Do you have your ticket for one of the hottest sporting events in Indianapolis? As of the writing of this article, tickets were still available, starting at $75.00 for reserved seating and $50.00 for general admission for the 109th Indianapolis 500, taking place on Sunday, May 25 (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2025). If you don't have tickets in hand but want to catch some of the excitement you can Google their open test drives now on YouTube and watch some of the thrilling action in practice.

If you are studying Sports Entertainment Management or Hospitality and Tourism, you might find some of the following stats rather impressive as you consider the economic, logistical and social impact of this event on the Indianapolis community.

1. One of the Largest Hospitality Operations in Sports

The Indy 500 hosts over 300,000 people on race day, making it the largest single-day sporting event in the world. Accommodating many guests requires massive coordination in food service, security, sanitation, crowd flow, and guest services (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2025).

 2. VIP and Suite Experiences Are Next-Level

The Pagoda Suites and Pit Road Terraces offer premium luxury experiences, with gourmet food, private bars, personal hosts, and even rooftop viewing areas. Brands and high-end guests expect a five-star experience on race day (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2025).

 3. Catering for Hundreds of Thousands

Hospitality teams prepare and serve tens of thousands of meals daily. Think of it as a massive pop-up city with everything from fine dining to Midwestern comfort food, local beer, and iconic race-day snacks (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2025).

 4. Staff and Volunteer Army

The event relies on thousands of volunteers and part-time staff, including ushers, ticket takers, guest services, and hospitality hosts. Proper customer service and emergency response training are key to a safe guest experience (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2025).

5. Hotel and Travel Surge

Due to its popularity, every hotel within 50 miles of Indianapolis books up months in advance. Local hotels, B&Bs, and short-term rentals adjust staffing, offer race-day shuttles, and even create themed guest packages to ride the Indy 500 wave (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2025).

 6. Brand Activations and Sponsorship Lounges

Big-name sponsors like Gainbridge, Chevrolet, and Shell set up immersive hospitality lounges where guests can relax, network, and experience the brand, complete with cocktails, celebrity appearances, and swag (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2025).

7. Global Guests, Local Charm

The race draws attendees worldwide, so hospitality teams are trained in cross-cultural communication, accessibility, and multilingual service. The goal: create a personal, memorable guest experience for everyone, whether they're from Brazil, Japan, or Indiana (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2025).

8. It's Not Just Race Day

The Indy 500 is the capstone of an entire month of events called "The Month of May," featuring practice days, concerts, parades, and the Carb Day party. Each event brings unique hospitality needs, from crowd control to concert security to exclusive fan meet-and-greets (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2025).

 9. Custom Experiences for Corporate Clients

Corporate groups often book tailored Indy 500 packages, including race tickets, hotel stays, transportation, team-building activities, garage tours, and meet-and-greets with drivers. It's not just a race; it's a premium guest experience (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2025).

 10. Tradition + Innovation

Despite the event's long history, hospitality continues to evolve. From contactless ticketing and mobile ordering to sustainability efforts and inclusive excellence training, the guest experience at the Indy 500 keeps leveling up (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2025).

There is one final hospitality tradition to include in this list and perhaps you weren't aware that its origin can be traced back to the late 1940s, when a friend of the track president who hosted a traveling auto thrill show, was asked to give a peppy introduction and quickly responded with  'Gentlemen, Start Your Engines" and then the race was on (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2025).

Reference

Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (2025, April 15). https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/