INDIANAPOLIS, IN. — INDIANAPOLIS — After selection Sunday in Mid-March, we'll know which 68 NCAA teams are packing up their bags and racing to Indianapolis.
But where will they stay? And how will the city host the student-athletes safely?
Chris Gahl is the Senior Vice President for Visit Indy, and he said this plan has been in the works for months.
He said, "Five downtown hotels, all connected via climate control skywalk, to the Indiana convention center, making up more than 2,500 hotel rooms, will house all of the teams checking into Indianapolis as part of March Madness."
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It’s an unprecedented plan, to host all of the NCAA games, in one location, and it’s a challenge to do it safely during a pandemic.
"Each one of these 68 teams will be assigned a very specific hotel, and a very specific floor, and very specific meeting room within each of these hotels,” said Gahl.
Gahl shared that it's doable though, because each team will be in its own “school bubble”.
"Our hotels are connected to the convention center, connected to the stadium."
He explained that that means teams will travel easily and stay separate. "Each will have their own transportation system,” said Gahl, "And participate in a game and each will go through a very rigorous health and screening procedures each and every day."
Competitors will check into a specific hotel and play until they lose. For some student-athletes, it's the biggest game of their life and it's a lifesaver to hotel businesses.
"Those hosting the teams and the players have the biggest opportunity to welcome that economic impact as well,” said Gahl.
He said that as teams lose and leave, he expects a second wave of people staying in hotels. "For media, for production crew, for friends and family, for VIP's,” said Gahl.
At this point, the tournament isn't open to spectators.
"While we don't anticipate fans being able to watch these games, there is a chance that the further we get to the spring and the closer we get to the championship games that there is a potential for a limited number of friends and family to be inside,” said Gahl.
Right now, Gahl said they are still working with the Marion County Health Department, on exact COVID-19 safety practices, but each day competing teams will get screened for coronavirus.
