For the first time in history, Indianapolis is the proud host of the 2012 NFL Super Bowl. This Midwestern city has a long history when it comes to hosting major sporting events. So it should come as no surprise that Indy has gone to great lengths in an effort to make this a truly impressive celebration. The first thing to note about this year’s event is that the Stadium and the major pre-match festivities are bundled together. Lucas Oil Stadium, the Indiana Convention Center, and the Super Bowl Village are within a block or two of each other. Located within these same blocks, fans will also find the Circle Center Mall, opulent five-star hotels, world-famous restaurants, exciting nightclubs, and charming pubs.
The NFL Experience will take place from January 27, 2012 to February 4, 2012 and will be held at the Indiana Convention Center, located one block north of Lucas Oil Stadium. Adult tickets are $ 25.00 and tickets for children 12 and under are $ 20.00. This event promises to be family-friendly and is best described as an interactive theme park for NFL fans. The Super Bowl Village will be located on Georgia Street, east of the Indiana Convention Center for three (3) city blocks. Georgia Street was recently renovated to accommodate the thousands of fans who are expected to declare this activity zone the center of the party. Live entertainment will play on two separate stages, while some of Indianapolis’ most entertaining establishments cater to fans.
Other Indianapolis neighborhoods will also cater to Super Bowl fans, including Mass Ave., Fountain Square, and Broad Ripple. Public transportation will operate between these entertainment satellites to provide fans with an easy and convenient way to get from place to place. Super Bowl fans coming to Indianapolis in February can visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, located approximately 6 miles west of downtown. In the Museum you can see an extensive collection of cars and racing memorabilia, and weather permitting, you can even take a walk around the most famous oval in the world. For those who don’t have the opportunity to visit the Museum, the Indy 500 will be coming to them, courtesy of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Celebrating Indy’s racing heritage, this year’s Super Bowl will honor the Indianapolis 500 race, featuring 36 supercars featuring logos from one of the NFL teams or a conference badge from the NFL. AFC or NFC in and around Indianapolis. Each car will be located in a particular place of special interest, called a Super Celebration Site.
By giving visitors the opportunity to search for their favorite team’s car, the Super Bowl Committee members hope to provide fans with a one-of-a-kind, free photo opportunity that brings Indy’s racing heritage to the forefront of this event. . Other nearby attractions that are sure to score big with Super Bowl fans include the Indiana State Museum and its IMAX theater, the NCAA Hall of Champions, Cracker’s Comedy Club, St. Elmo’s Steak House, the Indiana Children’s Museum (amazing also for adults) and the Slipper Noodle Inn (blues bar, opened in 1850). With so much to see and do in Indy in 2012, you’d better come early if you want to see it all.