Posted: July 28, 2005

Athletics: USATF's long-term Indianapolis economic impact takes hold

INDIANAPOLIS - As USA Track & Field's largest annual track meet, the Junior Olympic Championships, kick off at the Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium, USA Track & Field (USATF) has announced a robust schedule of local events that will bring significant economic impact to Indianapolis for the next four years.

Through December, 2009, Indianapolis will play host to USA Track & Field's biggest events: the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and USA Junior Track & Field Championships in 2006 and '07, and the USATF Annual Meeting in 2006 and '09. USATF events stated for Indianapolis in 2005, in addition to the 6,500-athlete Junior Olympic Championships, include the 2005 USATF Associations and Long Distance Running Workshops in August and 2005 USATF Board of Directors Meeting in October.

In total, these events are expected to generate upwards of 70,000 hotel room nights and 130,000 visitor days. Spending on entertainment, dining and other direct spending is expected to push the total economic impact of these events to more than $25-$30 million.

In addition, on an annual basis the USA Track & Field national office in the RCA Dome generates an Indianapolis payroll of $2 million and spends more than $1 million locally on goods and services.

"Indianapolis has been an exceptionally welcoming home to USA Track & Field's national office for more than 25 years," said USATF CEO Craig Masback, "and further strengthening our ties to Indianapolis by bringing more events here has been one of our key strategic goals. Thanks to the outstanding cooperation and partnership provided by Mayor Peterson's office, the Indiana Sports Corporation, Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association and others, we are proud to be able to achieve that goal."

"Indianapolis is so proud to be the home to USA Track & Field and other outstanding national governing bodies because of the prestige it brings to our city, their ability to be involved in our community and the affect they have on the lives of young people," Mayor Bart Peterson said. "What's more, the events, meetings and competitions that come along with having USA Track & Field in our city make it an economic driver for the Indianapolis region and a big part of keeping us on the cutting edge in so many different business arenas."

Major events make big impact

The Junior Olympics is USA Track & Field's largest single event, with more than 6,500 athletes, plus their families and coaches, attending each year. More than 25,000 hotel-room nights are generated by the event annually as the fan- and athlete-friendly event brings a significant "multiplier effect" to the economic boon felt by city. Paired with attractions such as the Children's Museum, Indianapolis Zoo and other attractions, the Junior Olympics add to Indianapolis' natural fit for families and youth groups.

USA Track & Field's most prestigious meet, the USA Outdoor Championships and Junior Championships, attracts more than 1,500 athletes, plus coaches, families and fans from around the country. They will converge on Michael A. Carroll Stadium, which has been the site of four world records and eight American records.

In addition to records, in 2006 USATF elite athletes at the Outdoor Championships will vie for a spot on Team USA for the World Cup of Athletics; 2007 will see Team USA selected for the World Outdoor Championships - the most important international meet prior to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Junior athletes in 2006 will try to earn to right to compete at the World Junior Championships, also to be held in Beijing.

The USA Track & Field Annual Meeting hosts 1,500 of the sport's decision-makers, athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers as they gather for one week to shape the future of the sport. The highlight of each Annual Meeting is the Jesse Owens Awards Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, where the stars of each calendar year and the legends of the past are honored. In 2004, Hall of Fame inductees included Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Joan Benoit Samuleson and Michael Conley, while Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin and Joanna Hayes earned the Jesse Owens Awards as the top athletes of 2004.

The USATF Board of Directors meeting, Associations and Long Distance Running workshops likewise attract hundreds of administrators to Indianapolis.

USA Track & Field is the national governing body for track and field, long distance running, and race walking. For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org