INDIANAPOLIS — After a four-year run, Downtown Indy, Inc. will suspend Indy’s annual civic celebration of New Year’s Eve on Georgia Street that included the lowering of an authentic IndyCar at midnight.
The rising costs for staging such a weather-dependent event was cited as the primary reason for not moving forward with what would have been the fifth annual New Year’s Eve Celebration on Georgia Street, officials said.
The large-scale, free, public event that had drawn as many as 40,000 revelers two years ago had been supported solely by Downtown Indy, Inc. and sponsor revenue. Last year’s sub-zero temperatures on Dec. 31, coupled with an un-forecasted heavy snowfall early in the day nearly resulted in organizers having to cancel the event in 2017.
“We’re disappointed that we’re unable to continue offering this free event for the community this year,” said Bob Schultz, senior vice president of events and marketing for Downtown Indy, Inc. “In the end, with the increasing costs of appropriately staging the annual civic celebration on Georgia Street that required extensive lighting, outdoor heating, sound equipment, staging, security, emergency readiness, staffing, etc., we would not be prudent stewards of our nonprofit resources to continue.”
