I love Victory Field I think the Circle would be the better festival atmosphere. I would love to see the entire monument tented. I would imagine there being four large support towers on the Circle that would help to hold the roof up unless the surrounding building could be used to anchor it in place. You would lose the aerial shots of the monument, but I think the shots of it from within the tent and from inside surrounding buildings could be great. Again I know it all comes down to cost, but it never hurts to dream big.
I, too, like Clyde Walker’s suggestion about storing and reusing the RCA Dome roof. I’m not sure about the cost and re-usability of it, but it would definitely tie in Indiana’s own football legacy into the SB. Another idea on tenting/roofing could include the designing of the underside of the tents with images great NFL players, moments, and teams. This could be done as a competition by area artists.
Throughout downtown could be events/games that promote Indiana’s own special sports history. For example:
*go-carts decked out as Indy and NASCAR cars, complete with a brick finish line - with a medium amount of fencing, drivers could imitate race winners by kissing the bricks, climbing the grand stand fence, and drink a glass of milk (all photographed and/or video taped). Could have the Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, etc. experience.
*a Reggie Miller/Larry Bird free throw, 3 point, and general accuracy shooting area
*heated batting cages at Victory field for a chance to hit a home run or just take batting practice like a pro
*something I did in high school summer league baseball was to set up the pitching machine on the mound and shoot home runs, with players trying to rob the machine of a home run. Victory’s fence would be too high for this most likely, but a sloping ramped area would allow them to make a leap high enough - padding included on the wall to prevent injuries
*pitching against a radar gun, trying to hit targets at 2nd/3rd/home from the outfield, timed double play and outfield relay competitions
*Nintendo Wii or NFL Madden competitions on big screens where prizes include NFL gear, collectibles, or even tickets to the game
*if it’s possible to have a discernible trail through the SB village, and if there was a clear place where it starts and ends, it could start with great moments or figures in Indiana sports (basketball — Milan H.S., Big O and Crispus Attucks, John Wooden at Lebanon and Purdue and UCLA, Bob Knight and Gene Keady, Reggie Miller, Mel Daniels, 3x ABA champs, etc. // baseball — Indianapolis ABCs and Clowns and Indians, Razor Shines, Mel Ott, Don Mattingly, etc., Indy 500 and 400 legends, record-setting track and field events at IUPUI like Flo Jo, Cutters, and so on. It should contain graphics and info on both the nationally known and even just local heroes and then gradually build into the football section. Could include h.s. state dynasties, small and big school Indiana college greats, then famous Hoosiers that made it to the NFL, finishing with the Colts and both Indy and Baltimore SB greats.
*if possible, floating barges on the canal for either transportation or celebration
The day of the Super Bowl could include big screens inside and outside for public viewing. The game could be projected onto the sides of buildings or even set up big screens at Victory Field, Kuntz Field, etc.
Just some possible ideas that don’t appear to be too terribly original, but I wanted to get them out there quickly as deadlines are near.
I’m back, again, with another idea. I know if and when we have the SB, we will not have the roof open for the opening ceramony (i.e. National Anthem, Fly Over)I have an idea called “The Ring of Fire”. Since the NFL always has a fly over, and obviously the world or the fans will not see the great emotional fly over from inside of the new stadium, why not have 32 Military helicopters at a radious of (at least 1 quarter mile or wider at 11.25 degrees apart around the stadium (hovering at least an altitude of 200 feet above the city) have a 50ft banner of each team banner or flag, hanging below them, with spot lights on each side (making sure they are fire retardant) and having two 20 ft + railings on each side having a fountain of sparkles fallen fron them(like at waterfall). In the mean time and a grand finally. We bring a C-130 in (flying aroung 400 ft) and do an Arc Angle over the stadium or within the 1 quarter mile range. All along having the netwroks blimp hovering over the city at about an altitude of 500 or 600 ft. Her is a link of what the C-130 will look like: http://video.yahoo.com/watch/37780. It will be something completely different and a never been done before show. All the while, having spot light shining around Monument Circle, or my other idea of a dome Victory Field.
I like the idea of a “legacy project”, but please don’t forget that the only reason we are being considered for the Super Bowl is because a $1+ billion publicly funded investment in Lucas Oil Stadium and Convention Center expansion in addition to a generously subsidised 1,000 room “headquarters” hotel.
The true legacy needs to be a generous return on these capital investments and the Super Bowl event for taxpayers.
I would like to see the Super Bowl fans, Corporate Sponsors, and international media extend there stays in our city and return to Indianapolis for our other cultural events, increasing the economic impact of this one time event on our community.
How about a unprecedented multi-million dollar packaged promotion of central Indiana to Super Bowl Sponsors, Corporate fans, and International media to come back for the Indy 500, Indy Jazz Festival, major Art Museum Showings, Summer Golf Packages, Wine Tours, State Fair, Indianapolis Zoo, State Parks, Circle City Classic, Final Four, Pacers Games, Indy Ice, Indianapolis Indians, etc….
Spend millions of dollars of the corporate donations and non profit in kind donations for this event on giving ALL 70,000+ Super Bowl ticket holders and international media FREE promotional tickets to all of these packaged events for future dates within the next 12 months in an effort to have repeat tourist business.
Giving one “Central Indiana Cultural Sampler Ticket” would give the big spenders a reason to come back to Indiana with their paying family and friends. The word of mouth marketing would be exponentially powerful combined with the international media exposure.
“Central Indiana Cultural Sampler Ticket” could be an extension of the White River State Park Pass
http://www.in.gov/whiteriver/about/parkpass.html
Winter in Indy?
Lots of people love Winter. Look at how many people go skiing.
And who doesn’t love a warm wood-burning fireplace in Winter?
Nobody!
So, here is the idea:
Spot place 60, 80, 200 (or whatever the crowd will require)portable, reusable wood-burning “fireplace stations” around the downtown. Now all we have to do is pray for snow! And throw in lots of street or storefront vendors of food and product and you have a FESTIVAL!
The fireplace stations (FS) would each have a volunteer attendant, an extention ‘chimney,’ a ’shaker’ grate to separate ash from fire, and a system of ash hauling/wood replenishing vehicles circulating between the stations keeping things neat and clean. Each station could be a ’sponsor’ opportunity.
And now Indianapolis will have a supply of these reusable fireplace stations that can be used to promote outdoor activities during colder months throughout the city and beyond for years before and afterwards.
A stroll around our wonderful capital city with the wafting aromas of food and firewood…..boy, that’s a winner!
2012.
Twenty Twelve.
Twenty to Twelve.
A point in Time.
Promote that.
Have all the emergency alarm soundings around the state change from their current 11 am on Fridays to 11:40 am (Twenty to Twelve)on Fridays.
Have the Indianapolis system sound daily at 11:40 am from now until the game to remind all of its citizens of their responsibilities to do something “good” to promote/prepare for our SB football debut.
Encourage everyone to spend twenty minutes, from twenty to twelve to twelve, everyday/weekday/Friday promoting charitable good works.
Many more possibilities!
Twenty Twelve.
2012.
The year Indiana(polis) shows the (football)world what this game is REALLY all about!
Ok, it’s me again.
About this legacy thing:
You KNOW we are a mobile society, right?
And we (Indianapolis) are known for being the ‘Circle City,’right?
So, I think the program to continue to benefit our community long after the 2012 game is played is to erect/acquire/lease at least 4 (North, South, East, West) beautifully designed and constructed (is this possible?) BILLBOARD-type structures around I-465 (and maybe one or two each on I-65 and I-70), identifying themselves as permanent testaments to our 2012 commitments and intentions, to (maybe rotating on a monthly basis) present/expound upon profound, pertinent, and/or pride-producing messages that exult the sports capital of the world’s continuing acknowledgement of its appreciation for the opportunity to communicate with the people of the football world in 2012, and beyond, in a very POSITIVE manner.
Now, slow down as you are traveling on I-465 because we will have a whole LOT to say!
Go Colts!
WOW!
How many more GREAT ideas do you want for free?
I could go on and on.
If YOU need any GREAT ideas, let me know at aintitaniceday@comcast.net
If a lot of people are worried that it will be to cold here. Then why not promote it? Let’s bring Summer to Winter. I’m not talking about the weather, but more on what the city put on for us. Why can’t we have a Rib Fest, or Winter SB parade. Why couldn’t we get a lot of the drivers and have a mini Brickyard 400 or a Indy 500? Let’s put on Dog and Pony shows that honor our Military. Free continuous concerts down on the White River. How about opening the zoo for the kids and have a Halloween costum night? Have them dress as their favorite NFL player. Or have a Disney day down on the canal. This city does a lot from Spring to Fall. Maybe we can go towards that direction. Any thoughts or more suggestions?
I am starting a snow park in the fall. It will be able to use scaffolding and a snow machine for tubing and snow boarding. I wanted to pass this information along for the bid process of what to do in town. The business is snow magic for web site if you would like to look at it.
I suspect that many Super Bowl attendees are seekers of knowledge. How about some interesting, cool presentations at downtown venues during the day by IUPUI faculty (the souped-up Prius research work, medical discoveries, etc.). Some of these could highlight the BioCrossroads efforts. Non-faculty could present on NFL history and other football related topics. Be sure to include some things of interest to children (crafts in hotel meeting rooms, etc.), women, teens, etc.
Use an international theme throughout. A chance to show the world Indy’s international character. Provide Drew Appleby’s list of ethnic restaurants in Indy. Make the half-time and other shows international themed.
Bring in the bands from Circle City Classic and promote the next Classic.
Have a big bash at the Madame Walker Theatre. A great chance to highlight the history.
Provide bikes to use and offer free bicycle tours of the Cultural Trail (weather permitting) or bus tours if weather is bad.
Offer a great play at IRT and a symphony performance during the day.
Have a great variety of free events at the ArtsGarden.
Have free shuttles to the IMA, the zoo as well as all places in the mile square. Basically bring back the Blue Line for this period.
We live all the way down in Southern In. in New Albany, directly across the Ohio River from Louisville Ky. It would be wonderful to feel as though we were part of the Indy community. If Indy could maybe open it’s arms to us somehow. One way I would like to suggest is to have a Bus that fans could catch starting in Louisville (many Colts Fans in Louisville) stopping in New Albany, Jeffersonville, Seymour, and Columbus early in the morning and take us to Indy. (especially durning Super Bowl week 2012), then bring us home around 11pm. The Bus could run every day of the Super Bowl activities week or weeks, and week-ends the rest of the time. It doesn’t take that long to get to Indy anymore from down here (1 1/2 to 2 hrs.) in private transportation. With gas prices they way they are and are going to be in 2012 I believe you would have many riders at a resonable fee.
Thank-You, Jeff