Hoosier Hospitality: Super Bowl Festivities Underway In Indianapolis

Tickets for Maxim’s Super Bowl party are going for $2,000

There are some of the “same complaints about pricing and availability of party space in Indianapolis this week as there are about hotel rooms,” but for the most part, hospitality veterans “are cheered by a Midwestern, downtown location, where people need things to do indoors,” according to Lefton & Kaplan of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. While concerned about “the climate and the lack of upscale hotel rooms, hospitality specialists cited the centralized location of Indianapolis and the hype regarding a matchup” of the Patriots and Giants in Super Bowl XLVI as “strong points for good business.” Demand for the “usual big parties is high.” Playboy party tickets were being sold “for $1,500,” and QuintEvents CEO BRIAN LEARST said that tickets for Saturday night’s Maxim’s Super Bowl party at the Indiana State Fairgrounds (where the league’s commissioner’s party will be held on Friday night) “can be had for $2,000” (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/30 issue). The AP’s Nekesa Mumbi Moody writes it is “looking to be a strong celeb turnout, dispelling some initial concerns that the choice of Indianapolis might lead to weaker participation from stars than in previous years, when the Super Bowl was held in sunny, celebrity-friendly cities like Miami and San Diego.” Audi CMO SCOTT KEOGH, whose company hosts the A-list “Audi Forum” this week, said, “I’ve read a lot of articles and I think people are being a little hard on Indianapolis, because they’re comparing it to much larger and obviously more celebrity-oriented type of towns like Miami and places like that. In our minds, it doesn’t change a thing” (AP, 2/2).

SCENE & HEARD ON TUESDAY: Nearly “3,500 people -- mainly journalists -- from across the country were expected Tuesday night at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee welcomed them with the first official bash of the week.” Journalists were “treated to everything from fancy foods at carving stations to premium cigars, vodka samples and sliders.” IMS' Pagoda suites were “open for mingling, and terraces were furnished with comfortable sofas surrounding fire pits.” There were IndyCars “on display, too -- show cars painted to represent each of the NFL teams” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/1)....Roots drummer-songwriter-producer AHMIR “QUESTLOVE” THOMPSON appeared at Indy nightclub Sensu for “Soul Bowl 2012.” The program “paid tribute to MPOZI MSHALE TOLBERT, the late Indianapolis Star photographer who moonlighted as a reggae DJ.” Former NFLers JEROME BETTIS and EDDIE GEORGE were in attendance, as well as IndyCar driver WADE CUNNINGHAM (INDYSTAR.com, 2/1).

PARTY ROCKING ON WEDNESDAY: Lucas Oil founders FORREST and CHARLOTTE LUCAS “hosted a lavish party -- full of gourmet food, Champagne and music -- for about 1,400 guests Wednesday at their Carmel estate.” The event, held to “thank the corporations and people who helped bring Super Bowl XLVI to Indianapolis, filled the estate and its grounds.” Attendees included Indiana Gov. MITCH DANIELS, Indianapolis Mayor GREG BALLARD and Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee President & CEO ALLISON MELANGTON (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/2)....Colts C JEFF SATURDAY hosted the Indianapolis Skyline Club’s “Celebrate the City” party, drawing “football fans and some of Saturday’s teammates, too.” Guests paid “about $300 each” to attend the sold-out event (INDYSTAR.com, 2/1)....Despite an "unexpected cancellation by Latin music star DON OMAR, two Spanish-language acts entertained” the crowd during the Pepsi Musica Fan Jam at the Indiana Convention Center. Excerpts from the concert “will be broadcast Saturday night on the Univision cable TV network” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/2).

ON TAP FOR TONIGHT: Musicians NAS and the Roots will perform at the EA Sports Madden Bowl XVIII at the Bud Light Hotel. ESPN’s RON JAWORSKI hosts the Jaws Cigar Party with tickets going for $500 a pop. JIM MCMAHON’s Swang ‘n’ Super Bowl Bash will be held at the Rathskeller with tickets costing between $260-575. Country singer MICHELLE MURRAY will perform at the Stars & Strikes Celebrity Bowling Bash with tickets running between $50-1,500 (INDYSTAR.com, 1/28).