The NCAA News - News and Features

June 9, 1997

Indianapolis lands NCAA headquarters

Association hopes to occupy new location by August 1999

The NCAA's lengthy examination of where to locate its national office concluded May 31 with the announcement that the Association's future home will be in Indianapolis.

Samuel H. Smith, president of Washington State University and chair of the NCAA Presidents Commission, revealed the decision of the NCAA Joint Policy Board in a Saturday afternoon telephonic announcement to the NCAA staff.

"Based on what has been a thorough study over a nearly two-year period," Smith said, "the Joint Policy Board this morning determined that the future site of the NCAA national office will be Indianapolis, Indiana."

The national office will be in White River State Park on the southwest corner of downtown Indianapolis. Although the new building probably will be constructed on property currently owned by the Indianapolis Power and Light Company, it is possible that it could be built at a slightly larger site currently occupied by a paper company.

The reaction among Indiana civic leaders was euphoric.

"This is extraordinary," said James Morris, the chairman of the Indianapolis Water Company Resources Corporation. "This will go down in history as one of the most memorable days for the state of Indiana."

Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon, who played a major role in developing the Indianapolis plan, said: "It's an important date for the state of Indiana, for White River Park and for the city of Indianapolis."

Leaders from the Kansas City area, which has been home to the NCAA since 1952, struggled with the decision, acknowledging that the Indianapolis bid contained more money but disputing that the difference was enough to justify the move.

Indianapolis, which portrays itself as the "Amateur Sports Capital of America," put together a package that is expected to result in a significant savings in NCAA operating expenses over the next two decades.

The NCAA 2000 working group, the membership committee that evaluated prospective sites, projected that there was a difference of almost $54 million between the most expensive option it studied and the least expensive option. The working group recommended Indianapolis by a vote of 6-1; the Joint Policy Board voted 7-1 to make the move.

"I feel good about the deliberation," said NCAA Executive Director Cedric W. Dempsey, who did not vote. "It was not lightly done. It was painful for a lot of us."

Based on the working group's analysis of the projected long-term operating cost savings, the Kansas City/Overland Park proposals ranged from being less than half of the savings projected for the Indianapolis proposal to actually costing more than the Association's current situation.

"There is no question which was a better proposal to meet the long-range needs of the Association," said Dempsey, who noted that the extra money probably would be used to enhance services and programs for student-athletes.

Dempsey said he hopes the move will take place in August 1999. If the facility is not finished by then, the move likely would take place in the spring of 2000.

The staff had expressed a preference to remain in the Kansas City area, and many were disappointed when the announcement was made. A significant percentage of the staff has roots in the Kansas City area, and those individuals now face choosing between remaining with the Association or separating from family.

Dempsey said the goal is to "make whole" both staff members who accompany the Association to Indianapolis and those who remain behind. To that end, relocation policies are being developed that will cover, among other things, relocation expenses for those who move and severance pay for those who don't. Employees who are not able to remain with the Association also will be provided with outplacement services.

Plans for the new facility are only in the conceptual stage, but at the moment, a 153,000-foot national office is envisioned, with another 20,000 square feet for a nearby Hall of Champions. The current national office has 147,000 square feet, including the Hall of Champions and a floor not currently used by the NCAA.

The process began in August 1995 as the NCAA began to look forward to when the lease on the current facility would expire in 2000. A group of 50 cities was examined at first, and that group was reduced to 10 in August 1996. The 10 became four -- Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis and Kansas City -- in December 1996. In April, Indianapolis and Kansas City were identified as finalists.

"We asked all the cities that received the request for proposal to be creative in their response," Smith said. "Indianapolis certainly was. Through a combination of state, private and philanthropic funding that has become a model for economic development in Indianapolis, we have been assured of meeting our vision and commitment of the national office without economic burden to the membership."

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In a related matter, it was announced that Frank E. Marshall, NCAA group executive director for finance and business services and the chief financial officer for the Association, will serve full-time as project manager for the move. After the move is complete, it is expected that Marshall will leave the Association.

Relocation announcement textThe text of the office relocation announcement to the NCAA staff by NCAA Presidents Commission Chair Samuel H. Smith of Washington State University:

"If I can speak on behalf of the membership, I want to say thank you for all the hard work, dedication, talent and enthusiasm each of you bring to your job.

"But I would guess you are more interested in hearing the decision, and we don't want to be melodramatic about this.

"Based on what has been a thorough study over a nearly two-year period, the Joint Policy Board this morning determined that the future site of the NCAA national office will be Indianapolis, Indiana.

"I know this is disappointing news to most of you. For many, Kansas City has been your home for some time, and it is hard to make changes. If we could have made the decision based on personal preference, this project probably wouldn't have existed.

"Unfortunately, we can't do that. We have to make decisions about this Association based on what we think is the best option for the future.

"Let me tell you that as we look to the future, the membership of the NCAA is committed to the maintenance of a national office that hires the best and brightest people we can find and that puts them to work in an environment that encourages excellence and promotes efficiency.

"We believe the decision we reached today will help us meet that commitment.

"The site is in the White River State Park currently occupied by the Indianapolis Power and Light Company generating plant. It is adjacent to the IMAX Theater and the Indiana State Museum complex.

"We asked all the cities that received the request for proposals to be creative in their response. Indianapolis certainly was. Through a combination of state, private and philanthropic funding that has become a model for economic development in Indianapolis, we have been assured of meeting our vision and commitment of the national office without additional economic burden to the membership.

"The quality-of-life criteria that we developed during this study also tells us that you will find Indianapolis a very comfortable place to live. One of our goals in this project was to assure that the environment of any community still in consideration met the standards you have enjoyed in Kansas City."