Indy Airport Rolling Out Red Carpet for Basketball Fans
Fun, creative attractions are ‘prelude to all that the city has to offer’
INDIANAPOLIS (March 17, 2021) – College basketball fans are arriving at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) this week with a frenzy of fun and creative attractions to celebrate this historic moment in Indianapolis.
“Our Final Four Frontline Heroes are ready to deliver a world-class customer experience and help fans kick off the long-awaited celebrations of college basketball in Indianapolis with a prelude to all that the city has to offer,” said Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority.
Signage, art, music, shopping and food will showcase the sights, sounds and tastes that make up Indy’s culture and demonstrate its trademark Hoosier Hospitality.
Eat, Drink and Shop
To cheer on the team, fans need the gear to match. Pop-up retail stores in Civic Plaza and Concourse B will sell NCAA apparel and gear, in addition to other retail stores throughout the terminal. Scoreboard in Concourse A will feature an Indiana University basketball made with Swarovski Crystal for purchase, and fans can customize it with their favorite team and have it shipped home. Later this week, Gear Up’s new location will be open in Civic Plaza for fans to browse their favorite team’s gear or pick-up an item from the Vera Bradley collegiate collection.
After the shopping clock has run out, fans can head on over for some of the famous St. Elmo shrimp cocktail at Harry and Izzy’s or to Shapiro’s for local delicatessen eats. The new Sun King Tap Room will also be offering locally brewed libations, including their “Hoops There It Is” specialty beer and a small-plates menu. The new Tinker Coffee shop will be open to serve fans for their early morning coffee needs.
Photo Ops
40-foot tall towers located pre-security in Civic Plaza will feature digital displays of cascading basketballs on the hard court. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway rolled in a custom wrapped INDYCAR into Civic Plaza. And, of course, the Visit Indy #LoveIndy statute is on full display, inviting fans to share their love of the game and the best host city in the country. Line up your photo just right, to be the “I” in Indy with the IndyCar and expansive Final Four graphic on the Civic Plaza windows in the backgrounds.
Indiana Sports Corp and the Indy airport have ensured there is a festive presence throughout the terminal with expansive signage across the Civic Plaza windows, along the catwalk, on the floor in baggage claim, and on the moving walkways in Concourses A and B. All offering an opportunity to tell the world, “I have arrived” in Indy for basketball – at the best airport in North America.
Arts, Culture
In Indianapolis, arts and sports have always made great teammates and a powerful community collaboration called Swish is welcoming fans at the Indy airport and across the city with arts and culture moments. In partnership with the Arts Council of Indianapolis, the Indy airport will feature 10 murals in Concourses A and B. The murals are vinyl reproductions of original works by local artists. Learn more about the arts and culture activation at https://indyarts.org/swish.
As fans marvel at the plethora of local artist’s talents and works, they’ll also be treated to the sounds of local musicians on Fridays and Saturdays at the Indy airport through April 3. The music series is produced by the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and curated by GANGGANG. See the full Swish live music lineup at https://indyculturaltrail.org/swish/
Through a partnership with The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, select pieces from the National Art Museum of Sport are on display in the exhibition cases in Concourses A and B. The collection highlights iconic sport moments and athletes, and artwork created by athletes. Visit The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis to see more.
In addition, local artist Derrick Carter’s artwork, Indian-APolis, is on display in the Ticketing Hall featuring hometown basketball favorites like the Butler Bulldogs, the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever. And, of course, Tasha Beckwith’s massive mural of Madam C.J. Walker’s legacy will tower over fans as they arrive in Civic Plaza, sharing the story of a Hoosier legend who is synonymous with entrepreneurial victory.
Hoosier Hospitality, Safety
The Indy airport frontline staff will also be 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, have been working throughout the year to make the airport safe for travelers during the pandemic. Fans can rest assured that they are arriving at a clean airport that keeps health and safety at the forefront. The Indianapolis International Airport 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. To learn more about the airport’s COVID-19 response, visit IND.com/COVID19.