In addition to Superbowl XLVI, Indianapolis hopes to entice the crowds back for a second visit with these treasures:
Children's Museum of Indianapolis
3000 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208
317-334-3322
Indiana State Museum
650 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-1637
White River State Park
NCAA Headquarters and Hall of Champions
700 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-916-HALL
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
4790 W. 16th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46222
317-492-8500
Super Bowl XLVI (46) has Hoosiers cheering for football as passionately as they do for college basketball or their favorite Indy 500 driver. No matter who wins the big game on Feb. 5, hosting the Super Bowl at the 63,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, is a victory for Indianapolis.
With an estimated 150,000 visitors, (thousands are non-ticket holders) an economic touchdown is in the bag. Indy has its game face on and is ready for company. About 8,300 volunteers sporting blue and white scarves are prepared to give directions and answer questions.
Sidewalks have been repaired, streets have been resurfaced and salt trucks are ready for winter. Fans who may be intimidated by Indiana's typically blustery February weather will be pleased to discover that much of the downtown area is interconnected by enclosed skyways.
Perhaps the most impressive of Super Bowl preparations is the towering addition to the downtown skyline. The new, 34-story Indianapolis JW Marriott, the tallest hotel in Indiana, will serve as a media hub during the game. The luxury hotel was built to help secure the Super Bowl bid, so it's practically a monument to the city's commitment to hosting America's most-watched sporting event.
Provided by 2012 NFL Host Committee. Super Bowl 46.
Indianapolis Convention & Visitor's Association Indy Cars have been decked out for the SuperBowl XLVI
Contributed rendering/Super Bowl Host Committee The Village, a pedestrian-friendly entertainment venue constructed just for the Super Bowl and seen in this rendering, is a three-block corridor of Georgia Street in downtown Indianapolis. It includes a zipline to let riders soar over the attractions.
Connected to the hotel is the newly expanded Indiana Convention Center, set to host the NFL Experience from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4. Fans without a Super Bowl ticket won't feel sidelined at this interactive football theme park, which features games, kids' football clinics and free autograph sessions with more than 50 NFL superstars.
Another way to get close to the action is to stroll through the Village, a three-block corridor of Georgia Street that has been transformed into a pedestrian-friendly entertainment area with big-screen TVs and free, live music.
But after the last tackle on the field, there's still much to explore in Indy. Morgan Greenlee of the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association hopes Super Bowl fans will return and check out the Indy attractions and entertainment options that they missed.
"Shortly after Super Bowl hysteria settles, we'll be heading into spring and summer in Indianapolis, which is the perfect time to bring families in to explore our 250-acre urban green space, White River State Park, or the world's largest children's museum," Greenlee said.
Children's Museum of Indianapolis
The big news here is the "National Geographic Treasures of the Earth" exhibit that opened last June. Featured are interactive, hands-on replicas of three of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century: the 300-year-old shipwreck of Captain Kidd's Cara Merchant, Qin dynasty Terra Cotta Warriors and the tomb of the ancient pharaoh, Seti I. Kids dig in the sand or dive in the "sea," making discoveries of their own.
White River State Park: Indiana State Museum and NCAA Hall of Champions
Bisected by the scenic Central Canal, which teems with pedal boaters during the warmer months, White River State Park is an urban hotbed of entertainment, sports and family fun. It's also a cultural corridor that's home to several top-notch museums. A couple of key attractions include the Indiana State Museum and the NCAA Hall of Champions.
Indiana State Museum
This museum of science, art, history and culture features 13 permanent exhibit galleries that tell Indiana's story and celebrate its achievements.
"Chaos is a Friend of Mine: Cultural Icons from the Jim Irsay Collection" opens Jan. 27. Artifacts from Colts owner Jim Irsay's personal collection, including an Elvis Presley guitar, will be showcased through May. At the center of the exhibition is the original 120-foot-scroll on which Jack Kerouac wrote his 1957 masterpiece, "On the Road."
NCAA Hall of Champions
The NCAA Hall of Champions celebrates the achievements of student athletes, representing all 23 sports under the auspices of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The Arena, an exhibit space on the first floor, pays tribute not only to the rock stars of the college sports world, such as basketball and football players, but also recognizes athletes in sports such as rowing, gymnastics, fencing and bowling.
The real fun begins on the second level, called Play. Simulation booths create an exciting, virtual world where visitors can try their hands at the sport of their choice, experiencing it the way college athletes do. Think fast; a powerful serve is coming at you in a simulated tennis match.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Of course, the No. 1 reason sports fans come to Indy in the spring is to catch the racing action at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Indy 500, "the greatest spectacle in racing," attracts hundreds of thousands of racing enthusiasts from around the globe every May.
Those who have always dreamed of being a participant instead of a spectator can turn their fantasy into a reality with the Indy Racing Experience Driving Program. Drive around the legendary 2.5-mile oval track in a real IZOD IndyCar Series car that competed in the Indy 500, or ride behind a driver in a two-seater. Either way, the giddy thrill of accelerating at breakneck speed around the world's most famous racetrack will last a lifetime.
For information on the Super Bowl and related events such as the NFL Experience, visit www.our2012sb.com.
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