How to Have a Great Time in Indianapolis During the Basketball Tournament

Welcome to Indianapolis, Indiana: "Amateur Sports Capital of the Nation," and the new NCAA headquarter city. Sure, this is home to the Colts and Pacers, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but in March and April 2000, turn your attention to the Final Four. You don't need these sold-out tickets to enjoy the hoopla.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Catch the grand opening celebration of the NCAA Hall of Champions in White River State Park on Thursday, March 30, 10 to 11 a.m. This amazing new facility, adjacent to the NCAA headquarters, has two levels of interactive exhibits, showcasing the past and present of intercollegiate sports. "They have a photographic layout depicting all 21 of the college sports," says Larry, color analyst for ESPN. "It's really fantastic ' well worth the time to go visit." Call 1-800-735-NCAA for ticket information.

2. Visit the park's adjacent attractions: an impressive list that includes White River Gardens, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, an IMAX theater and the National Institute for Fitness and Sport.

3. Watch the Final Four teams practice on Friday, March 31. Each team has one hour to run their drills, and the public is welcome to watch. Practices in the past have drawn 40,000 fans. The event takes place at the RCA Dome at 200 South Capitol Avenue. Admission is free, gates open at 10:30 a.m. and the practices begin at noon.

4. Find a spot and settle in to view the Final Four on Saturday, April 1. Tip-off at the RCA Dome is at 5:42 p.m. EST.

5. Know that during the Final Four and championship game, ESPN will set up a studio in the Artsgarden: the glass dome downtown that links several hotels, the RCA Dome and Circle Centre Mall. "Dick Vitale will be there," Larry says, "along with NCAA announcers and a lot of the college coaches that didn't make the Final Four. It's a great event before and after the games ' a chance to sit and listen to the coaches talk about the tournament and what's going on in college basketball."

6. Don't miss the National Championship game, Monday, April 3 at 8:18 p.m. EST. If you were unsuccessful in selling your soul for a ticket, just about every downtown restaurant and pub will be showing the CBS coverage. You can't beat Jillian's ' a three-story complex that envelopes The Groove Shack dance club, the Sports Video Cafe and Bar, Hibachi Grill, a nine-lane bowling alley and a 10,000-square-foot game room. Twenty big screen TVs will be scattered throughout, each tuned to (yes, of course) the Final Four. 141 S Meridian Street.

7. Eat famous buffalo wings and join the vociferous crowd at BW-3's ' a sports bar at 15 E Maryland.

8. Push floor #4 in the Circle Centre Mall elevator. Once the doors slide open, choose from Brewski's, World Mardi Gras, Flashbaxx or Gators, for a tournament atmosphere.

9. Head home after the game via Canary Cafe, which doesn't open until 11 p.m. If you're still hungry, they can solve the munchie problem for you.

Tips & Warnings

• For those without tickets, walk across the street from the RCA Dome into PanAm Plaza ' an area with a park-like atmosphere that is dubbed "celebration square" during the Final Four. Several interactive events are taking place there for visitors.
• Contact the Indianapolis Visitors and Convention Bureau for more information. (1-800-958-INDY or www.indy.org)
• Remember that even though clocks spring forward one hour on Saturday night, April 1, Indianapolis does not observe daylight time. The city will not adjust, and remains to coincide with Central Daylight Time.