Indy Courting Big Future Business at CFP
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowWhile Alabama and Georgia will square off tonight for college football’s national championship at Lucas Oil Stadium, it is not the only competition taking place in downtown Indianapolis. Indy tourism officials are competing for some major future business as the city hosts yet another big-time sporting event.
“We have eight meeting decision makers from across the United States…they’ll see the game, they’ll see the city, they’ll walk inside the convention center and see how the hotels are connected no matter the climate,” said Visit Indy Senior Vice President Chris Gahl, who adds if all say yes, it could mean more than $400 million in new business.
Gahl also had some very encouraging news about the state of the Indy convention business on this weekend’s edition of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.
Indianapolis was awarded this year’s College Football Playoff National Championship in 2017 and has spent nearly four years preparing for it and an expected economic impact of more than $150 million.
The economic infusion couldn’t come at a better time for downtown hotels, restaurants and businesses that have been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yet despite the enormous challenges, Gahl says the city’s multi-billion tourism industry is almost back to pre-pandemic levels. ”We’re at about 85 percent recovered right now,” said Gahl. “By the end of 2022, we anticipate, in large part because of this event, by the end of 2022 we’ll be 100 percent recovered…we’ll be back to pre-pandemic levels.”