Category Archives: IN Indy
- by Matthew McNairy, January 31, 2012
The Super Bowl is less than a month away. As much anticipation as there is for the game, for many viewers the best part is the commercials. Rumors are starting to leak about some of the big ads expected to run during the game. The following companies and segments are already generating some buzz:
1.) Doritos – The snack chip is scheduled to have two spots during the game. One will be the annual winner of the Crash the Super Bowl contest for amateur filmmakers. The other will feature comedy, hip-hop trio The Lonely Island. Expectations are high for both ads.
2.) Sketchers – The shoe maker got a great response from last year’s ad featuring Kim Kardashian – most notably, a significant bump in Facebook fans. This year’s spot, despite not having yet been viewed, has garnered negative publicity for taking place at a dog racing facility. Company representatives have tried to spin the focus on the subject of the ad: a cute bulldog and a cameo by Dallas Maverick’s owner Mark Cuban. Time will tell how the clip plays out.
3.) Movies – The major studios have a history of keeping a lid on which big budget films will get the high profile ad slots. Two of the most anticipated summer blockbusters – The Dark Knight Rises and The Amazing Spider-Man – are rumored to be absent from the list. Expected, however, are clips for The Avengers, Men In Black 3, and GI Joe: Retaliation. Already confirmed is an ad for Act of Valor, a summer action movie starring real Navy SEALs.
4.) M&Ms – The popular candy hasn’t been featured in a Super Bowl ad in 14 years, so expectations are high for a re-emergence of the brand as a Super Bowl ad tent pole.
5.) Pepsi – The soda maker is scheduled to have two spots focused on X-Factor winner Melanie Amaro. The popular diva singer route has been successful for the company in the past – see Beyonce and Christina Aguilera – so the strategy is sound.
What ads are you looking forward to come Super Bowl Sunday? What spots are going to land with a Groupon-like thud? Get ready to watch.
- by Matthew McNairy, November 21, 2011
The holidays are officially upon us. Thanksgiving is in less than three weeks, with
Christmas a short month after that. One of the great events here in Indianapolis this time of year is the Circle of Lights Tree Lighting on Monument Circle.
The event first took place in 1962 and has become a holiday tradition. Taking place the day after Thanksgiving – November 25 this year for those not in front of a calendar – the lighting of the world’s largest “tree” is a fun family experience that features festivities provided by acts from around the state. Monument Circle is decked out with giant candy canes and toy soldiers and Santa Claus makes his first appearance in town. After Santa officially turns on the lights, everyone is treated to a fireworks display.
The lights are truly impressive, not just from the ground but the frequent aerial images displayed on the news and online. The 242 foot display includes 52 strands of garland and almost 5,000 lights. And that doesn’t include all the other lights that decorate the circle. Best of all, the kids love it.
Word of warning: You’ll want to get there early. The lighting usually doesn’t start until around 7:00, but about 100,000 people attend annually.
What other holiday festivities are on your radar this year?
- by Matthew McNairy, May 27, 2011
A friend of mine recently told me how she described the Indianapolis 500 to her friend in Scotland. “You know how the Royal Wedding is full of pomp and circumstance and pageantry? That’s what the race is to us Hoosiers.“
It is so true; many of Hoosiers feel a deep connection to the race as if it were our own. Out come the checkered flags to decorate our yards as soon the calendar flips to May 1. We clear our schedule for parties leading up to the race and figure out who will be the best company for our seating at the race. Do we go to the race this year or attend a radio-listening party? Will it be a chilly, rainy running or will the sun beat down on the track?
Another reason Hoosiers take such pride in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” is because of the positive financial impact it has on our city. Hotels are booked a year in advance, local restaurants welcome tapped out reservations, and even homeowners that surround the track reap in parking dollars.
What used to be a month-long celebration of the Indianapolis 500 is now a week-long calendar of events. As the race celebrates the 100th year running IndyCars around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I wonder how the financial impact on our city has changed with consolidation of practices and events.
The Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Associations sites that the month of May, including the hosting of the Indianapolis 500, brings $336 million dollars to the city. What do you think? Has the change of events significantly impacted the economic opportunity the Indianapolis 500? Please leave your thoughts and comments below.
