Indianapolis, IN

Indiana 250: Leonard Hoops – Indianapolis Business Journal

Published

2 years ago

March 1, 2024

Indiana 250: Leonard Hoops – Indianapolis Business Journal

(Photo courtesy of Leonard Hoops)

As president and CEO of Visit Indy, Leonard Hoops leads a team of professionals charged with growing central Indiana’s nearly $6 billion convention, tourism and event business. During his tenure, Indianapolis has been named the No. 1 convention city in America by USA Today and a top visitor destination by The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler and Time magazine. He has helped develop the Indy Destination Vision travel and tourism plan, which includes a planned new hotel downtown, and the planning vision for the White River. He sits on the board of Chicago-based business events organization PCMA, among other national and local boards.

First job

Bus boy, dishwasher, locker room cleaner for [a] restaurant at a country club. My family were not members. Some people treated me kindly in those roles, but not everyone. I have a great appreciation for those who have made their careers in hospitality.

Job swap

Astronaut, professional athlete, actor, filmmaker

Favorite thing about being a leader

Delivering big things that make life better for a lot of people.

Something surprising

I’ve been doing stand-up comedy for a variety of charitable causes (and an occasional industry roast or two) for about eight years. I performed comedy in high school and college, as well, but decided I was too emotionally well-adjusted to pursue it as a career.

Admires most

My wife, Dorene Hoops. She is smart, compassionate and selfless. She has blessed me with a wonderful life and beautiful family and has made me a better person every day for 27 years.

Favorite device

I feel lost without my iPhone.

Toughest challenge

Being short. Hard to get people to listen to you when you’re 5-foot-7.

In all seriousness, [that] has to be the pandemic. Some industries actually did OK during that time, but conventions and tourism was not one of them. I believe Indy, and Visit Indy, emerged from it far better than most. It’s been said that we were all in the same boat, but I disagree. We were all in the same storm, and Indy’s boat navigated the rough seas as well as could be hoped for.

Leadership lessons

Just about anyone can have short-term success. But to deliver sustained success, you must build a great organizational culture.

Walk-up song

“Thunderstruck,” by AC/DC

Advice for a young person

Wherever you go, whatever you do, make yourself indispensable.

Sabbatical topic

A 52-week road trip (with a flight to Hawaii mixed in) exploring the US of A.

Something to change about Indiana

Social issues legislation

Favorite thing about Indiana

The genuineness of the people. It’s a real thing.

Favorite civic contribution

It’s yet to come. One day when people talk about the world’s greatest cities without oceans and/or mountains, they’ll mention Paris and Indy.

Pets

We have a … Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Olive. Like many busy dads, I didn’t want her. My daughter … talked me into her. And so, of course, Olive is now my BFF and constant companion.•

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Indianapolis, IN

Good and bad from Colts’ 2026 NFLPA report card grades

Published

10 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Good and bad from Colts’ 2026 NFLPA report card grades

What grades did the Indianapolis Colts earn on the 2026 NFLPA report cards?

The NFLPA is no longer able to make their annual report cards public. However, ESPN’s Kayln Kahler was able to obtain a copy of the reports following the 2025 NFL season, and the Indianapolis Colts were again around the middle of the pack.

In these report cards, players rate numerous aspects of the organizations they play for, from ownership to the training facilities and everything in between. According to Kahler, 1,759 players contributed to these grades.

So, where did the Colts end up this year relative to the rest of the NFL this year?

Overall, the Colts ranked 17th. Below is a breakdown of each individual grade they received.

Treatment of Families: B
Home Game Field: D
Food/Dining Area: B
Nutritionist/Dietician: A-
Locker Room: C+
Training Room: B
Training Staff: B+
Weight Room: B
Strength Coaches: A
Position Coaches: B
Offensive Coordinator: B
Defensive Coordinator: B+
Special Teams Coordinator: B+
Team Travel: B-
Head Coach: A-
General Manager: A
Team Ownership: A

Of note, although the Colts haven’t been to the postseason in five years, Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard both received high marks.

Carlie Irsay Gordon, Kalen Jackson, and Casey Foyt earned an A in their first year as the primary owners.

The field at Lucas Oil Stadium received a very low mark, earning a D, while the locker room was given a C+. Those were the two lowest grades the Colts received.

Compared to the 2025 rankings, the Colts moved up two spots this year, after coming in at 19th last year.

The biggest jumps the Colts experienced came in the Food/Dining grade, which went from a C to a B. The Team travel grade also jumped from a D+ to a B-.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis police search for 3 people after shooting, stolen vehicle crash

Published

22 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — After a shooting, Indianapolis police were searching for three people who fled on foot following the pursuit of a stolen vehicle and its crash on Thursday afternoon.

No information was provided in the notification about the three people being sought. News 8 reached out to IMPD by email to find out details about the three people. Anyone with information regarding the incident or the people who fled the crash was asked to contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

The stolen vehicle was linked to a Thursday shooting, prompting the lockdown of a nearby child care center, IMPD said in a media notification. No information was provided about where the shooting happened, what may have led to it, or whether anyone was hurt.

IMPD, however, said the stolen vehicle and crash were not related to a shooting reported at 12:35 p.m. Thursday at a gas station and restaurant at West 38th and Meridian streets.

IMPD officers found the stolen vehicle around 12:45 p.m. Thursday near East 38th Street and Post Road. When a detective attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle fled westbound before crashing a short time later near Whenner Drive, the notification said. It did not say what type of vehicle was abandoned in the crash.

Three people from the crashed vehicle fled southwest on foot. IMPD established a perimeter with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the Lawrence Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office — using specialized resources, including a state police helicopter, a special weapons and tactics team, and the IMPD’s police dogs — but did not find the three people.

IMPD said a firearm was found in the crashed vehicle, and a man detained at the crash scene was later released once investigators determined he was not directly involved in the incident.

Police have since lifted the lockdown on the child care center.

IMPD’s public information office can be reached at 317-327-3424.

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Indianapolis, IN

Oakland tops IU Indianapolis; Maguire Mitchell scores 25

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Oakland tops IU Indianapolis; Maguire Mitchell scores 25

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Brody Robinson had 19 points in Oakland’s 86-74 win against IU Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Robinson added 13 assists for the Golden Grizzlies (16-14, 12-7 Horizon League). Tuburu Niavalurua scored 16 points, going 6 of 10 and 3 of 5 from the free-throw line. Ziare Wells had 14 points and finished 7 of 15 from the field.

Maguire Mitchell led the Jaguars (7-23, 3-16) in scoring, finishing with 25 points and four assists. Kyler D’Augustino added 14 points for IU Indianapolis. Micah Davis also had 12 points.

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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