INDIANAPOLIS — In less than two months, the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials will be in Indianapolis for nine days. The event is expected to draw more than 250,000 people as the largest swim meet ever.
For the first time, it will be held inside a football stadium and include more than a thousand athletes competing for a spot on Team USA.
On Tuesday, Indiana Sports Corp. announced free fan experiences and activations that will be held on Georgia Street and inside the Indiana Convention Center.
A 66-foot twinkling replica of the Eiffel Tower will be installed at Georgia Street and Capitol Avenue on June 10 as part of "USA Swimming LIVE" presented by Purdue University. The 19,000-pound tower will be lit up by AES Indiana and constructed by the Latina Welding Guild in Indianapolis.
“This is the largest project we have ever received,” said Consuelo Lockhart, the executive director of the guild. “We are really excited about making history here in Indianapolis.”
Indiana Sports Corp. said this is the longest fan activation on Georgia Street since Indianapolis hosted the Super Bowl in 2012. More than $100 million in economic impact is estimated from the nine-day event.
“That’s really the big difference and what’s really going to be impactful for the community — there is a day that works for everybody to come and enjoy,” said Indiana Sports Corp. President Patrick Talty.
USA Swimming LIVE presented by Purdue University will kick off at 5 p.m. on June 14 with “The Starting Block Party” featuring the Bloomington-based band The Main Squeeze. They will perform from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Following the block party, the OneAmerica Financial Stage will showcase musical performances and programming daily from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. June 15-23.
The headlining acts will take the stage from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Here's the schedule:
June 15 – lovelytheband
June 16 – John Driskell Hopkins (Hop from Zac Brown Band)
June 17 – The Motet
June 18 – Saved By The 90s
June 19 – Brittney Spencer
June 20 – Taylor Swift Night: The Taylor Party
June 21 – Fastball
June 22 – To Be Announced
June 23 – Six Foot Blonde
During that week, swimming, water and Parisian themes will carry through all of downtown.
A swim-up bar will be located in the center block of Georgia Street, but patrons won’t need a swimsuit to enjoy it. The bar will feature pool party and swim lane décor.
Five new works of art will be installed around the Georgia Street corridor. Through the “All Lanes Lead to Indy” art project. The Indy Arts Council selected five central Indiana artists from more than 70 applicants.
SPARK! on the Circle will also incorporate the themes into its programming come June.
Downtown Indy, Inc. will host “Shining A Light” – an audio, video, and graphic presentation – each night to honor our Hoosier veterans and showcase the red, white and blue.
Tickets to all nine days of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium — June 15-23 — are available at usaswimming.org/trialstickets.