Indy 500 business 'not what it used to be'

The Indianapolis 500 is the largest single-day sporting event in the world and big business means big money. \n"We have every indication that this will continue to be one of our biggest sales weekends," said Bob Schultz, director of communications and public relations for the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association. \nSchultz said all downtown hotels are booked and most perimeter hotels are at least 90 percent full.\nDue to the event's massive expected attendance and recent terrorist activity, race officials will be boosting safety measures this year by hiring extra officers to inspect vehicles and carrying devices. Although these extra precautions and setbacks may be well worth race fans' security, it may be dissuading some of them from attending the race. \nIn past years, reservations around the Indianapolis area were quickly snapped up but Hilda Fredie, hotel reservationist, said things have changed. \n"The race used to be a pretty big thing before they changed it, what with security and splitting the teams," Fedie said. "I don't know of any hotel around here that's sold out."\nWhether or not these factors have affected ticket sales as well as hotel bookings is difficult to determine, as Indianapolis 500 employees are tight-lipped about giving specific attendance numbers from the current and previous year.\nRace reservations appear to remain unaffected, as they are already sold out and now available for 2003. The Motor Speedway's final tally for overall attendance can't be counted until they sell their general admission tickets on race day. \nSteve Kingsley, general manager for Circle Centre, said the mall is experiencing an increase in sales as it does with all race weekends. \n"The number of amenities downtown has to offer definitely attracts visitors," Kingsley said. \nWhile race business in downtown Indianapolis is still thriving, Bloomington's race business and profitability is no longer what it has been in previous years, said Valerie Pena, executive director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.\n"It affects us a little bit, but not nearly like it used to," Pena said. "In the old days, before the IRL (Indy Racing League) split up, we definitely had a lot of business."\nThe lack of Indianapolis 500 prosperity led to the Convention and Visitors Bureau to seek business from other events, Pena said. This weekend Bloomington will be host to the Nike Classic basketball tournament, which will lead to increased business for all local hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions that will be sustained for several days as opposed to just one or two.\n"With the bad comes the good," Pena said. "With the race not being as heavily traveled, it allowed us to open ourselves up to more business"