Officials confirm Indianapolis as site of 2024 US Olympic swimming trials

As expected, Indianapolis will host the 2024 United States Olympic Swimming Trials, Indiana Sports Corp officials announced Tuesday. and USA Swimming.

IBJ first reported on the Indianapolis trials on Sunday.

Trials are scheduled for June 2024 at Lucas Oil Stadium, the largest venue ever selected for the event, with expectations of up to 35,000 spectators.

The space is expected to feature two large 50-meter pools inside the bowl area of ​​the stadium – one for competition and another for warm-ups and cool-downs – as well as a smaller 25-meter pool. The layout will be similar to the two-court layout used for 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament games hosted at the venue.

Indianapolis last hosted the U.S. Swimming Trials in 2000 at the 4,700-seat IUPUI Natatorium and has been the event’s most frequent host. It has hosted six trials over the past 100 years. These include the Women’s Trials in 1924 and 1952 at Broad Ripple Pool, and the Men’s and Women’s Trials at the Natatorium in 1984, 1992, 1996 and 2000.

The last four Olympic Trials have been held in Omaha, Nebraska (2008, 2012, 2016 and 2021). The 2004 event was held in Long Beach, California.

OneAmerica Financial Partners CEO Scott Davison will chair the event’s organizing committee.

Tim Hinchey III, president and CEO of USA Swimming, said the event would cost millions of dollars to produce – he declined to give a specific estimate – but added that most of the costs would have to be shared by his organization and Indiana Sports Corp.

The trials earn money through sponsorship deals, television rights with NBC, and ticket sales.

Sports Corp officials don’t yet know the event’s potential economic impact, though the 2016 trials generated about $74 million for Omaha.

Hinchey said an “extremely strong bid” that used Lucas Oil Stadium pushed Indianapolis to the top. The city beat Omaha, Minneapolis and St. Louis to win the event after losing a previous bid for the 2016 Trials.

USA Swimming and Indiana Sports Corp. also plan to invest approximately $400,000 in legacy projects focused on providing access to recreational water areas for local children. The effort will focus on financial and programming efforts to promote swimming lessons and other water safety initiatives.

The Indiana Convention Center, which is connected to the stadium, will also be used to house the USA Swimming fan zone and hospitality area.

Exact dates for the trials have not been determined but will likely be mid-June to late June, about a month before the start of the Paris Olympics on July 26, 2024.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.