Indiana Convention Center Explained

Indiana Convention Center
Address:100 South Capitol Avenue
Location:Indianapolis, Indiana 46225
Coordinates:39.7653°N -86.1625°W
Mapframe-Zoom:15
Owner:Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority (State of Indiana)
Operator:Capital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County, Indiana
Built:1969–1972
Expanded:1984, 1993, 2000, 2011
Former Names:Indiana Convention-Exposition Center
Total Space:937000square feet
Exhibit:566600square feet (11 halls)
Breakout:113302square feet (71 rooms)
Ballroom:62173square feet (3 rooms)
Parking:Pay parking nearby
Bicycle:Indiana Pacers Bikeshare
Publictransit: 8, 24

The Indiana Convention Center is a major convention center located in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The original structure was completed in 1972 and has undergone five expansions.[1] In total, there are 71 meeting rooms, 11 exhibit halls, and three multi-purpose ballrooms. The connected facilities of Lucas Oil Stadium offer an additional 183000square feet of exhibit space and 12 meeting rooms.[2]

History

Originally named the Indiana Convention-Exposition Center, groundbreaking for the $26.1 million venue occurred December 8, 1969. Completed in 1972, the original project included one ballroom, three exhibition halls, and 23 meeting rooms encompassing 160000square feet.[1] The first major expansion to the Indiana Convention Center added one ballroom, two exhibit halls, and 16 meeting rooms, increasing total rentable space to 371000square feet—concurrent with construction of the adjoining 60,500-seat Hoosier Dome, later renamed the RCA Dome, both completed in 1984.[1] The combined cost was around $94.7 million.[3]

The convention center was expanded again from 1992 to 1993. The $43 million two-story addition increased total rentable space to 419000square feet, with the additions of the Sagamore Ballroom and 16 meeting rooms.[1] The project also included skywalk connections to the Westin Indianapolis and Hyatt Regency Indianapolis (via Plaza Park Garage).[3] Another expansion followed in 2000.[4] [5] The addition of a ballroom, two exhibit halls, and seven meeting rooms increased the total rentable space to 539000square feet.[1] The project included a skywalk connection to the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.

Construction of the 67,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium began in September 2005 one block south of the RCA Dome. Opening in August 2008, the $720 million stadium contains approximately 183000square feet of exhibition space.[6] Upon completion of Lucas Oil Stadium, the RCA Dome was demolished. The iconic air-lifted dome was deflated and the implosion of the stadium was completed in December 2008.[6]

The convention center's most recent and largest expansion was undertaken from 2008 to 2010, opening in January 2011. A 400000square feet addition was constructed on the site of the former RCA Dome, costing $275 million.[7] As part of the expansion, an underground walkway along the west side of Capitol Avenue was built to connect this new portion of the facility to Lucas Oil Stadium. A skywalk was also built to connect the convention center with the JW Marriott Indianapolis (via the Government Center Washington Street Parking Facility), which was completed in 2011.[8] Ratio Architects, Inc. was the lead architectural firm for the expansion, assisted by other Indiana companies, BSA LifeStructures, Blackburn Architects, and Domain Architecture Inc. Indianapolis-based Shiel Sexton Co. Inc.[9] was the lead construction manager, in association with Powers & Sons Construction Company Inc.

In addition to its space, the Indiana Convention Center now possesses 49 loading docks, seven drive-in ramps, and three food courts. It is also connected to 12 hotels and 4,700 hotel rooms via skywalks, the most of any U.S. convention center.[10]

In September 2020, Indianapolis City-County Council unanimously approved a $155 million bond measure to build a 50000square feet ballroom, 93500square feet of meeting and pre-function space, and two high-rise hotels developed by Kite Realty, totaling 1,400 rooms.[11] The first hotel, branded as a Signia by Hilton, is planned to be completed in 2024. According to the Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis Business Journal, this is the fifth major expansion of the Indiana Convention Center and would push the total rentable space to more than 1000000square feet.[5] [1]

Notable events

The Indiana Convention Center has been the host to a large variety of events, including concerts, conventions, meetings, pageants, sports competitions, and trade shows.

Annual events

Past events

Public art

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Mickey. Shuey. August 28, 2020. Tourism experts disagree on wisdom of planned convention center expansion. Indianapolis Business Journal. November 1, 2020.
  2. Web site: Indy Convention Planning Guide. Visit Indy. November 17, 2015.
  3. Encyclopedia: Bodenhamer. David. Barrows. Robert. The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. 1994. Indiana University Press. Bloomington & Indianapolis. 734.
  4. News: Katie. Maurer. September 22, 2010. Indiana Convention Center might need yet another expansion. Indianapolis Business Journal. September 18, 2020.
  5. News: Amelia. Pak-Harvey. September 13, 2020. Indy says expanding convention center amid pandemic is worth the risk. Others are unsure.. The Indianapolis Star. September 17, 2020.
  6. Web site: ISCBA: Home. in.gov. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20061027233903/http://www.in.gov/iscba/convention/index.html. 2006-10-27.
  7. News: Anthony. Schoettle. September 21, 2015. Expand the Indiana Convention Center again?. Indianapolis Business Journal. September 19, 2020.
  8. Web site: JW Marriott Indianapolis Downtown. The Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. March 28, 2017.
  9. Web site: Shiel Sexton. shielsexton.com.
  10. Web site: Connected Hotels in Indianapolis. Visit Indy. March 31, 2016.
  11. News: Samm. Quinn. September 14, 2020. City-County Council approves financing plan for convention center expansion. Indianapolis Business Journal. September 18, 2020.
  12. News: Indianapolis Business Journal. Anthony. Schoettle. Hotels, restaurants expect record payoff from 50th anniversary of Gen Con. July 7, 2017. September 19, 2020.
  13. News: Indianapolis Business Journal. State helps city lock up FFA convention until 2024. July 15, 2015. September 19, 2020.
  14. News: Anthony. Schoettle. Indianapolis Business Journal. Visit Indy negotiating to keep huge auto show until 2021. December 11, 2014. September 19, 2020.
  15. News: Anthony. Schoettle. Indianapolis Business Journal. Deal to save racing show had many twists, turns. December 6, 2012. September 19, 2020.
  16. News: Timothy. Bella. Al Jazeera America. Looking at Indianapolis’ unofficial LGBT history. April 7, 2015. August 10, 2020.
  17. Web site: Pan Am Games Schedule. July 29, 1987. United Press International, Inc.. April 19, 2020.
  18. News: Chris. Sikich. April 9, 2014. Convention City: Convention Center's growth vaults Indy into upper tier. The Indianapolis Star. September 18, 2020.
  19. News: Tamborello . Joe . The Indianapolis Star . 'Antiques Roadshow' to stop in Indy . January 14, 2016 . October 1, 2022.
  20. Web site: January 23, 2004. Celebration III Set for Indy. Star Wars: Community. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070814102323/http://www.starwars.com/community/event/celebration/news20040123.html. August 14, 2007. April 19, 2020.
  21. News: Brian. Waddle. Northwest Indiana Times. Out of the Woods: Gary native competing at USA Wrestling World Team Trials in Indy next week. June 11, 2003. April 19, 2020.
  22. News: Bonnie. Britton. The Indianapolis Star. 'Star Wars' lands in Indy: Fans from around the world descend for 4-day event. https://archive.today/20130131140945/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/indystar/access/1790429841.html?dids=1790429841:1790429841&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+21,+2005&author=BONNIE+BRITTON&pub=Indianapolis+Star&edition=&startpage=A.1&desc='Star+Wars'+lands+in+Indy. dead. January 31, 2013. April 21, 2005. A1. April 19, 2020.
  23. Web site: Final Four Bracket Town puts you in the game. March 21, 2010. Indiana Office of Tourism Development. April 19, 2020.
  24. . January 2012 . Have a Super experience downtown . The Torch . April 19, 2020.
  25. News: Chris. Sikich. The Indianapolis Star. NRA convention expected to draw 80,000 to Indianapolis; Trump, Pence scheduled to speak. April 3, 2019. April 19, 2020.
  26. Web site: General Conference 2019 . Global Missions . United Pentecostal Church International . 4 February 2023 . January 2020.
  27. Web site: UPCI General Conference 2021 . Indianapolis: Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium . Indiana Convention Center . 4 February 2023.
  28. Web site: UPCI Communications . General Conference Returns to Indianapolis . United Pentecostal Church International . 24 September 2023 . 4 September 2023.
  29. News: Diana. Penner. The Indianapolis Star. 23,000 to attend National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis. November 21, 2013. September 25, 2020.
  30. News: Stephen. Beard. USA Today. How NCAA March Madness will look contained in Indianapolis. March 18, 2021. April 6, 2021.
  31. Web site: National Eucharistic Congress . Indianapolis: Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium . Indiana Convention Center . 31 July 2024.
  32. Web site: Free Money, Female Tourist, Male Tourist. Arts Council of Indianapolis. September 18, 2020.
  33. Web site: King at Rest. Arts Council of Indianapolis. September 18, 2020.

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