INDIANAPOLIS – The calendar is almost about to turn to February, and in Indianapolis, much of the month will be all about the NBA All-Star Game.
From Gainbridge Fieldhouse to the JW Marriott, nearly all of downtown Indy will get in on the festivities over the next three weeks.
As the countdown starts, several hotels in downtown Indianapolis are already fully booked.
“We’re super excited as a community to really blow the doors off and deliver Hoosier hospitality,” said Patrick Tamm, the president and CEO of the Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association.
Tamm said some 35 hotels part of the NBA block in the core of downtown are just about sell out.
“The NBA room block is just astronomical for us right now,” he said. “We’ve also seen lots of people book a lot of unique fan experiences as well. People throughout Indiana and the Midwest, and frankly this is an international event.”
Tamm said NBA All-Star 2024 will put Hoosier hospitality on an international stage as people from all over the world visit. He also said it is not just hotels that are already filling up.
“Some restaurants are being booked out for private events,” Tamm said. “Others, not going to do private events but have every reservation filled.”
All of that foot traffic is expected to come with a significant economic boom.
“The projected economic impact for NBA All-Star 2024 is upwards of $320 million,” said Danny Lopez, the vice president of external affairs for Pacers Sports and Entertainment. “So, it’s a significant economic impact on the city and the state. That drives down to local businesses.”
Though many hotels are near full capacity, it is not too late to plan a “staycation.”
“There’s still some hotels depending upon what your price range may be,” Tamm said. “Or you look a little further into the suburbs as well. There are rooms available there.”
And whether you are a basketball fan or not, Lopez encourages everyone to check out the festivities that weekend.
“We liked to talk about it as a big party where people are going to have fun,” Lopez said. “There’s lots of arts and culture, and oh yeah, we’ve got some basketball events too. Even if you’re not a basketball fan, or you don’t have tickets to a game, there’s plenty of free things you can do when you come you come downtown. There will be pop up art galleries and pop up retail.”
The Pacers recommend fans check out the list of the more than 50 events taking place and encourage fans to set up their own itinerary online. Fans can also stay in tune with everything they need to know before they hit the road by checking online updates and frequently asked questions.
