Sports Industry Musings

On the eve of another NCAA Basketball Regional being held here in Indianapolis, I am still amazed at the ease with which such mega-events occur here. Lucas Oil Stadium is set and ready in its best basketball configuration to stage another destination event.

I remember 1980 when this year's Louisville cut down the nets at a final four held in the now demolished Market Square Arena. I also recall when Michigan State did the same in the now demolished RCA Dome. Duke University accomplished a championship in Lucas Oil Stadium over hometown Butler University. Three NCAA men's basketball champions were crowned here in Indy in three different venues. Although the memories of those games remain vivid, the common glue for those success stories were not in the three distinct venues, but rather in the distinctiveness of the Indiana sports hospitality industry. No other city does these mega-events better, from the Pan American Games to the Superbowl,our little light shines brightest of all other host cities.

I've had the honor to participate with thousands of volunteers and event committees to bring about the magic and economic success of such events. I currently serve on the Capital Improvement Board of Managers and as such, I'm in a position to see first hand the extraordinary work done behind the scenes for these events to be staged in the most professional manner possible. As treasurer of Visit Indy's Tourism Tomorrow, I also get to see the transformation work done to market and sell our fantastic facilities and events to the visitors and global television audiences.

I am proud of the legacy created in our city for major special events, yet excited about the new generation of leaders and their commitment to enhancing said legacy. I look forward to this year's games and for announcements of other events to be held here. Again....no one does it better.

Milton Thompson