Indy Insights

Set for Takeoff

I joined a group of colleagues for a tour of the new Weir Cook Terminal at Indianapolis International Airport this past Friday.

In a word ... wow. It's a jaw-dropper.

The $1.1 billion terminal, the first to be built from ground up in the country since 9/11/2001 and the largest capital project in Indianapolis history, is nearing completion and is expected to open in November.

Approaching the vast, sweeping curved roof of the terminal on the access road is a goose-bump moment, especially for those of us who have spent their lifetimes in Indy and have dealt with the increasing cramped confines of the current terminal.

Only the runways will remain the same. Everything else is new, including the two 20-gate concourses, a vast (5,900 spaces) parking garage, the Ground Transportation Center (and no more rental car shuttles ... hooray!!), restaurants (local favorites and chains) and the mind-blowing Civic Plaza (see rendering, right), our new window of welcome to the world.

Overall, there will be 60,000 square feet of retail space, including the restaurants. You may actually find yourself saying, "Honey, for our evening out, what say we go to the airport for dinner?"

The new terminal is 1.2 million square feet, double the size of the current facility.

What an incredible first impression this will make on visitors ... and what a great, easy-to-use, state-of-the-art facility this is for our residents.

In addition to the bells, whistles and amenities, there are will be $3.5 million in public art displayed throughout, and that includes the terminal, the parking garage, the concourses and even among the landscaping.

Going through security should be as hassle-free as any airport in the country. That's because the Transportation Safety Authority has been involved in the design process from the beginning.

The $40 million baggage system is ready to go. It's been up and running for a year of testing. It includes a mind-boggling 2.5 miles of conveyor belts.

With Lucas Oil Stadium opening in two weeks, it has drawn most of the public's (and media's) attention, but the Weir Cook terminal is easily on the same grand scale.

Fasten your seat belts.

Now That's Entertainment!

OK, this is probably true for most large American cities in the summertime.

But in Indy, we've been on something of an entertainment roll here lately.

The thought was reinforced last Wednesday when I looked out of my downtown office window, which affords a view of the luxury Conrad Hotel.

There were tour buses ... and more tour buses. And around the block even more tour buses.

That's because the American Idol tour, having played Conseco Fieldhouse the night before, was checking out. And the Foo Fighters, to play Conseco Fieldhouse that night, were checking in ... along with the Jonas Brothers, who were headed for Verizon Wireless Music Center. Also arriving was the Dave Matthews Band, which played Verizon on Friday and Saturday.

Then, last night, Jimmy Buffett brought his Parrothead Party to Verizon while, at the same time, Neil Diamond was performing at the Fieldhouse.

Of course, mixed into the music was racing. Last weekend was NASCAR's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard weekend, which began with a USAC sprint car race on Thursday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park, followed by the Craftsman Truck Series race at ORP Friday night followed by the Nationwide Series there Saturday night. Sunday, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the Allstate 400 and even that had a muscial element ... the Charlie Daniels Band performed before the race.

I'm not done.

All the while, our Triple-A Indianapolis Indians were drawing huge crowds during a homestand at Victory Field, more than 82,000 for eight games.

Now I don't have all the attendance figures, but I'm roughly estimating that in an eight-day music-, racing- and baseball-filled span, there were more than 400,000 spectators.

I know I did my part, taking in an Indians game, both Dave Matthews shows, the Allstate 400 and Buffett.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a nap.

Beginning the Second 100

This is the 101st IndyInsights blog.

There were a lot of haters out there who said it wouldn't last but we've proven them wrong.

Just kidding.

We're proud to say that IndyInsights has been well received from the getgo. It has been part of the ICVA's strategy to be on the cutting edge of social media, rather than a follower. As an old -- well, older -- guy, I'm not sure I'm one who is a target of social media, but it is certainly the buzz. So I'm happy to participate and, on occasion, stimulate, conversation. We're approaching 30,000 page views and, hopefully, those who have stopped to read these ramblings have taken away something positive about our community.

I'm an Indianapolis guy through and through, and it's been my pleasure to see -- and write about -- the amazing evolution that's taken place in my home town. The sports initiative kick-started it 30 years ago, and the snowball's still rolling downhill, gaining momentum. Anytime anyone has asked, "What's next?" we always seem to be able to provide the answer.

So, what's next?

Well, in just three weeks, we open Lucas Oil Stadium, not just as a home to the Indianapolis Colts, but as a multi-purpose facility that will create incredible opportunities in the convention, meetings and events industry. Three months from now, the new $1.1 billion terminal at Indianapolis International Airport welcomes its first passengers. I'm taking a part in a tour of the new facility this Friday and will share my impressions next week. But it's going to have a significant "wow" factor.

Our convention center is expanding and a 1,600-room complex of Marriott hotels -- anchored by a 1,005-room JW Marriott -- is under construction.

It will all be done and ready well before Indy welcomes the Super Bowl in 2012.

All the while, our attractions, restaurants and amenities continue to improve and multiply. Don't get me wrong ... as with all urban areas across America, we have our share of issues and challenges. But all in all, it's an extraordinary time to live, work and play in Indianapolis.

We hope you'll come join us and discover our city for yourselves.

In the meantime, thanks for reading IndyInsights. We hope to be around for at least 100 more.

When The Rubber Meets The ... Sidewalk!

This is the week when the rubber hits the road in Indianapolis.

Or, to be more precise, when the rubber meets the sidewalks.

Chakaia Booker: Mass Transit will be Indy's third installment of public art, following on the heels of the whimsical exhibits of Tom Otterness and Julian Opie. Installation begins this week.

The New York-based Booker has gained famed for her work that utilizes tires -- yes, tires -- that are cut, shaped and folded and attached to stainless steel frames to become towering sculptures, some as high as 10 feet. There will be 10 sculptures in all, nine of them placed throughout downtown with the 10th at Broad Ripple's ARTSPARK at the Indianapolis Art Center.

All but the ARTSPARK sculpture (titled Cross Over Effects) are original works. This is the first time Booker has created artworks specifically for a community.

"The sculptures will interact with the community of Indianapolis and touch the pulse of the city's residents and visitors by reflecting on historic and current events in and around the Indianapolis area," Booker says.

Booker's exhibit is a project of Public Art Indianapolis, which is managed by the Arts Council of Indianapolis. A grant from Lilly Endowment to the Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission is funding Booker's display.

The exhibition will be dedicated July 22 and close next April 1.

Just so you know, the photo with this blog is not one of the works that will be displayed.

Like all art, these works will impress people differently. In my view, there is always something to be said for that which makes a city distinctive and there is no doubt Mass Transit will be anything but ordinary fare.

Let the public art, and the public conversation, begin. And let us know what you think.

Tennis, anyone? Celebration, everyone!

Two events that help define summertime in Indianapolis are going on concurrently this week.

One would be the Indianapolis Tennis Championships. The other would be Indiana Black Expo's Summer Celebration.

It's difficult to imagine Indy without either.

Some former of amateur/professional tennis has been taking place in Indianapolis for almost 100 years. The event really took hold in the '70s as the U.S. Clay Court Championships, and they moved downtown to the Indianapolis Tennis Center when that venue opened in 1979.

A change in the tennis calendar forced a move from clay to hard courts, and now the Indianapolis Championships are part of the U.S. Open series and a fixture on the ATP Tour.

With Andy Roddick taking a pass on Indy this year, some have bemoaned the lack of big names in the event but that doesn't mean there will be a dearth of big-time talent. The level of play is extraordinary. And the coolest thing about the event, in my opinion, is that on the back courts, you are literally just a few feet away from the action. That close-up perspective really gives you an appreciation for how exceptional these players are.

Summer Celebration, which began last week and runs through the upcoming weekend, is merely the largest festival of its kind in the country. Begun in 1971 to celebrate African-American history, culture and accomplishments, more than 300,000 now attend the myriad of Celebration events. From business seminars to concerts to health and wellness to youth activities to spiritual offerings to exhibits, there literally is something for everyone.

And if you think that the Indy Tennis Championships and Summer Celebration don't share a thread, think again. The No. 1 seed in the tennis tournament is past champion James Blake, an African-American.