Indianapolis deserves to host NBA All-Star game

The facilities are perfect, the support would be unbelievable, and the city is perfect. Indianapolis has handled about every big event possible and deserves to host a NBA All-Star game.

Sure it’s not Hollywood, or a big city New York. It’s not South Beach or a warm weather state; but Indy would surprise people. “In 49 states it’s just basketball…but this is Indiana.”

Indy did host the 1985 NBA All-Star game, held at the Hoosier Dome with Ralph Sampson taking home the MVP award. The landscape however has changed. Since the Colts arrived in 1984, the downtown area has grown tremendously with Circle Centre Mall, a long list of hotels and an expanding convention center.

In an Indiana Business Journal article last year, Anthony Schoettle reported that the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association sent CEO Don Welsh to the 2010 All-Star game in Dallas. Schoettle believes strongly “that a contingent of sports and tourism officials are considering making a bid to bring the big game here.”

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Every NBA player, coach or staff member I talk to believes Conseco Fieldhouse is the best venue in the league. And the same can be said about Lucas Oil Stadium.

I understand the counter argument. I’ve heard it many times before from city officials. Having an All-Star game will upset season ticket holders who believe they should have a ticket and their usual seat. But that’s not possible. Plus now with Lucas Oil Stadium, the big game would be held there. Meanwhile, the celebrity game, skills contests, dunk contest and rookie challenge would be held at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Also, the weather is a factor. Of course it’s not going to be 70s and sunny but Indy would not be miserable. It depends on the year, but this week the temperature got into the mid-60s. Everything is connected so going outside isn’t completely necessary. Media members and celebrities wouldn’t be playing golf, but the weather isn’t bad at all.

In addition to the pre-existing dominant hotels like the Conrad, Hilton, and Westin, the J.W. Marriott just opened the largest J.W. in the world, boasting 1,005 rooms on 33 floors. Most of the downtown hotels are connected through tunnels and bridges so visitors don’t even have to step outside to go to the mall, convention center or Conseco Fieldhouse.

And the wide-array of hotels translates into plenty of ballrooms and space for the big parties that the games would bring.

The restaurants are plentiful. St. Elmo’s, Mo’s Steakhouse, Fogo de Chao, Capital Grille, Shula’s Steakhouse, P.F. Chang’s. Should I keep going?

Here are a few of the events Indianapolis has hosted: Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400, 2002 FIBA World Basketball Championships, NFL Combine, Big Ten Tournament, NCAA Final Four (men’s and women’s), USA Swimming Championships, and U.S. Senior Open.

Soon to come: 2012 Big Ten Football Championship Game, Super Bowl XLVI. So why not a NBA All-Star game?

We have the facilities, hotels, restaurants and enthusiasm. Just about every other big event has been held in Indianapolis.

Come on NBA, make it happen and reward Indianapolis. After all, the best sports movie of all-time is Hoosiers. This is basketball country. Indy would embrace and appreciate the NBA’s best.