Howell: Downtown Indy Will Be ‘Championship Campus’
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe countdown is on. It is now less than 200 days to the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis. It is an event expected to have a $150 million economic impact and a transformation of downtown Indy, says CFP-Indianapolis Host Committee Chairman Mark Howell. “We’re actually creating a whole championship campus downtown,” said Howell, who adds features will include high-profile concerts and music on Monument Circle and a free, interactive fan experience inside the Indiana Convention Center.
“From White River State Park to Monument Circle to Bankers Life, down Georgia Street, Pan Am Plaza, Lucas Oil and back to White River State Park will be a championship campus,” said Howell.
Howell talked about the massive planning effort that is underway and a ”surprise” in the works that fans won’t forget on this weekend’s edition of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.
Indianapolis was awarded the 2022 national championship in 2017 but did not have to bid on the event. The College Football Playoff committee made a surprise call inviting the city to host the 2022 game and four days of events and festivities. “They contacted us and said we love Indy and we’d love to be there in 2022, can you make it happen,” said Indiana Sports Corporation President Ryan Vaughn shortly after Indy secured the game.
Officials expect more than 100,000 visitors to the city for the four-day event that will begin Friday, January 7, leading up to the national championship game in Lucas Oil Stadium Monday, January 10.