They say basketball grows in Indiana. But that’s only partially true. Yes, the Hoosier State is a hoops haven for all devotees of the hardwood. But it’s also become a sports haven across the past decade-plus. The Pacers and Colts, the Fever and the NCAA all call this city home. So, too, in many ways, does the Big Ten, which annually puts its football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium, and regularly puts its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments at BankersLife Fieldhouse.
Indianapolis hosted Super Bowl XLVI in February of 2012, which let out a local secret to the rest of the world: this town excels at hosting sports events. There’s the Indy500. There are regular Olympic trials. And yes, there is plenty of basketball, too, with the Final Four returning to Indianapolis in 2026 and 2029, and with the entire 67-game NCAA men’s basketball tournament taking place in Indy in 2021, at Mackey Arena, Assembly Hall, BankersLife Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indiana Farmers Coliseum and Lucas Oil Stadium hosted March Madness.
But there’s much more to the Indianapolis sports scene than its teams and annual events. (And more than the Peyton Manning statue or Reggie Miller mural.) That’s where we come in.
Where should you stay? Where should you eat? What type of off-the-court experiences will speak to you as a sports fan? This probably isn’t too surprising, given the compact nature of downtown Indianapolis, but so much of the fabric of this town and its surrounding region is wrapped up in sports history, both local and national. Here’s your sports-specific guide to Indianapolis.