INDIANAPOLIS — College basketball fans will find out who the teams are who qualify for the 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship on Sunday, March 14 on CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV, as well as streamed live on NCAA March Madness Live. The NCAA previously announced this year’s schedule and game dates for the tournament, which will be staged entirely in Indiana, with 55 of the 67 games being played in Indianapolis.
A limited number of fans will be able to attend the games. The NCAA has announced that they will allow up to 25% capacity at games, with physical distancing. The event capacity includes all players, essential staff, and family members of student-athletes. All attendees must wear face coverings. Venues for the games in Indianapolis include two courts in Lucas Oil Stadium, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, and Indiana Farmers Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Teams will practice at the Indiana Convention Center with multiple courts set up inside, and teams will be housed on dedicated hotel floors attached to the Center.
To get the city (and state) ready, officials have been busy marking highways with “Hoosier Hoops Highway” signs along major routes, welcoming visitors to Indianapolis, Bloomington, Evansville, and West Lafayette where the games will be played. The city has begun sprucing up downtown, fixing potholes, and picking up litter so viewers and guests will see Indianapolis in the best possible light.
Public safety plans for the upcoming events taking place in the Circle City. These efforts include additional cameras as part of the b-link program, Public Safety Ambassadors patrolling the downtown area, and a new partnership with Relay, a locally-developed app-based community engagement and crime prevention service allowing residents and visitors in the downtown area to easily connect with public safety personnel regarding non-emergency concerns.
Visitors and residents in downtown Indianapolis can expect to see an elevated presence of uniformed officers as IMPD assists fans, residents, and community members in navigating the festivities. IMPD’s Emergency Management Bureau will operate a unified command from Marion County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) throughout the month, coordinating with event staff as well as local and statewide public safety and law enforcement partners. Staff in the EOC will also be monitoring and addressing non-emergency issues reported through the Relay app.
Instead of calling 9-1-1 for non-emergencies, throughout the month of March, residents and visitors in downtown Indy are encouraged to use the Relay app to report concerns directly to IMPD. If someone in the downtown area experiences a non-emergency safety issue, that person can take a picture and share other details through Relay using a smartphone or desktop computer. The free service can be found by visiting relayapp.com or searching for “Relay Safety” in the app store.
COVID-19 restrictions were recently eased in Indianapolis, allowing up to 50% capacity at bars, 75% at restaurants, and extended curfews for bars, restaurants, and music venues. Face masks are required in public places throughout the city unless eating or drinking.
City officials estimate that Indianapolis could see a $100 million boost to the local economy thanks to events in the city. Restaurants, hotels, bars, and other venues are hoping that March Madness will be an economic shot in the arm after a bleak 2020.
