The old Nordstrom at Circle Centre will be unrecognizable when the festivities begin for the Super Bowl.
What used to house men’s clothing, shoes and accessories has been turned into a nightclub and the second floor where women could purchase pajamas as well as shoes for their children is temporarily occupied by LIDS Locker Room where visitors can purchase a wide assortment of Super Bowl and NFL merchandise. The floor will be used mostly as catering space where people can host private parties for up to 100 guests.
There will be two entrances to The Huddle: Georgia Street where Super Bowl Village is taking place and Meridian Street.
“This is a terrific thing,” said Mark Miles, chairman of the Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee. “It’s like turning lemons into lemonade.”
Called The Huddle at Circle Centre, the space will be a key venue near the Super Bowl Village and will provide entertainment and dining options. There will be approximately 350 seating options, five 3D 55-inch Toshiba televisions, VIP sections with catering availability, a Ticket Exchange and Ticketmaster location to purchase Super Bowl-related event tickets and the U.S. Postal Service will be stationed on the second floor giving visitors the options to mail merchandise home. Super Bowl volunteers and members of the host committee will also be stationed on the first floor to answer questions.
“The idea of The Huddle is for people to come in from the cold, hang out for a while, get a bite to eat, a cup of hot chocolate and head back out to enjoy downtown,” said Ellen Saul, venue manager. “We want to give people an opportunity to recharge in a spacious and fun place.”
One of the most unique aspects of The Huddle is the transformation of the men’s department to a nightclub called The Huddle After Hours for those over 21. The 20,000 square feet of space will be used as a dance floor, lounge seating and a DJ booth. There will be two bars, lights, video displays and where men used to purchase ties will now be a beer bath.
“We’re actually encouraging locals to come that first weekend, in case they come down the second weekend and aren’t able to deal with the crowds and the lines,” said Ryan Hickey, project manager of The Huddle After Hours.
The cost will range from $10-$40 but VIP passes can be purchased for $100 and will allow people to bypass the line and the nightly cover charge. The space will hold 1,500 people.
