Sports in Indianapolis include major league franchises, collegiate athletics, and a variety of other club and individual sporting events that have taken place in
Indianapolis,
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, United States. Indianapolis is the home to 11 professional sports teams. The city is also home to three
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges ...
collegiate teams. Two teams from the
four major American leagues, the
Indianapolis Colts and
Indiana Pacers, are located in Indianapolis.
A number of
minor league-level teams also play in the city. The
Indiana Fever Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is an American professional basketball league. It is composed of twelve teams, all based in the United States. The league was founded on April 22, 1996, as the women's counterpart to the Natio ...
(WNBA) started play in 2000, and are under the same ownership as the Pacers NBA team. The
Indianapolis Indians are the second oldest
Minor League Baseball team, having played in the city since 1902, and are currently members of the
Triple-A International League. The
Indianapolis AlleyCats were formed in 2012 as one of the founding teams of the
American Ultimate Disc League
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
(AUDL). The
Indy Eleven
Indy Eleven is an American professional soccer team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 2013, the team made its debut in the North American Soccer League in 2014, before moving to the United Soccer League in 2018. The franchise plays it ...
soccer team began play in 2014 and are members of the
United Soccer League
United Soccer League (USL), formerly known as United Soccer Leagues, is a soccer league in the United States and Canada. It organizes several men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Men's leagues currently organized are the ...
(USL).
Notably, Indianapolis is the headquarters of the
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges ...
(NCAA), the main governing body for U.S. collegiate sports, the
National Federation of State High School Associations
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States. NFHS's headquarters are located in White River State Park in Ind ...
, and the
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500, formally known as the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, and commonly called the Indy 500, is an annual automobile race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in Speedway, Indiana, United States, an enclave suburb of Indi ...
, one of three legs of the
Triple Crown of Motorsport
The Triple Crown of Motorsport is an unofficial motorsport achievement, often regarded as winning three of the most prestigious motor races in the world in one's career:
* the Indianapolis 500 (first held in 1911)
* the 24 Hours of Le Mans (first ...
.
Major League teams in Indianapolis
Indianapolis Colts (NFL)
![Indianapolis-1872530](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Indianapolis-1872530.jpg)
The
Indianapolis Colts are a professional
American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
based in Indianapolis. The team is part of the
South Division South Division may refer to:
* South Division (AFL), a division of the Arena Football League
* South Division (CFL), a former division of the Canadian Football League
* South Division (NAHL), a division of the North American Hockey League
* South ...
of the
American Football Conference (AFC) in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
(NFL). The Colts have won five NFL Championships, including two
Super Bowl titles. The Colts relocated from Baltimore in 1984, and began their stay in Indianapolis winning 90 of 228 games through the 1997 season, including 5
playoff games. Since
Jim Irsay
James Irsay (born June 13, 1959) is an American businessman, known for being the principal owner, chairman and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL).
Irsay's father, Robert Irsay, built a fortune estimated to be ...
assumed control of the franchise in 1998 after the death of his father
Robert Irsay
Robert Irsay (March 5, 1923 – January 14, 1997) was an American professional football team owner. He owned the National Football League's Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts franchise from 1972 until his death in 1997.
Early life and education
Irsay ...
, the team has become the first in league history to win 12 games or more in five consecutive seasons (2003–2007).
After their first playoff berth in Indianapolis in 1987, they missed the playoffs 7 consecutive years. In 1995 the Colts made it to their 1st
AFC Championship Game since relocating but lost to the
Pittsburgh Steelers on a last-second play. In 1998 GM
Bill Polian drafted
Peyton Manning out of
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
helping to turn the franchise around. Since drafting Manning the Colts have made the playoffs in 10 of 12 years and won
Super Bowl XLI against the
Chicago Bears in
2006, 29–17.
Lucas Oil Stadium opened before the
2008 season, replacing the
RCA Dome, as the new home of the Colts.
Indiana Pacers (NBA)
The
Indiana Pacers are a professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
team based in Indianapolis. The team is part of
Central Division in
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
(NBA). The Pacers began play in the
ABA in 1967 and won 3 ABA Championships. In 1976 the Pacers received an invitation to join the National Basketball Association. In the
1987 NBA draft
The 1987 NBA draft was held on June 22, 1987, in New York City.
This draft included two future members of the NBA 50 Greatest Players list, David Robinson and Scottie Pippen, as well as fellow Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who was named to t ...
the Pacers selected
Reggie Miller
Reginald Wayne Miller (born August 24, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player who List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise, played his entire 18-year National Basketball Association (NBA) ca ...
out of
UCLA
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California ...
. Miller helped the team to make the
playoffs
The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eit ...
14 out of 17 seasons. To start the
1998–99 NBA season
The 1998–99 NBA season was the 53rd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999, after a new six-year Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached between the NBA and the ...
they opened their new arena, Conseco Fieldhouse, now
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Gainbridge Fieldhouse is an indoor arena located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It opened in November 1999 to replace Market Square Arena. The arena is the home of the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association and ...
, after playing at
Market Square Arena
Market Square Arena was an indoor arena in Indianapolis. Completed in 1974, at a cost of $23 million, it seated 16,530 for basketball and 15,993 for ice hockey. Seating capacity for concerts and other events was adjusted by the use of large cu ...
for 25 years. The Pacers reached their first and only
NBA Finals in that same season but lost to the
Lakers in 6 games. During the 2004–2005 season the
Pacers–Pistons brawl
The Malice at the Palace (also known as the Pacers–Pistons brawl) occurred during a National Basketball Association (NBA) game between the Indiana Pacers and the defending champion Detroit Pistons on Friday, November 19, 2004, at The Palace ...
took place in
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...
and the team has struggled with their off the court image with numerous incidents. Reggie Miller retired the same season. Since then the Pacers missed the playoffs in 2007, the first time since 1997 and for only the second time in 22 years.
Minor League teams in Indianapolis
Indiana Fever (WNBA)
The
Indiana Fever are a professional women's
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
team based in Indianapolis. The team is part of the
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is an American professional basketball league. It is composed of twelve teams, all based in the United States. The league was founded on April 22, 1996, as the women's counterpart to the Natio ...
(WNBA). The Fever were one of the 2000 expansion teams. The WNBA awarded Indianapolis a team with the opening of Conseco Fieldhouse, now
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Gainbridge Fieldhouse is an indoor arena located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It opened in November 1999 to replace Market Square Arena. The arena is the home of the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association and ...
. The Fever won their 1st game in
Miami
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a coastal metropolis and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at ...
, against the
Miami Sol
The Miami Sol were a professional women's basketball team that was based in Miami and entered the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in 2000. They played their games at American Airlines Arena as the sister team to the Miami Heat of the ...
, on national TV but finished the 2000 season in last place at 9–23 and received the 3rd overall pick in the
2001 WNBA draft. In the draft the Fever selected
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
superstar
Tamika Catchings, although she was forced to sit out the 2001 season with a knee injury. Catchings won the 2002
WNBA Rookie of the Year
The Women's National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) award given since the 1998 WNBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel ...
and has led the Fever in points, rebounds, assists, and steals each season since. They first made the playoffs in 2002 but lost to the
New York Liberty in 3 games. Since 2005 the Fever have posted four 21+ win seasons and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals three times. They reached the WNBA Finals for the first time in
2009, losing to the
Phoenix Mercury three games to two. The Fever reached the WNBA Finals for the second time in
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...
, and the team defeated the
Minnesota Lynx three games to one to win their first WNBA Title.
Indianapolis Indians
![Victory Field sunset 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Victory_Field_sunset_2.jpg)
The
Indianapolis Indians are a minor league
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding t ...
team based in Indianapolis. The team, which plays in the
International League, is the AAA affiliate of the
Pittsburgh Pirates. The Indians play at
Victory Field
Victory Field is a minor league ballpark in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is home to the Indianapolis Indians of the International League.
History
Victory Field opened on July 11, 1996, with the Indians falling to the Oklahom ...
, located in downtown Indianapolis.
Founded in 1902, the Indianapolis Indians are the second-oldest minor league franchise in professional sports, behind only the
Rochester Red Wings.
In 1985, a group of local investors formed Indianapolis Baseball, Inc. to pursue a
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
team. The announcement was met with great fanfare; 12,000 season tickets were sold in anticipation of the new team, to be named the Indianapolis Arrows. The initiative was ultimately unsuccessful and season ticket holders were refunded by the end of the year.
Indy Eleven
Indy Eleven
Indy Eleven is an American professional soccer team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 2013, the team made its debut in the North American Soccer League in 2014, before moving to the United Soccer League in 2018. The franchise plays it ...
is a second-tier
soccer team formed in 2013 and plays at the
IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium in Indianapolis. The team competed in the
North American Soccer League The North American Soccer League may refer to:
*North American Soccer League (1968–1984), a former Division I league
*North American Soccer League (2011–2017)
The North American Soccer League (NASL) was a professional men's soccer league b ...
from 2014 to 2017. They won their first honor during the
2016 season, capturing the Spring Season Championship with an undefeated record. They almost were the NASL Champions, barely losing to the
New York Cosmos New York Cosmos may refer to
* New York Cosmos (1970–1985), a team in the North American Soccer League (then the top-tier soccer league in the United States and Canada)
* New York Cosmos (2010), a team playing since 2020 in the National Independ ...
4–2 in a
penalty shoot-out
The penalty shootout is a method of determining a winner in sports matches that would have otherwise been drawn or tied. The rules for penalty shootouts vary between sports and even different competitions; however, the usual form is similar to pe ...
(0–0 after 90 minutes) during
Soccer Bowl 2016. They made a bid in 2017 to join top-tier
Major League Soccer as a 2020 expansion team but were passed over at that time. In 2018, the Eleven joined the
USL Championship
The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) as a Division II league since 2017, p ...
, the second highest division.
Indy Fuel
The
Indy Fuel
The Indy Fuel are a minor league ice hockey team in the ECHL that began play in the 2014–15 season. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Fuel play their home games at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum on the Indiana State Fairgrounds. They are af ...
is a minor league
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice h ...
team in the
ECHL
The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL).
The ...
, the third tier of professional hockey in North America. The franchise was founded in 2013 and has been affiliated with the NHL's
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division i ...
since the Fuel's foundation.
Top Tier Amateur teams in Indianapolis
Collegiate sports
Indianapolis has three universities that field teams in the NCAA,
Butler University
Butler University is a private university in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university has over 60 major academic fields of study in six colleges: the Lacy School of Business, College of Communic ...
(
Butler Bulldogs
The Butler Bulldogs are the athletic teams that represent Butler University, located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Bulldogs participate in 20 NCAA Division I intercollegiate sports. After leaving the Horizon League following the 2011–12 seas ...
) and
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th st ...
(
IUPUI Jaguars
The IUPUI Jaguars are the 18 intercollegiate teams that represent Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. They compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. On July 1, 2017, IUPU ...
) in Division 1 and the
University of Indianapolis
The University of Indianapolis (UIndy) is a private United Methodist Church-affiliated university in Indianapolis, Indiana. It offers Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees. It was founded in 1902 as Indiana Central University and ...
in Division 2. Butler is a member of the
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletic conference that competes in NCAA Division I in ten men's sports and twelve women's sports. Headquartered in New York City, the eleven full-member schools are primarily located in Northeast and ...
and IUPUI is a member of
Horizon League
The Horizon League is an 11-school collegiate athletic conference in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I, whose members are located in and near the Great Lakes region.
The Horizon League founded in 1979 as the Midw ...
. The
Marian University Knights compete in the
NAIA.
Motorsports
Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts one of the most famous and prestigious auto races, the
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500, formally known as the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, and commonly called the Indy 500, is an annual automobile race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in Speedway, Indiana, United States, an enclave suburb of Indi ...
. It is the world's most attended single-day sporting event. Also during May before the
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500, formally known as the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, and commonly called the Indy 500, is an annual automobile race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in Speedway, Indiana, United States, an enclave suburb of Indi ...
the Speedway also uses the road course to run the
IndyCar Grand Prix
The IndyCar Series hosts two races a year on the combined road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. The first, the GMR Grand Prix is held in early May with an inaugural running in 2014. The second race, the Gallagher G ...
. Both races are a part of the
IndyCar Series
The IndyCar Series, currently known as the NTT IndyCar Series under sponsorship, is the highest class of regional North American open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars in the United States, which has been conducted under the auspices o ...
. The Speedway also hosts NASCAR's
Brickyard 400
The Brickyard 400 was an annual NASCAR Cup Series points race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. The inaugural race was held in 1994 and was the first race other than the Indianapolis 500 to be held at the Indianapolis Moto ...
, and a round of the
Red Bull Air Race. It has also previously hosted rounds on the
Formula 1 and
Moto GP
Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the premier class of motorcycle road racing events held on road circuits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Independent motorcycle racing events have been held since the start of ...
calendars with,
United States Grand Prix
The United States Grand Prix is a motor racing event that has been held on and off since 1908, when it was known as the American Grand Prize. The Grand Prix later became part of the Formula One World Championship. , the Grand Prix has been held ...
from 2000 to 2007, and
Red Bull Indianapolis GP from 2008 to 2015 respectively.
Indianapolis is also the central base of many successful IndyCar racing teams. These include
Andretti Autosport
Andretti Autosport is an auto racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series, Indy Lights, Indy Pro 2000, and Formula E. The team also has a 37.5% ownership stake in the Australian Supercars Championship touring car team, Walkinshaw Andretti ...
,
Chip Ganassi Racing,
Ed Carpenter Racing, and
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
The IndyCar Series operation of McLaren Racing competes under the banner of Arrow McLaren SP. This entry is based in Indianapolis and was founded by former driver Sam Schmidt as Sam Schmidt Motorsports. Fellow ex-driver Davey Hamilton joined a ...
.
Events hosted
![The final celebration (6837616839)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/The_final_celebration_%286837616839%29.jpg)
Indianapolis has gained a reputation within the last thirty years for being a strong city for hosting major sporting events. While racing has been a major focus of the city for more than one hundred years, different sports, such as swimming and basketball, have become major focal points of the Indianapolis sports hosting landscape.
NCAA Championships
Indianapolis has a special connection with college sports, as it is the headquarters of the NCAA and the home of the NCAA Hall of Fame. It has also hosted a wide variety of Division I NCAA national championship Events.
Indianapolis has hosted the
Men's and
Women's NCAA Final Fours, as well as other rounds of the
NCAA basketball tournament, several times. Currently, Indianapolis has hosted the second most Men's Final Fours hosted, with eight. Indianapolis is scheduled to host its ninth Final Four in 2026. Kansas City currently has the most with ten. Indianapolis is currently tied for hosting the most Women's Final Fours, with New Orleans and Tampa Bay.
Men's Basketball
Women's Basketball
Fencing
Rowing
Men's Swimming and Diving
The
Indiana University Natatorium has hosted 13 individual
Olympic Trials. Eighteen individual swimming world records have been broken at the Natatorium, with swimmers such as
Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps II (born June 30, 1985) is an American former competitive swimmer. He is the most successful and most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals. Phelps also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold med ...
and
Ryan Lochte having made multiple appearances at the facility.
Most recently, the Natatorium hosted the
2017 NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships
The 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships were contested from March 22–25, 2017 at the Indiana University Natatorium at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana at the 94th annual NC ...
where several American and US Open records were broken.
Women's Swimming and Diving
Indoor Track and Field
Outdoor Track and Field
Women's Volleyball
Men's Water Polo
Women's Water Polo
College Football Playoff
On November 1, 2017, it was announced that Indianapolis would host the 2022 College Football Playoff Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium, which will serve as the conclusion to the 2021 football season. This is the first time Indianapolis has hosted any iteration of the college football championship. It is also the first time that a college football national championship game will be held outside of the South or West.
Big Ten Basketball tournament
Conseco Fieldhouse will host the
Big Ten men's tournament for five straight years starting in 2008 after it won the
Big Ten
The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference) is the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representati ...
bid over
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
and the
United Center
United Center is an indoor arena on the Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is home to the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). It is named ...
. Indianapolis has also hosted the
Big Ten women's tournament every year except 2001 since it started in 1995.
Horizon League Basketball tournament
Indianapolis became an irregular home of the
Horizon League men's basketball tournament
The Horizon League men's basketball conference tournament is held annually at the end of the men's college basketball regular season. The tournament has been played each year since 1980. The winner of the tournament is designated the Horizon ...
, as Butler commonly was the first overall seed, thus making
Hinkle Fieldhouse
Hinkle Fieldhouse (named Butler Fieldhouse from 1928 until 1966) is a basketball arena on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. Completed in early 1928, it was the largest basketball arena in the United States until 1950. The ...
a common host for the semifinals and finals. Starting in 2020,
Indiana Farmers Coliseum
The Indiana Farmers Coliseum (originally Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum and formerly Pepsi Coliseum and Fairgrounds Coliseum) is a 6,500-seat indoor multi-use arena, located on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. The Indiana Far ...
became the contractual home of the tournament.
Big Ten Football Championship Game
In 2011, following the reorganization of the Big Ten Conference into two divisions and the creation of the Big Ten Football Championship Game, Indianapolis was selected to indefinitely host the event in Lucas Oil Stadium. The game is the culmination of the Big Ten football season, in which the East and West Division champions meet to determine who gets an automatic New Year's Six Bowl berth, typically being the Rose Bowl. However, due to the high level of play in the conference, a College Football Playoff berth is often on the line.
Indianapolis Tennis Championships
From 1988 to 2009, Indianapolis hosted a lower level tennis tournament, being classified as an ATP World Tour 250 series event. It was held at the now demolished Indianapolis Tennis Center, which was located on the campus of
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th st ...
(IUPUI). Except for its first year, which featured clay courts, every edition of the tournament was played on hard court as an early lead-up event to the U.S. Open. Despite it being a lesser points event, it commonly attracted major players, such as Grand Slam champions
Boris Becker,
Patrick Rafter
Patrick Michael Rafter (born 28 December 1972) is an Australian former world No. 1 tennis player. He reached the top Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) singles ranking on 26 July 1999. His career highlights include consecutive US Open ...
,
John McEnroe
John Patrick McEnroe Jr. (born February 16, 1959) is an American former professional tennis player. He was known for his shot-making and volleying skills, his rivalries with Björn Borg and Jimmy Connors, and his confrontational on-court beha ...
,
Andy Roddick
Andrew Stephen Roddick (born 30 August 1982) is an American former world No. 1 tennis player. He is a major champion, having won the 2003 US Open. Roddick reached four other major finals ( Wimbledon in 2004, 2005, and 2009, and the US Ope ...
, and
Pete Sampras. Pete Sampras won the event three times, which is the most of any men's single player.
Motorsports
Indianapolis has its original roots in hosting large events in the Indianapolis 500, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Started in 1911, it quickly became among the most prestigious and famous races in the world. It remains the crown jewel of the IndyCar series. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has since added several other events, including NASCAR's Brickyard 400, IndyCar's IndyCar Grand Prix, and the Red Bull Air Race of Indianapolis. The Lucas Oil Raceway, formerly O'Reilly Raceway Park, has also been home to various racing events, most notably the NHRA U.S. Nationals, widely considered the most prestigious drag racing event in the world.
Car Racing
Motorcycle Racing
Aircraft Racing
Super Bowl
Lucas Oil Stadium and the city of Indianapolis made a bid to host
Super Bowl XLV
Super Bowl XLV was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Green Bay Packers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion ...
in 2011 but lost to
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
and
Cowboys Stadium
AT&T Stadium, formerly Cowboys Stadium, is a retractable-roof stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States. It serves as the home of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL), and was completed on May 27, 2009. It is also the hom ...
by only two
NFL Owner votes.
However, the city made another bid to host
Super Bowl XLVI and managed to beat out
Houston, Texas and
Phoenix
Phoenix most often refers to:
* Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore
* Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States
Phoenix may also refer to:
Mythology
Greek mythological figures
* Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...
for the rights to host the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XLVI is widely considered to have been hosted extremely well. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suggested that Indianapolis may be a contender for future Super Bowls.
NFL Combine
A few years after the Colts relocated and made Indianapolis its new home, their stadium was utilized for the NFL Combine, a week-long showcase for college football players hoping to get drafted into the NFL. From 1987 to 2008, the events were held as the RCA Dome. Starting in 2009, the NFL Combine moved to the new Lucas Oil Stadium. Coaches, general managers, and other front office management members from all 32 teams report to the city in February to assess young players. This is the largest single opportunity for the teams to evaluate potential draftees before the NFL Draft in April.
All-Star Games
Indianapolis has hosted several all-star games of various leagues. They hosted the ABA all-star game twice, the NBA game once, and the Triple-A all star game once. Indianapolis is currently scheduled to host the NBA All-Star Game again in 2021.
ABA All-Star Game
NBA All-Star Game
Triple-A All-Star Game
ECHL All-Star Game
ABA and NBA Finals
In both the ABA and NBA, the championship series is hosted by the two teams that have advanced to the round, as opposed to the event being awarded prior to the teams being determined, like the Super Bowl. The Indiana Pacers have brought a championship series to Indianapolis multiple times in their history. While still playing in the ABA, from 1968 through 1976, Indianapolis were a partial host of the ABA Finals five times. The Pepsi Coliseum hosted the first four, in 1969, 1970, 1972, and 1973. Madison Square Garden was the Pacers' home for 1975, which would be their last appearance in the ABA Finals. Overall, Indianapolis hosted 13 ABA Finals games, more than any other city. Despite the high level of success of the Pacers during this era and the high number of games, the championship series never ended in Indianapolis, instead always being closed at the alternative team's arena. Following the absorption of the ABA into the more established NBA, the Pacers began competing for the NBA Championship. Indianapolis has only hosted one NBA Finals, in 2000. This time, the games were played in Conseco Fieldhouse, the new home of the Pacers. The city hosted games 3, 4, and 5, with the Pacers winning the first and last of those games while losing the middle. Fittingly, the series was closed out in the other city, Los Angeles.
ABA Finals
NBA Finals
WNBA Finals
In the same style as the NBA, the WNBA Finals are only hosted by Indianapolis when the local team, the Fever, make it to the championship round. This has occurred three times, in 2009, 2012, and 2015. Conseco Fieldhouse has been home to all of these events, hosting a total of six games. In each Finals, they have hosted games 3 and 4. In 2012, the Fever won the championship in game 4 of the WNBA Finals, making it the first, and to date only, professional basketball championship to be clinched in Indianapolis.
Bold denotes a team that clinched the WNBA Championship with the conclusion of the game.
Pan American Games
Indianapolis also hosted the
Pan American Games in
1987
File:1987 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes after leaving the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, killing 193; Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, ...
. Over 4,000 athletes from 38 nations participated in 30 sports at these games.
FIBA World Championships
Indianapolis hosted sixteen international basketball teams at the
2002 FIBA World Championship
The 2002 FIBA World Championship was the 14th edition of the competition now known as the FIBA Basketball World Cup, the international world championship for men's basketball teams. The tournament held by the International Basketball Federation i ...
, which went from August 29 to September 8, 2002. This was the fourteenth edition of the event. It was the first, and to date only, time that the United States has hosted the event. The tournament consisted of 62 games. 25 games were held in the RCA Dome, while Conseco Fieldhouse hosted 37 games, including the championship game. The tournament culminated with the now defunct Yugoslavia national team winning the title, their second consecutive. Dirk Nowitzki of the German team was named the tournament MVP. Ironically, the American team, led by head coach George Karl, had their worst showing at the FIBA World Championships, finishing with a 6–3 record and a sixth-place overall finish.
Golf
Indianapolis has played host to many major golf tournaments.
Crooked Stick Golf Club
Crooked Stick Golf Club is a golf club located in Carmel, Indiana, a suburb north of Indianapolis. The 18-hole Pete and Alice Dye designed golf course was built in 1964. It has been noted as one of the top 100 courses in the United States by ' ...
, located in the Indianapolis suburb of
Carmel, Indiana
Carmel is a suburban city in Indiana immediately north of Indianapolis. With a population of 100,777, the city spans across Clay Township in Hamilton County, Indiana, and is bordered by the White River to the east; the Hamilton-Boone county l ...
, has hosted several events, most notably the
1991 PGA Championship. Other events include the
1993 U.S. Women's Open and the
BMW Championship in 2012 and 2016. The Brickyard Crossing Course, partially contained within the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, hosted a
Champions Tour event from 1994 to 2000, and will host an
LPGA event starting in 2017.
Mini-Marathon
Since 1977, Indianapolis has hosted a mini-marathon during the month of May, usually the first weekend of the month. It serves as a lead-up event for the Indianapolis 500. The event, currently called the
OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon
The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, which takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the largest half marathon in the United States, and the seventh-largest running event in America. As of the 37th running in 2013, it had sold out the entir ...
, is the largest mini-marathon in America, and the seventh largest running event in the country. It is known for selling out the entire field on a regular basis, having sold out every spot since 2001.
The 13.1 mile course starts in downtown Indianapolis, includes a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and then ends with a return to downtown Indianapolis. Gary Romesser currently has the most wins at the event, having won the race in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, and 1991.
Amateur sports
Indianapolis teams
*The
Indianapolis Tornados are a Men's AAA
minor league football team of the
Premier Amateur Football League-Tier 1
*The
Indiana Speed
The Indiana Speed was a football team that played in the National Conference of the Women's Professional Football League, and later in the National Concerence of the Women's Football Alliance.
Season results
, -
, colspan="6" align="center" , ...
are a
women's football team of
Women's Football Alliance
The Women's Football Alliance (WFA) is a professional full-contact Women's American football tackle minor league that began play in 2009. It is the largest 11-on-11 football league for women in the world, and the longest running active women's ...
.
*The
F. C. Indiana (NPSL) are a
soccer team of the
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is an American men's soccer league. The NPSL is a semi-professional league, comprising some teams that have paid players and some that are entirely amateur. The league is officially affiliated to the Uni ...
.
*The
Indianapolis Braves are a
soccer team of the
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is an American men's soccer league. The NPSL is a semi-professional league, comprising some teams that have paid players and some that are entirely amateur. The league is officially affiliated to the Uni ...
.
*The
F. C. Indiana (WPSL) are a
soccer team of the
WPSL Elite League
The Women's Premier Soccer League Elite (WPSL Elite) was a women's semi-professional soccer league created by the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) to support the sport in the United States, both from continued interest by WPSL teams in profess ...
.
*The
Indianapolis Impalas
The Indianapolis Impalas (Indianapolis Rugby Football Club) are an American rugby union club founded in 1980. The Impalas are members of USA Rugby, and currently compete in Division 2 of the Midwest Rugby Football Union.
The Impalas advanced to ...
are a Division 1
rugby
Rugby may refer to:
Sport
* Rugby football in many forms:
** Rugby league: 13 players per side
*** Masters Rugby League
*** Mod league
*** Rugby league nines
*** Rugby league sevens
*** Touch (sport)
*** Wheelchair rugby league
** Rugby union: 1 ...
team of
USA Rugby
USA Rugby (officially the United States of America Rugby Football Union, Ltd.) is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States. Its role is to achieve and maintain “high levels of quality in all aspects of ru ...
.
*The
Indiana Ice
The Indiana Ice was a Tier I junior ice hockey team and member club of the United States Hockey League (USHL) that was formed in 2004 when the Danville Wings were purchased and moved from their location in Danville, Illinois, to Indianapolis, I ...
are an ice hockey team that is a member of the
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league consists of 16 active teams located in the midwestern United States, for players between the ages of 16 and 21. The USHL is strictl ...
, but is considered on hiatus.
*The
Indy Eleven Women are a
soccer team set to begin play in the
USL W League
The USL W League (USLW) is a pre-professional women's soccer league in the United States which began play in May 2022. It was announced on June 8, 2021 by the United Soccer League with eight founding clubs. It follows the USL W-League, a sim ...
inaugural season.
Ice hockey
The
Indiana Ice
The Indiana Ice was a Tier I junior ice hockey team and member club of the United States Hockey League (USHL) that was formed in 2004 when the Danville Wings were purchased and moved from their location in Danville, Illinois, to Indianapolis, I ...
played in the
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league consists of 16 active teams located in the midwestern United States, for players between the ages of 16 and 21. The USHL is strictl ...
, an amateur
junior ice hockey league for players age 20 and younger. They played the majority of their home games at the
Fairgrounds Coliseum
The Indiana Farmers Coliseum (originally Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum and formerly Pepsi Coliseum and Fairgrounds Coliseum) is a 6,500-seat indoor multi-use arena, located on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. The Indiana Far ...
, located in the
Indiana State Fairgrounds
The Indiana State Fair is an annual state fair that spans 18 days in July and August in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. The Indiana State Fair debuted in 1852 at Military Park in Indianapolis and is the sixth oldest state fair in the U.S. It is th ...
in Indianapolis before going dormant after the 2013–14 season. Some of its home games were also played at Conseco Fieldhouse. The president of the Ice is
Paul Skjodt. The Ice filled a
hockey
Hockey is a term used to denote a family of various types of both summer and winter team sports which originated on either an outdoor field, sheet of ice, or dry floor such as in a gymnasium. While these sports vary in specific rules, numbers o ...
void left by the
Indianapolis Ice
The Indianapolis Ice were a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, that played in the International Hockey League from 1988 to 1999 and in the Central Hockey League from 1999 to 2004. Their original home arena ...
franchise that existed from 1988 to 2004 when they relocated to Topeka.
Cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by str ...
is a street-level sport among the South Asian communities that live in
Indianapolis. Indianapolis mayor
Greg Ballard
Gregory Alan Ballard (born November 20, 1954) is an American politician, author, and businessman who served as the 48th mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Marine Corps.
On November 6, 20 ...
identified the international appeal of cricket after his trip to South Africa, where he watched an
Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League (IPL), also known as TATA IPL for sponsorship reasons, is a men's T20 franchise cricket league of India. It is annually contested by ten teams based out of seven Indian cities and three Indian states. The leagu ...
game that had been relocated to South Africa due to terrorist tensions in India during
2009 season. He initiated construction of the
Indianapolis World Sports Park
Indianapolis World Sports Park is an American sporting complex in Indianapolis, Indiana. The site covers at the former Post Road Community Park and consists of three multi-use fields for the sports of cricket, lacrosse, hurling, rugby, Australian ...
and its cricket stadium to make the city a global venue for cricket games. Cricket is a popular sport among Indian and South Asian communities and Ballard said that the city has a large enough South Asian community to start a cricket village. The plans for the stadium were started in 2009. Indianapolis has one club, Cricket Club of Indianapolis, that is registered with
USACA. Multiple local amateur teams play with
tennis ball
A tennis ball is a ball designed for the sport of tennis. Tennis balls are fluorescent yellow in organised competitions, but in recreational play can be virtually any color. Tennis balls are covered in a fibrous felt which modifies their aerodyna ...
s in central Indiana, including ones in
Bloomington,
Carmel,
Columbus
Columbus is a Latinized version of the Italian surname "''Colombo''". It most commonly refers to:
* Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), the Italian explorer
* Columbus, Ohio, capital of the U.S. state of Ohio
Columbus may also refer to:
Places ...
,
Fishers
Fisher is an archaic term for a fisherman, revived as gender-neutral.
Fisher, Fishers or The Fisher may also refer to:
Places
Australia
*Division of Fisher, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives, in Queensland
*Elect ...
,
Fort Wayne,
Kokomo,
West Lafayette
West Lafayette () is a city in Wabash Township, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, about northwest of the state capital of Indianapolis and southeast of Chicago. West Lafayette is directly across the Wabash River from its sister c ...
, and also downtown at the
IUPUI campus. Indiana (Youth) cricket (INYCA) with
USYCA FREE cricket equipment and education program is expanding youth and school cricket in Indiana schools and colleges. Jatin Patel of USYCA and founder of the USA Center for Excellence in Cricket introduced the nation's first cricket coaching certification program for physical education teachers in Indiana schools during 2012. INYCA is targeting a future inter-school cricket tournament.
The
Indianapolis World Sports Park
Indianapolis World Sports Park is an American sporting complex in Indianapolis, Indiana. The site covers at the former Post Road Community Park and consists of three multi-use fields for the sports of cricket, lacrosse, hurling, rugby, Australian ...
cricket ground is the home of the ICC Americas Cricket Combine – team to play in the WICB's Nagico Super50 and
2015 ICC Americas Twenty20 Division One
The 2015 ICC Americas Twenty20 Division One was a cricket tournament held in the United States from 3–10 May 2015. All matches were played at the World Sports Park in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The top two teams at the tournament, Canada and the U ...
.
Hurling
Hurling is a summer sport played among
Irish
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
communities in Indianapolis. Indianapolis Gaelic Athletic Association, formerly Indy Hurling Club, has been playing hurling in Indianapolis since 2002, and began competing on a national level in 2007. Indy GAA plays a summer co-ed hurling league, but also fields a team to compete in Gaelic Football and Camogie (female hurling) at the NACB Championships every Labor Day weekend. Indy GAA has several national championships, and is sponsored by local businesses around the city.
Little League baseball and softball
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball (officially, Little League Baseball Inc) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization[Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Williamsport is a city in, and the county seat of, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. It recorded a population of 27,754 at the 2020 Census. It is the principal city of the Williamsport Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a popul ...]
, opened its Central Region Headquarters in Indianapolis in 1989. Since 2011, the Little League Central Region Headquarters has hosted tournaments for the 11–12 age group to determine the Central Region representatives for the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport and the Little League Softball World Series in
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, Columbia rivers, Portland is ...
. The Reuben F. Glick Little League Center is located on 9802 E. Little League Drive in Indianapolis and provides operation support to the 13 states located within the Central Region.
Defunct teams
*
Indianapolis ABCs
The Indianapolis ABCs were a Negro league baseball team that played both as an independent club and as a charter member of the first Negro National League (NNL). They claimed the western championship of black baseball in 1915 and 1916, and fini ...
*
Indianapolis Athletics The Indianapolis Athletics were a Negro league baseball team in the Negro American League, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1937. Ted Strong was their player-manager. After their only season in 1937, they were replaced by the Indianapolis ABCs.
...
*
Indiana Blast
Indiana Blast was an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues, played in the USISL and A-League (1997–2004) until folding at the end of the 2004 season.
The Blast played their home games at Kun ...
*
Indiana Blaze
*
Indianapolis Blues
The Indianapolis Blues were a baseball team in the National League for one season (1878), in which they finished fifth in the six-team league with a 24–36 record. They were managed by outfielder/first baseman/catcher John Clapp, and played the ...
*
Indianapolis Capitals
The Indianapolis Capitals were an American Hockey League professional ice hockey team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, from 1939 to 1952. The Capitals were a farm team for the Detroit Red Wings. Indianapolis won the Calder Cup in 1942 and 1950. T ...
*
Indianapolis Capitols
The Indianapolis Capitols were a professional American football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They played in the Continental Football League from 1968 to 1969 and Midwest Football League from 1972 to 1974 and 1977 to 1978.
The team was c ...
*
Indianapolis Checkers
The Indianapolis Checkers were a minor league professional ice hockey team from Indianapolis, Indiana. The Checkers' home arena was the Fairgrounds Coliseum from 1981 to 1985 and Market Square Arena from 1979 to 1981 and again from 1985 to 1987. Th ...
*
Indianapolis Chiefs The Indianapolis Chiefs were a minor league professional ice hockey team that played in the International Hockey League from 1955 to 1962. The Chiefs were based in Indianapolis, Indiana and played at the Indiana State Fair Coliseum. In seven seaso ...
*
Indianapolis Clowns
The Indianapolis Clowns were a professional baseball team in the Negro American League. Tracing their origins back to the 1930s, the Clowns were the last of the Negro league teams to disband, continuing to play exhibition games into the 1980s. Th ...
*
Indianapolis Daredevils
*
Indiana Firebirds
The Indiana Firebirds were a team in the Arena Football League. The team was based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Home games were played at the Conseco Fieldhouse, also the home of the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association and Indiana ...
*
Indianapolis Hoosiers (American Association)
The Indianapolis Hoosiers (or, according to some sources, the Indianapolis Blues) were a professional baseball team who played one season at the major league level. They played in the American Association in and finished in 12th place with a 29†...
*
Indianapolis Hoosiers (National League)
*
Indianapolis Hoosiers (Federal League) Indianapolis Hoosiers was the name of three major league and at least three minor league baseball clubs based in Indianapolis.
* Indianapolis Hoosiers (American Association), which played in 1884
* Indianapolis Hoosiers (National League), which p ...
*
Indianapolis Ice
The Indianapolis Ice were a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, that played in the International Hockey League from 1988 to 1999 and in the Central Hockey League from 1999 to 2004. Their original home arena ...
*
Indianapolis Jets
The Indianapolis Jets were a Basketball Association of America (BAA) team based in Indianapolis. They were founded as the Indianapolis Kautskys and used that name until the team joined the BAA. They played for one year in the BAA and then ceased o ...
*
Indianapolis Olympians
The Indianapolis Olympians were a founding National Basketball Association (NBA) team based in Indianapolis. They were founded in 1949 and folded in 1953. Their home arena was Butler Fieldhouse on the campus of Butler University--now known as H ...
*
Indianapolis Racers
The Indianapolis Racers were a major league hockey team in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1974 to 1978. They competed in four full seasons before folding 25 games into the 1978–79 season. They played at Market Square Arena. They are ...
*
Indiana Speed
The Indiana Speed was a football team that played in the National Conference of the Women's Professional Football League, and later in the National Concerence of the Women's Football Alliance.
Season results
, -
, colspan="6" align="center" , ...
(
WFA)
*
Indiana Twisters
The Indiana (née Indianapolis) Twisters were a professional indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League in 1996 and 1997.
History
The team was founded by two brothers, Rodney and David Goins. They announced the CISL ...
See also
*
Sport in Indiana
*
List of baseball parks in Indianapolis
References
{{Indiana Sports