Indy Airport Putting on the Flash for the College Football Playoff

INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 5, 2021) – The Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is rolling out the red carpet for the College Football National Playoff Championship, and doing it with some splash and flash that is sure to leave visitors with a clear understanding of why the Circle City is the host with the most.

The Indy airport will welcome the nearly 100,000 visitors coming into the city with the sights, sounds and feeling of Hoosier Hospitality as they join in the weekend festivities leading up to the Jan. 10 championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“We’re very proud to be part of the host committee and the first to welcome air travelers as they arrive in Indianapolis for this fan-fest event,” said Indianapolis Airport Authority Executive Director Mario Rodriguez.

College football fans arriving in Indy will be welcomed with lots of visual cues – with championship branding covering the airport terminal. CFP-branded window and banner art will adorn Civic Plaza, along with iconic 2022 numerals – ready for their picture-perfect moment. CFP branding will also be visible in Baggage Claim, the pedestrian bridge between the garage and terminal, the upper-level drive of the terminal and on digital boards throughout the airport.

Two CFP branded luminaires at 40 feet tall will tower over the entrances to the TSA security checkpoints informing travelers of the concourses and showcasing the championship trophy. IAA staff and community volunteers will be present to provide a warm and welcoming Hoosier Hospitality hello. And fans can stock up on their favorite CFP fan apparel and gear sold in kiosks and pop-up shops throughout the terminal.

An honored-guest welcome is planned to help recognize leaders in education on the largest platform in college football. The Teacher of the Year Championship Experience will recognize 56 Teachers of the Year from U.S. states, territories, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense at CFP Foundation events and on the field during the national championship game. This special welcome in Indy starts at IND.

Arts & Culture

Along with live music performances in Civic Plaza by a variety of Indy musicians, including Emma Peridot, Keith Beatty, Manners, Please, Kristen, and The Girl Called books, planned for Jan. 7 – 11 from 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., local Indiana artists’ work will also be on exhibit throughout the terminal.

In partnership with the CFP Foundation, the Extra Yard for Teacher’s initiative and the Indy Arts Council, the Indy airport arts program will feature a CFP Indiana Arts Educators exhibit in the KIND Gallery, located in Concourse A now through Spring 2022. The exhibit will welcome college football fans and honor Indiana teachers, featuring 20 art pieces in a variety of mediums from 15 art teachers from eight different Indiana counties. In addition, teacher artwork will be on display on the digital board going down to Baggage Claim.

The 22 For 22 poster show also will be on display in Civic Plaza now through Jan. 11, featuring poster art created by 22 graphic artists and illustrators from Central Indiana and focuses on a theme of common football phrases.

Fans will also have a photo opportunity outside the Ground Transportation Center with a goalpost mural with 3D effects. Airport guests can put on their 3D glasses and enjoy the art. In total, five goalpost murals will be located throughout downtown Indy for the CFP National Championship providing interactive photo-ops for the perfect selfie.

And to add a spirit of inspiration in overcoming the odds and show off Indy’s legends who have shaped our history, fans will be greeted with masterpiece murals of the world’s first female millionaire entrepreneur Madam C. J. Walker and the world’s first international cycling champion Marshall “Major” Taylor, both located in Civic Plaza.

All of the art on display during this great event is part of the Indy airport’s arts program, a cultural collaboration between the Indianapolis Airport Authority and the Indy Arts Council involving permanent and temporary art collections. It is considered one of the most robust displays of local art among U.S. airports, said Rodriguez.

Fan Fun and Safety

“While we would all like to have the pandemic in our rearview mirror, we’re still working our way to that goal and keeping travelers’ safety as our top priority as we plan for all the fan fun,” said Rodriguez.

The Indy airport frontline staff will be among the first ambassadors of Hoosier Hospitality as fans arrive, where they’ll be showered with award-winning customer service. The terminal services team, who were honored as Final Four Frontline Heroes in 2021, have been working throughout the pandemic to make the airport safe for travelers.

“Fans can rest assured that they are arriving at a clean airport that keeps health and safety at the forefront,” said Rodriguez, noting that the Indianapolis International Airport has received a global Airport Health Accreditation for its abundance of safety measures throughout the terminal and airport campus to protect the traveling public.

In addition, optional COVID-19 testing is available onsite at the airport for travelers arriving and departing. Masks are required at the airport, per the federal requirement. To learn more about the airport’s COVID-19 response, fans can visit IND.com/COVID19.