Susie Townsend, senior vice president of visitor experience for Visit Indy, is working inside the men’s NCAA basketball tournament bubble in Indianapolis and sharing her experiences with MPI. Learn more about her bubble experience as the tournament was about to get under way.

It’s a beautiful day on the “inside” looking “outside” from the 30th floor of the JW Marriott. I have a beautiful view of Lucas Oil Stadium to the southeast, Victory Field to the southwest, the new Amphitheatre at the Lawn and the zoo to the west and the NCAA HQ to the northwest.

Matt and Brad: As I look out to the White River, I am imagining what this view will be in a few years and how the plans that you are working on will truly be transformative. 

The teams were able to have a fun afternoon yesterday at the zoo and today they have headed out to Top Golf. I am thrilled they have been able to get outside the bubble—of course in another controlled environment on their busses and within the two venues mentioned. 

I have been inside this bubble for a while—11 days, but who’s counting? One of the highlights besides all of the logistics fun has been the meals. The dining program that was a collaborative effort of ours and the Indiana Sports Corporation has been a huge success. As mentioned in one of my early posts, we invited restaurants to participate by completing an expression of interest form. If they filled it out and had a delivery vehicle they were included. The restaurants have all been grateful and not only “delivered,” but most of them over-delivered. 

Yours truly has benefited from the yummy meals we have ordered. Here are some fun morsels from the Dine Program. 

• 21% of the participating are minority owned.
• We have ordered 1,820 meals for those working inside the bubble to date (not team meals).
• Cluster Truck had their best week ever last week. 
• Tea’s Me Café is owned Tamika Catchings, an Indiana Fever WNBA great, a four-time Olympic Gold Medal winner, an inductee into the 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame and general manager of the Indiana Fever. And guess who delivered those meals to us? The one and only Tamika! 
• The combo team of Harry & Izzy’s and St. Elmo’s as of yesterday had delivered over 700 meals to 23 teams.
• The EWU team (Eastern Washington University) ordered from Michael’s Soul Kitchen three night’s during their stay at the Hyatt. One of the teammates shared they had the best catfish ever and he ordered it every night. I ordered the Baked Spaghetti. Totally yummy!
• I also recommend the Fried Green Tomatoes from Muva’s kitchen. They were so good I wish I had ordered those as an entrée. 
• Today’s lunch from Flat Iron on Penn served up one of the best salads I have had recently. 
• Main and Madison from Franklin, Indiana, also got in on the program, delivering lunch to the staff and others. 
• We also have eaten dinner or lunch from the following Cunningham restaurants: Café 251, Nesso, Union 50, Livery and Mesh. 
• Pizza has been delivered from: Giordano’s, Hot Box, Pizza Hut, Bazbeaux and Napolese. 
• No food group has been missed. 
• Diet starting soon. 

Let’s just say, life is good. 😊