Championships location from 07 and onwards

[AmyPrib]

Even though I like to leave Indiana when it come to competition, I think Indy is a fore-runner with Atlanta facilities. It's the "Crossroads of America"...
Not that I'm pushing it, but it's been mentioned numerous times, so here's a few reasons it would be a good host, for those who are less familiar with the city:

-We know the Dome is more than sufficient. (i haven't been following the news, but aren't they trying to build a new stadium in the future...)
-Check out the convention center layout and maps. They've got halls that can definitely accommodate the pits with ease... though maybe pits would be in 2 halls, that's no big deal.... it leads directly into the stadium floor.
http://www.iccrd.com/conv/diagrams.asp . Can also get to the Dome site from this page.
-They've got several internet options if needed, including wireless. Seems there's wi-fi hotspots all over town too.
-Apparently there are skywalks that connect the convention center to 7 hotels.... now that's cool.
-Says just in the downtown area, there are 5,212 hotel rooms. Hotels are in abundance in and around Indy.
-International airport 15min away. Typically prices are pretty good to/from just about anywhere, and there's plenty of airlines in/out of there.
-Downtown Indy is really safe. While there may be occasional beggers, i've not really seen it very much. It's clean, it's safe, pretty much everything is in walking distance.
-I think there's a decent bus "circulator" that makes the rounds around downtown, cheap too.
-One of the best Children's Museums in the nation (says world's largest!).
-You have the big Circle Center Mall, movie theaters, IMAX, etc.
-Indy Motor Speedway, and Indy Raceway Park
-Tons of restaurants, and within walking distance in downtown.
-Central Canal Walk - really nice area.
-Indiana State Museum
-NCAA Hall of Champions
-White River State Park (which is huge, and could even be a site for the social)
-Indy Zoo
-Conner Prairie
-Conseco Fieldhouse - NBA, WBNA (Pacers, Fever), AFL (Firebirds) used for hockey, soceer, concerts, etc.
-Victory Field (baseball)
-Verizon Music Center - concerts
-Indy Museum of Art
-War Memorial Parks all over (second largest number of memorials in the US)
-Indiana State Fairgrounds, usually year-round events.
...and more... there's plenty for people to do, and these are just the main "touristy" attractions.
-There's 6 parking garages just surrounding the Dome/CC... I see "event" parking in garages and surface lots range from $5-$15, right near the arena. That's cheaper than some parking at regionals and Atlanta.
-The traffic is almost never bad around Indy. You've got the big Indy Loop, and it's never really too bad.
-Interstates from all directions lead right into Indy.
-Indiana has strong FIRST support through it's 21 teams. Heck, it's where IRI is!!!
-And weather, in April, really isn't that bad. Sure you can have freak weather, but it's been pretty great weather... actually I think this April was pretty warm.
-Monument Circle would be a cool place for a webhug... hmm.

Traffic and roads would be a reason I'd nix Chicago and Detroit, esp if you're not staying within walking distance to the arena. Traffic can be a complete nightmare in and out of the cities, esp on weekdays. Finding your way around Indy is easy, and downtown things are well marked. Parking garages, last I knew, were still really cheap... at least on non-event days. On a weekend for shopping was only a couple bucks for the whole day. (that could have changed). It's one of those "smaller, big cities".

With all that said... I still like Atlanta, as it's worked out pretty well from what I can tell. I might venture to say Indy has more immediate area things to do, within a 1-2mi radius. And it's relatively centrally located. I agree it's tough on those western teams to travel far all the time, but until a solid, sufficient venue can be acquired, they might be outta luck for close proximity.