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Indianapolis might not be the first place you think of when the phrase “cultural diversity” comes up, but maybe it should be - especially when you’re talking about major special events. After all, how many cities have been annually welcoming visitors from all over the country and the world for almost 100 years with events like the Indianapolis 500?

The city has earned the title of “Amateur Sports Capital of the World” by hosting a continual stream of national and international sporting events thanks to a non-stop downtown revitalization plan that started in the 1970s. From the Pan Am Games to Olympic Trials to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, Indy has had it… several times. And every event draws a culturally diverse crowd that loves spending time in our city.

Indy’s six distinct cultural districts (Broad Ripple Village, Fountain Square, The Canal and White River State Park, Mass Ave. Arts & Theater District, Wholesale District and Indiana Avenue) offer appealing dining, entertainment and recreation options for everyone from everywhere. If you can’t find something in Indy that makes you feel at home, you’re not looking very hard.

As executive director of the Indiana State Fairgrounds, central Indiana’s top tourist destination located just 10 minutes northeast of downtown, I get to see people from all walks of life gather regularly for events like the International Festival, FFA National Convention and Indiana State Fair. All these events draw wide varieties of people that have one thing in common – smiles. Everyone loves spending time visiting our city.

But while Indy is great at welcoming folks from all walks of life, the city is also one of the most patriotic places you can find. You can’t go 50 feet without passing by a marker, monument or permanent structure dedicated to the memories of our fallen heroes. In fact, the city is centered by the 284-foot Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, which was the country’s first monument dedicated to the common soldier (somewhat ironic since certain Patriots aren’t so welcome these days, don’t you think?).

So pack up your patriotism and pay us a visit. It will feel like home… no matter where in the world home may be.

Cindy Hoye
Executive Director, Indiana State Fairgrounds
ContactUs@OUR2012SB.com

You want a Super Bowl winner in a brand new downtown stadium? You want the largest one-day sporting event in the world? You want the NBA, professional baseball - in a downtown stadium, major national championships from swimming and diving to gymnastics and track and the Final Four - you got Indianapolis.

Indianapolis, with its shiny downtown, is a 20-carat diamond in the buckle of the Rust Belt, ready to sparkle with the 2012 Super Bowl. Indianapolis is transcendent.

Indianapolis has hosted major sporting events for decades-the Indianapolis 500 ran its first race in 1911-and treats visitors better than any other convention or tourist destination. Visitors crow about the ability to move effortlessly on foot from a sporting venue to a restaurant to a popular nightspot and back to their hotel. No need for shuttle buses to move from place to place; just a pair of comfortable shoes.

While the financial benefits of hosting a Super Bowl are obvious, our desire to introduce Indianapolis more formally to the world through the Super Bowl platform is what drives this Super Bowl bid. This is the one factor so often overlooked when considering Indianapolis as a host city for the Super Bowl: we are damn proud of our city. Check with the folks who live here - ask them about our hospitality, or better, ask them for directions. I bet your brother-in-law isn’t as nice as we are!

As Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, has already made a statement in our skyline, Indianapolis wants to make the statement that we are a Super Bowl city.

Roland Dorson
President, Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce
ContactUs@OUR2012SB.com

Indianapolis is committed to hosting the best Super Bowl that NFL teams, owners, fans, media, Indianapolis residents and others have ever experienced.

For years, we have been building our Downtown to host the NFL Super Bowl and we are ready. Downtown has a new state-of-the-art stadium and convention facilities, first class hotels close by and connected under glass, dozens of restaurants and entertainment amenities within a short walk, plus a hospitality industry and volunteers recognized for extraordinary customer service…all within a very safe, convenient and beautiful square mile.

Downtown Indianapolis is trained to handle big crowds and enthusiastic fans. Our public-private partnership, spirit of co-operation and get-it-done attitude have earned Indianapolis the respect of event organizers around the country.

Company’s Coming!
There’s nothing like a deadline and the opportunity to welcome thousands of guests to bring out the very best in Indianapolis. We pride ourselves Downtown on doing whatever it takes to raise the bar and excel as a host city. We won’t rest. We will continue to fix up, raise up and spruce up Downtown to make sure we shine. And by 2012, Downtown will introduce $3 billion of new development, including hospitality offerings, corporate offices and cultural trails, to make our city even more amazing.

Bring on Super Bowl 2012. We are ready.

Tamara Zahn
President, Indianapolis Downtown, Inc.
ContactUs@OUR2012SB.com

There is no better place for Super Bowl XLVI than the “Amateur Sports Capital.” The amenities and convenience of downtown Indianapolis, our experience in hosting world-class events and our storied army of experienced volunteers have made Indianapolis the destination of choice for more than 400 elite sporting events and their fans for nearly three decades. Look at our track record: the 1982 Olympic Sports Festival, 1987 Pan American Games, 17 U.S. Olympic Trials, five NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Fours, an NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four, Big Ten Basketball Tournaments, world championships in basketball, swimming, gymnastics and track & field, as well as unique events such as the 2001 World Police and Fire Games and the 2005 Solheim Cup.

The state-of-the-art Lucas Oil Stadium and adjoining Indiana Convention Center are in the heart of our vibrant downtown. Lucas Oil Stadium is just the latest jewel to be added to our downtown skyline. Conseco Fieldhouse, Victory Field, Circle Centre Mall and others are the iconic symbols of our city’s success in building a sports legacy. Skywalks connect hotels, restaurants, retail and entertainment. Super Bowl fans will be able to enjoy the week of activities with a level of convenience that rivals any other city in America.

It’s also important to note what a Super Bowl could mean to our local economy. Over the years, elite sporting events have placed our city on the national and international stage, provided unique spectator and volunteer opportunities for our local citizens and enhanced the pride we feel in our city. Additionally, the economic benefits have been tremendous. More than $3 billion has been infused back into our local economy through the more than 400 national and international events Indianapolis has hosted since Indiana Sports Corporation’s creation in 1979. Elite national sports organizations, including the NCAA, NFHS, Black Coaches & Administrators, USA Gymnastics, USA Diving, USA Track & Field, U.S. Synchronized Swimming, and Horizon League, are headquartered right here in Indianapolis. Combined, organizations such as these contribute $91 million annually to the Indiana economy.

Our history is unmatched; our excitement is unwavering. We have been preparing for this opportunity for nearly three decades. Indianapolis is the right choice for Super Bowl XLVI.

Susan Williams
President, Indiana Sports Corporation
ContactUs@OUR2012SB.com

Last night, we hosted a brainstorming session with members of the Indy Hub and Smaller Indiana - two groups that are trying to make Indianapolis a more hospitable place for talented people and new ideas. The Indy Hub (www.indyhub.org) is a network of young professionals that come together to explore social, professional development and philanthropic opportunities around town… Smaller Indiana (www.smallerindiana.com) is an online social network for Hoosiers interested in making new connections – for business, friendship and discussion of issues of the day.

Both organizations are home to lots of bright, creative people, and I was happy to gather 75 or so of them at the NCAA headquarters to talk about two topic
s in particular:

First, the “civic legacy:” As part of the Super Bowl bid specifications, the NFL expects the host committee to spearhead civic projects that leave a lasting legacy in the host city. These generally fall into two categories: The construction of a “Youth Education Town” - YET Center - managed by the Boys & Girls Club to serve disadvantaged kids, and other ‘quality of life’ initiatives that will benefit the community after the game has been played.

Indianapolis is prepared to build a YET Center, but wants to take the concept a step forward and explore new initiatives and programs (in education, human services, or arts/culture) that can benefit our community, especially our youth. In last year’s bid, we proposed a national center to combat childhood obesity and promote fitness (associated with NIFS at IUPUI)… is this still the best idea, or are there other concepts that would address a pressing issue or help make Indianapolis a better place to live and raise a family?

We also discussed the Super Bowl Village - a downtown area designated for an ongoing festival/celebration during Super Bowl week, providing a way to invite Hoosiers to join the party and create a focal point for festivities (in contrast to some host cities, where activities have been so spread out that it’s been difficult to create a real festival atmosphere – see my last post).

We asked questions like what activities (music, games, exhibits) should be included in the Village, how we can deal with the spectrum of possible weather conditions, and what can we do (in terms of lighting, gateways, promotional strategies) to make the Village a clearly marked destination?

The ideas on both topics came fast and furious - there were suggestions to cover the Village district with interconnecting tents (which could be used as part of the festivities, a la Fremont Street in Las Vegas), as well as hosting the NFL Saturday Night concert at Conseco Fieldhouse and simulcasting it to giant screens on Monument Circle. There were also several suggestions on incorporating environmental themes into the Super Bowl, such as exploring ways to make the game carbon-neutral.

We’re transcribing all of the notes from last night, and I’ll share more thoughts in another post. I want to thank Molly Chavers of Indy Hub and Pat Coyle of Smaller Indiana for being engaged in the process – Molly serves on our Community Advisory Council, and Pat is supporting our online efforts – and all of the folks who came out last night. And just as important, while these face-to-face events are a great way to brainstorm and gather input, remember that we have a 24/7 town hall meeting going on right here – please give us your comments and ideas on the civic legacy, the Village, and other areas through this site, so we can include them in our thinking.

Thanks again, and more to come…

Mark Miles
President & CEO of Central Indiana Community Partnership
ContactUs@OUR2012SB.com

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

The NFL Scouting Combine just dominated the downtown area for the better part of nine days. If you wanted a glimpse of Jon Gruden or Super Bowl champ Tom Coughlin it wasn’t hard - the restaurants were filled with scouts, assistant coaches, head coaches GMs, Presidents and yes even the occasional owner. Arizona Cardinals owner Bill Bidwell is a fixture at the combine. He’s been to EVERY one! Commissioner Roger Goodell and Players union head Gene Upshaw were also on hand. After the Super Bowl and the conference championship games, this may be the league’s most important event. And it happens EVERY year right here in downtown Indianapolis!

Indianapolis serves as the perfect host for the NFL and its teams and (oh, yeah) the national media. Over 400 credentialed media were on hand for the week. The facilities are second to none. The convenience of the medical operation is perfect for the team doctors and trainers. Coaches love that they can walk from hotel to hotel, from hotel to convention center, from hotel to meeting rooms. They love that when they get a break they can easily move around downtown for dinner.

What does all this mean? It means that Indy has a “super” chance to grab the Super Bowl in 2012. From all perspectives, from the coaches to the media, from the owners to league administrators, Indy and its downtown gets rave reviews. For example, Peter King of Sports Illustrated & NBC wrote this on his national web page:

“…as long as we’re talking about Indy, I hope Indianapolis gets the 2012 Super Bowl … and this from a guy who wishes every Super Bowl were played in San Diego. Indy deserves it. It’s the most walkable downtown in America.”

John Clayton is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is a national NFL reporter like King. He lives in Seattle but is “Mr. NFL Insider” for ESPN. He was a guest on our radio show this week and he offered these thoughts:

“I give Indy a ‘double thumbs up’ for a Super Bowl bid. It’s accessible and easy to get around. Other than New Orleans and to a certain degree, Tampa, it’s the most intimate city for a Super Bowl. And I mean that in the best way. You can walk anywhere. Lots of restaurants. Lots of hotels. It’s the best city as far as being close. You can walk from the hotel to the stadium without ever going outside. I love the city. And the people are very special. I was there for a Colts game once and I was sick. The hotel sent up chicken soup and followed up to see how I was. You don’t get that anywhere else. If the league wants to consider a northern site, the thing you want to avoid as a member of the media is boarding a bus for a 40 minute ride each day. You won’t get that in Indianapolis. I support Indy for a Super Bowl. Everything you need to do is a walk away.”

So, it looks good. We’re getting good feedback. But, we’ve got a lot of work to do. This city deserves a Super Bowl. I have been blessed to work and attend over 20 Super Bowls, and I have always said one of the keys to a successful event is the city’s volunteers. And we do THAT better than anyone. Whether it was the old Brickyard Crossing Senior golf event or the Pan Am games or a Final Four, we have always delivered Hoosier Hospitality to our guests from all over the world.
It’s time for the Super Bowl to come to America’s heartland. A “super” game for a “super” city, filled with “super” people. I can’t wait.

(Eddie White is the afternoon co-host of a sports talk show on ESPN 1070 The Fan. White also works in public relations for Reebok. He is a former Asst. SID at Notre Dame and spent four years as the Director of PR for the Miami Dolphins. He has worked over 20 Super Bowls in various capacities for the NFL.)

Eddie White
Sports Talk Show Host on ESPN 1070 The Fan
ContactUs@OUR2012SB.com

Last week, I had the honor of sharing the podium with Mayor Greg Ballard, Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman, Jim Irsay and John Lechleiter of Eli Lilly & Company as we made it official… as Mayor Ballard said, “Our hat is in the ring” - Indianapolis will bid for the 2012 Super Bowl.

We came within two votes of winning the 2011 game last year, so we’re starting from a solid foundation. But there’s always room for improvement, and we want all of the ideas and input we can gather to build a winning bid. This is a region-wide (even statewide) effort, and this website is an important way for us to engage the community in a productive discussion. I’m not the most tech-savvy person you’ll ever run across, but I do know this is a great way to reach a lot of smart people quickly.

This blog is my own way of sharing ideas and updates.
I’m excited to help keep our dialogue moving, and especially to get your ideas on issues like the downtown Super Bowl Village and the civic legacy we want the game to leave for our own citizens. (We’re already getting a lot of feedback on the legacy project and want to make this an ongoing online discussion – it’s very important to us. Watch this space for more.)

Each week, we’ll be posting a new question on our online forums (here and on our partner sites) – this week, we start at the “big picture” level by asking about your experiences with other major sports events outside of Indianapolis: What did other cities offer that we should try to emulate, and what advantages do we have that we should try to exploit?

A couple of personal observations: I lived in Jacksonville when they hosted the Super Bowl in 2005, and attended the game in Phoenix a few weeks ago, and saw a couple of similar issues.

In Jacksonville, the downtown area doesn’t really have a great diversity of restaurants, clubs or other recreational options – it’s mostly the business district and the St. John’s River, with the stadium located to the east and the beach communities about 15 miles further out. So while the community embraced the Super Bowl, it was difficult to build the kind of “village” or celebration that was centrally located and really took advantage of all of the area’s assets. It just wasn’t built that way, even though the city and NFL did put on some great events and got the citizens involved as much as possible. They also did an outstanding job on the public transportation side, and sweeping renovations to the Gator Bowl enhanced the venue and the festivities surrounding the stadium.

In Phoenix, the metropolitan area is sprawled over such a wide geography that it was literally possible to be in one part of town and have no idea that the city was hosting the Super Bowl. The region has a lot to offer, but again, it was difficult to build any kind of ‘festival’ atmosphere.

To me, this points to a key competitive advantage for Indy – we have a uniquely compact, convenient and connected downtown, with Lucas Oil Stadium easily accessible to plenty of hotels, dining and entertainment options.

We’ll dive deeper into how we can leverage our downtown into a great Super Bowl Village and community celebration…for now, let’s focus on what we can learn from our peers, good and bad. What great or not-so-great sports or festival experiences have you had outside Indianapolis, and what can we learn from them?

Mark Miles
President & CEO of Central Indiana Community Partnership
ContactUs@OUR2012SB.com