Indianapolis, IN

Nearly 200,000 fans attended NBA All-Star Weekend events, according to Pacers

Published

9 months ago

February 23, 2024

Nearly 200,000 fans attended NBA All-Star Weekend events, according to Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis became a basketball paradise for NBA All-Star Weekend and the Indiana Pacers say a massive crowd experienced the Hoosier hysteria.

Pacers Sports and Entertainment claims more than 190,000 fans attended NBA All-Star Weekend festivities, which they say is the highest attendance for the event in fourteen years.

“The spending from people who were coming downtown was upwards of $300 million,” said Danny Lopez of Pacers Sports and Entertainment. “We deliver and over-deliver on these events as well as any city probably in the world.”

The crowds are gone, but several reminders of the festivities are now permanent pieces of Indianapolis.

That includes the Bicentennial Unity Plaza, an outdoor basketball court and event space next to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It opened this fall and hosted the All-Star Weekend Tip-Off concert.

“I catch the Red Line to come down here and shoot around a little bit for at least a half an hour,” said Ke’Shawn Johnson, an Indianapolis resident who uses the plaza court on a daily basis. “It’s amazing and crazy to hear that so many people came to Indianapolis.”

Indianapolis had waited since 1985 for another chance at hosting the NBA All-Star Game. The next two NBA All-Star Games are in cities that could be considered the opposite of Indianapolis: San Francisco in 2025 and Los Angeles in 2026.

Lopez hopes the NBA gives all of its cities a chance to shine for the all-star crowds.

“I think it’s important that markets like ours and cities like Indianapolis get to show off to the whole world,” Lopez said. “However, this is not new to us. There’s only one city in America that could pull off hosting the entirety of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.”

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Indianapolis, IN

“Absolutely rocking”: Taylor Swift's Indianapolis show left Travis Kelce absolutely smitten | NFL News – Times of India

Published

2 hours ago

November 7, 2024

Press Room

Taylor Swift is nearing the end of her Eras Tour concerts, which began in March 2023. Cheering for the Grammy-winning singer in Indiana is Taylor’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and her mum, who was sitting in the VIP box. He even celebrated Swift’s success with her. In a podcast conversation with his brother Jason Kelce, the athlete opened up about his experience attending one more of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour stops before it wraps in Vancouver in December.
Also Read: Taylor Swift receives a mystery gift box from her beau Travis Kelce’s boss and Chiefs’ owner Tavia Hunt

Travis Kelce says Taylor Swift’s show in Indiana was rocking

Chiefs Clutch Offense, Saquon Breaks Football and Does the NFL Have a QB Problem? | Ep 108

Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce, said that he attended Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour stop in Indianapolis. He watched the night two performance at her three-night run at Lucas Oil Stadium as part of his VIP ticket. Kansas City Chiefs tight end and his brother Jason Kelce discuss their relationship on the New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce podcast.
“I wanted to see Tay one more time before this thing got closed up,” Travis explained during the episode. “I’ll tell you what, man. The American crowds, they did not disappoint. I heard that it was a lot more rowdy this time around, knowing she was coming back to stop through America one last time before the tour was over with, and I’ll tell you what, man, that thing was rocking. Absolutely rocking.”
Kelce has been to more than a dozen Eras Tour shows since catching one in Kansas City last summer. He was also a guest at Patrick and Brittany Mahomes’ concert in Amsterdam and made a surprise onstage appearance in London. He danced along with his girlfriend’s mom to the track “So High School” on TikTok, while making his Eras Tour stage debut with “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end carried an exhausted Swift to the couch during the final act of her Tortured Poets extravaganza.
During the show, the Cruel Summer singer also made a sweet nod to her boyfriend when she changed the lyrics of her song “Karma” to “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me,” as she typically does when the NFL star is in the crowd.
Also Read: Taylor Swift’s mom was seen rocking some adorable Chiefs gear at the Arrowhead Stadium while cheering for Tay’s boyfriend

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis set to clear snow and ice with 170 drivers, 18,000 tons of salt

Published

11 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Press Room

Indianapolis set to clear snow and ice with 170 drivers, 18,000 tons of salt

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH)– The city government has a plan to keep people safe when winter weather hits.

That plan includes additional drivers to help clear ice and snow.

“Emergencies don’t wait for snow and ice to melt. Our first responders need to clear streets as soon as possible to keep our residents safe, ” said Mayor Joe Hogsett at a Wednesday news conference.

Sixty-five drivers will be added to the Department of Public Works (DPW) this season, for a total of 170 drivers with 12-hour shifts to keep the roads clear.

Erin Escobar will be one of the new drivers. She spoke to News 8 about what its like driving a salt truck. She described it as “intimidating at first.” After she got trained, she said that it’s “comfortable, like driving a big pickup truck.”

Eighteen thousand tons of salt is stored in seven barns throughout the city. The Democrat mayor said, “That’s a lot of salt, 18,000 tons. This means DPW is officially ready to do what they always do keep our roads clear and residents safe.”

Public Works recommends slowing down around snowplows to give their drivers enough room to maneuver. “Safety’s got to be No. 1,” said Steven Quick, president of AFSCME Local 725. “We’ve got 11-foot plows, and they can actually do damage.”

The city is also ready to battle potholes. Public Works Director Brandon Herget said, “It’s freeze-thaw cycle that causes potholes. It’s not the amount of snowfall.”

Permanent pothole fixes this season will have to wait until spring, when repair crews can use hot-mix asphalt. Herget said, “We’ll be prepared to not only get the trucks and plows in the immediate future, but, next spring, we’ll make sure we get contacts in place to get the hot-mix asphalt as quickly as possible.”

Motorists should expect salt trucks on the road before the first snowfall, Public Works leaders said, as the truck drivers learn their routes before a big storm hits.

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Indianapolis, IN

Top 5 storylines to follow for Buffalo Bills at Indianapolis Colts | Week 10

Published

18 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Press Room

Top 5 storylines to follow for Buffalo Bills at Indianapolis Colts | Week 10

🕳3. Filling a void on the defensive line

The Bills are without another key piece on defense for the foreseeable future. Head coach Sean McDermott announced on Monday that defensive end Dawuane Smoot will miss multiple games with a wrist injury.

“He’s going to get surgery sometime this week and he’ll be placed on IR,” McDermott shared.

In seven games, Smoot recorded 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, one and a half sacks and one forced fumble.

“He loves the physical side of the game, and he brings a demeanor that you like on your defense,” defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said of Smoot. “(He’s) kind of a tone setter, if you will. And, it’s been crucial.”

Without Smoot in the lineup for at least four games, Buffalo will look to see who takes advantage of the opportunity.

“We have a little bit of time here before we play on Sunday to kind of carve out what that might be,” Babich said. “And it could be week in and week out, it could be a different plan each week on how we want to attack that. We’ll see how it goes.”

Edge rushers Casey Toohill and Javon Solomon could be two options for Buffalo when it comes to helping fill the void going forward.

Smoot is now the second defensive lineman that’s been placed on Injured Reserve recently as defensive tackle DeWayne Carter was placed on IR on October 26. Sunday marks Carter’s second game on IR.

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