Let’s face it. It’s the Super Bowl. Tickets for the big event weren’t going to be cheap, and not everyone could afford them. The city of Indianapolis seemed to understand that and went out of their way to allow the average everyday citizen to enjoy all the festivities surrounding the game. While most columnists decided to focus on the big ticketed events, we set out to discover events that budgeted minded fans could enjoy.
After hearing a report on a local television station regarding prices for parking, our first objective was to discover a place where fans could park for a discounted rate, and have the “Rock Star” feel that others were paying a premium for. We chose to conduct this activity on Friday when the celebrities were making their way into town. The overall theory was that if we discovered a location that provided discounted parking during the Super Bowl, then parking for smaller events would even be discounted further.
Several phone calls were placed and prices ranged from $20 to nearly $100. The J.W. Marriott was home to the national media, and featured “Radio Row” in which several nationally syndicated shows were conducted live. This particular hotel was home to several high profile celebrities which was evident by the large crowds that gathered around the entrance just to catch a glimpse of their favorite star. The hotel is located across the street from the nationally recognizable, Victory Field, which was the location that the Dan Patrick Show was airing prior to the Super Bowl. To avoid long walks across the downtown area, we wanted to locate a lot that was right in the middle of the action and didn’t charge a fortune to park. We discovered one.
Located at the intersection of Senate Avenue and Washington Street is an established called “Loughmillers”. This establishment is just a couple of blocks from the “Super Bowl Village”, the J.W. Marriott, and Victory Field. Just east of the establishment is their parking lot, which had cones placed out front preventing the average fan from entering into the lot. So the question became; how do you become a V.I.P and have the ability to park in this prestigious lot? The answer was simple, just ask. A call was placed to the establishment, in which we simply asked; “what would it take to park in their lot”, and their response was simply; “we charging $30 to park here today”. This might seem high, but with other lots charging $50+, this was a great deal. Upon entering the lot, a security lady removed the cones, and allowed for entry. This was noticed by nearly everyone who walked or drove by. When leaving the lot, security halted traffic for a few seconds which allowed for departure. This felt like a true “Rock Star” status, while on a budget. Now it was time to check out the celebrities at the J.W. Marriott without going broke in the process.
After taking a short walk to the J.W. Marriott, it was easily seen that this was the place to be. Hundreds of people lined the sidewalks with cameras wanting to take pictures of their favorite athlete. However we didn’t want to see them getting out of their car, we wanted to enjoy their presence and see them conversing with people. How could this be accomplished on a budget? The answer once again was simple; just wake up early and be patient. We actually prepped for this event. We woke up at 7:30am, stood in line at the “NFL Experience”, in which the NFL was providing free passes to “Radio Row”. Not many people showed up for this. The wait time was approximately 15 minutes and the passes allowed entry into the hotel. With tickets in hand, we approached the hotel. Most fans were roped off, to ensure they didn’t provide any hindrance to the celebrities. These free passes allowed for us to move pass the velvet ropes, and enter the hotel among the high profile clientele. Members of our team waved to the crowds taken pictures to add to the “Rock star” feel, even though we didn’t have the “Rock Star” budget. After entering the hotel we were surrounded by celebrities, ranging from Hall of Fame football players, to movie stars. The free passes also allowed the everyday fan to enjoy “Radio Row”, which seemed to be the home of nearly every sports journalist in the country. So far this total NFL experience has cost $30, and the events continued from there.
Directly across the street from the J.W. Marriott is Victory Field which was home to the Dan Patrick Show. We knew that Dan Patrick would be on the football field at the Super Bowl and presenting the MVP award after the game, so we wanted to catch a glimpse of him in person. We decided to cross the street, and walk through the gates at Victory Field. The Indianapolis Indians, which is the organization that utilizes the facility, allowed fans to enter and enjoy the experience free of charge. Dan Patrick came out on several occasion to converse with the crowd and sign autographs. Another benefit of this experience was that the Dan Patrick Show was being aired lived, which allowed the fans to be featured on television. We have now experienced three fun filled moments and only have spent $30.
Now it was time for a break and prepare for the nightlife. We departed the downtown and returned later that evening. Parking was one again a concerned, but the weather was perfect for walking. We decided to park along the popular cultural district known as Mass Ave. Parking along this street was completely free after 9pm. This was great considering that the district is well known for its fun filled nightlife crowd. We ended up walking to Scotty’s Brewhouse, which had a tent sponsored by Bud Light. The event was entirely free and the lines seemed to move very quickly. The staff did an amazing job, and the security ensured that every customer was having a fun and safe experience. In this tent, we were able to meet and converse with several personalities which added to the overall experience. At this time, our total bill for the Super Bowl experience remains at $30.
We decided to venture off to the east side of downtown and visit the City Market. Tomlinson Tap Room was opened and Kristen Knapp and her team were serving up some delicious local beverages. We enjoyed a tasty locally brewed beverage for less than $7, which was cheaper than another other establishment we had visited. Downstairs the team from Yelp was hosting their "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" event. This event was entire free and Upland Brewing Company supplied the beverages. To become a member of Yelp, just visit their page and establish an account. John Ackerman, who represents Yelp in Indianapolis, has done a marvelous job catering to local writers, citizens, and local businesses. After conversing with the team at the City Market, it was time to go dancing.
Nightclubs weren’t going to be cheap and long times were probably going to be the norm. To handle this concern, ambition was in order. We entered a tent provided by “The Pub”, which is located directly across the street from the Banker’s Life Fieldhouse. There were no admission fees, and the party could easily be heard outside. Inside the tent, fans felt like celebrities. The party was on, and the location was ideal. Initially, this was not a nightclub, however four ladies walked in, who were looking to have fun without spending too much money. A dance song came on, and they started dancing. It didn’t take long for the entire crowd to join the action. This made for a great experience, without costing much money.
After such an eventful day it was time to go home and re-energize the body for the following day. After taking a nice relaxing walk back to the car, we quickly rehashed the day’s events. VIP parking, all fun filled event at the City market, hanging out with celebrities on “Radio Row” at the J.W. Marriott, watching a live taping of the Dan Patrick Show and enjoying two luxurious tent parties, made for a great day. Then we needed to survey the damaged so we looked into our wallets and quickly realized that all this excitement only cost $36. When looking for things to do this spring, which is coming up very soon, while maintaining an acceptable budget, consider these particular places. Loughmillers, the J.W. Marriott, Scotty’s Brewhouse, the Pub, Victory Field/Indianapolis Indians, the City Market, Upland Brewing Company, and Tomlinson Tap Room, because they are definitely considering all us of budgeted minded fans.
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