Indianapolis to continue seeking major sports event

INDIANAPOLIS -- The city still wants to host a U.S. team trials before the 2008 Olympics, even though the RCA Dome will have been torn down, Conseco Fieldhouse might have a scheduling conflict with the Indiana Pacers and the new Lucas Oil Stadium will still be under construction.\nIndianapolis was awarded the 2008 wrestling trials but had to back out because of the lack of a major venue at the appropriate times, said Allison Melangton, senior vice president of the Indiana Sports Corporation.\nThe city also was a contender for the gymnastics trials, but Conseco Fieldhouse, which seats more than 18,000, can't be used because of a possible conflict if the Pacers reach the NBA Finals that June.\n"Good problem to have, because we're going to have the best venue in the country when it's all said and done," ISC president Susan Williams said of the new $500 million downtown stadium, which will have a retractable roof and seat 63,000.\nThe stadium will be the home of the Indianapolis Colts, who have played in the RCA Dome since the NFL franchise relocated from Baltimore in 1984.\nIndianapolis has had the U.S. trials in at least one sport in each Olympic year since 1984, and the RCA Dome was the site of the wrestling trials in 2004.\nDiving trials were at the Natatorium at IUPUI in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996, and that sport is still a possibility for 2008. Others include the trials in boxing, weightlifting or triathlon, officials said at the Sports Corporation's annual meeting Wednesday.\nNew ISC chairman Tom King called the corporation's presence in Indianapolis "every bit as valuable" as the Colts and Pacers.\n"Indianapolis is branded, nationally and internationally, as a city that can get things done," King said\nMyles Brand, president of the NCAA, told ISC members that Indianapolis continues to be seen as the national leader in organizing events such as the men's basketball Final Four. The NCAA has a memorandum of understanding to bring major events to the city regularly through 2039.\n"This city can do it," Brand said. "I don't think any other city can"