Indy Ready for Monumental Weekend
Downtown Indianapolis is expecting huge crowds this weekend and the senior vice president of Visit Indy says the city is ready for what comes. More than 200,000 visitors are expected to take part in 20 major events in what is being called Monumental Weekend. Chris Gahl says the city has been preparing for two years for this weekend, which is expected to generate more than $60 million in economic impact.
Some of the events include the U.S. Conference of Mayors which will feature some big names, including Hillary Clinton, the Dalai Lama and Lady Gaga. The USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship will be held at the Indiana Convention Center and several big concerts will be taking place, including Justin Bieber at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Bob Dylan at The Lawn at White River State Park.
Gahl tells Inside INdiana Business the preparation for Monumental Weekend has been a collaborative effort.
"In concert with Indiana Sports Corp., downtown Indy, the mayor’s office and IMPD, we have been meeting routinely over the last two years to make sure this is seamless, that we’ve thought through every detail from safety to promotion, from hospitality to government affairs," says Gahl. "We’ve spent even more time than what we would traditionally do for a big weekend like this to make sure that we’re buttoned up."
Gahl says the Monumental Weekend will not only have a big economic impact, but will also generate great publicity for Indianapolis with over 200 national media in town. He says NBC Sports covering the U.S. Olympic Diving Trials and the large amount of media covering the U.S. Conference of Mayors are big contributors to the publicity.
"National media giving its third-party endorsement has been incredibly effective over the last 30 to 40 years to raise the profile of Indianapolis," says Gahl. "It’s national media advocating and singing our praises that helps raise the profile so we will, again, enjoy a huge spike in social media chatter, as well as traditional media chatter about Indianapolis, so it’s a big deal and there’s an economic win and a marketing win."
Gahl emphasizes the "Know Before You Go" mentality for visitors attending events in downtown Indy this weekend. He says it’s good to know there will be street closures and added security so it is best to plan ahead for the routes you will take and where to park. You can find more information on the Monumental Weekend by clicking here.
Gahl says planning began with the successful bid to host the U.S. Conference of Mayors this year.