Foreword by Matt Mindrum
Indianapolis has long been recognized as a premier host city for major sporting events. But event hosting alone does not explain the region’s economic trajectory
Over the past several decades, public, private, and civic leaders made deliberate investments to build something more durable: a fully integrated sports ecosystem designed to extend beyond stadiums and game days. The creation of Indiana Sports Corp in 1979 marked the beginning of a regional strategy that treated sport as economic infrastructure.
That long-term vision is visible today not only in the events we host, but in the institutional ecosystem we have built. Few American cities can match the institutional density Indianapolis has built across the sports industry. Indianapolis anchors one of the nation’s most concentrated sports business networks, including the global headquarters of both the NCAA and INDYCAR alongside professional franchises, national organizations, venue operators, and a growing network of sports-adjacent enterprises.
Together, these assets have helped shape one of the most concentrated and fastest-growing sports economies in the country. In 2026, Sports Business Journal named Indianapolis the No. 3 Best Sports Business City in the United States, up from No. 11 in 2023.
This report examines the data behind that transformation, from employment concentration and economic output to executive leadership representation and workforce mobility. The findings reinforce a broader truth: Indianapolis is not only a destination for competition, but a place where careers in sport are built and sustained.
As we look ahead, the opportunity is not simply to maintain this position, but to expand it, strengthening talent pipelines, advancing leadership pathways, and continuing to evolve Indianapolis as a national model for sports-driven economic growth.