The business of sports is booming in the Circle City, and the national industry knows.
Sports Business Journal (SBJ) named Indianapolis the No. 3 Best Sports Business City in the United States for 2026, as announced on May 18. The ranking marks an eight-spot leap from the publication’s inaugural 2023 list, where Indianapolis debuted at No. 11.
To determine the top 50 markets, SBJ evaluated more than 2,000 cities utilizing data from dozens of sources and insights from nearly 120 influential sports business executives. The cities were graded heavily on business opportunities, economic environment and industry sentiment to identify hubs with strong hiring potential and long-term investment viability.
Indianapolis trailed only Atlanta and New York City for the top spot, beating out Charlotte and Minneapolis-St. Paul is rounding out the top five.
“This recognition from Sports Business Journal reflects something we’ve built intentionally in Indianapolis, and our secret sauce is the strength of our incredible public-private partnerships,” President and CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment Mel Raines said. “When our civic, corporate and sports leaders come together, we’re able to raise the bar on hosting world-class events and deliver unforgettable fan experiences that few cities can match.”
The city’s rapid climb in the national rankings correlates directly with a staggering run of recent mega-events and heavy infrastructure spending.
Since the original 2023 rankings were released, Indianapolis has successfully hosted the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials, the WWE Royal Rumble, the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, TEDSports Indianapolis and the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four. Those events were layered on top of the city’s traditional annual economic superchargers, including the Indianapolis 500, the NFL Scouting Combine and the Big Ten Football Championship Game.
Despite the city’s high marks, the SBJ evaluation also weighed future investment and physical infrastructure. Over the last several years, Indy has injected over $3 billion into local infrastructure projects, according to a press release from Indiana Sports Corp.
The developments range from the 800-room Signia by Hilton and Convention Center expansion to the newly constructed Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center, the reimagined Traction Yards and the ongoing redevelopment of Georgia Street.
“This recognition from Sports Business Journal affirms what so many athletes, fans, leagues and event partners already know: Indianapolis is a premier destination for sport and a world-class host city,” President of the Indiana Sports Corp Patrick Talty said.
For local leadership, the No. 3 ranking is an indicator that the state’s long-term strategy is taking root. In 2024, the Indiana Sports Corp launched the “2050 Vision,” a 25-year strategy focused on expanding the state’s footprint in sports technology, academic programming, sports business leadership and women’s sports.
That foundation has already yielded tangible returns on investment, including USA Gymnastics selecting Noblesville for its proposed Training & Wellness Center and the continued expansion of National Governing Bodies like USA Track & Field and USA Football.
With future marquee events already secured — including the 2028 Women’s Final Four, the 2028 Olympic Swimming Trials and the 2029 Men’s Final Four — the city’s sports ecosystem is banking on continued success.
“Through the 2050 Vision, Indiana Sports Corp is focused on building the next 25 years of growth for our city and state, strengthening our sports economy and positioning Indiana as the global epicenter of sport,” Talty said.
Contact multimedia and senior sports reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral.
For more, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
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