Indy is getting ready to make waves. The US Olympic Swim Team Trials officially begin this Saturday, June 15 — and the city is going for gold to make sure it shines on the national stage.
The trials will run nine days with nearly 1,000 athletes competing for 52 spots to represent Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. It will all go down at Lucas Oil Stadium — marking the first time ever that this event has been held using a pool built inside an NFL stadium.
The event is expected to draw more than 250,000 fans + could break the record for the largest swim meet ever. The economic impact of the trials is expected to exceed $100 million.
Even if you’re not an Olympic swimmer, there will be lots for you to see and do to be a part of this historic event. Let’s dive in:
The Starting Block Party
To make a splash before the Trials officially begin, there will be a free Starting Block Party from 5 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 14 on the west block of Georgia Street. That’s also where you’ll find the 66-ft replica Eiffel Tower, which will be unveiled with a ribbon cutting ceremony and first official lighting during this event. There will be performances from rapper and singer songwriter midwxst and DJ Space Bunz, both from Indianapolis, and The Main Squeeze, a funk band from Bloomington.
The Trials
Obviously, the main event is the trials itself and it’s affordable for Hoosiers to attend. Tickets to prelims sessions start at $15 and finals start at $35. Each day has a prelims session from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with races to determine which athletes go to semi-finals and finals. The semi-finals and finals sessions take place from 8 to 10 p.m., with an Olympian named to Team USA every night.
To make it fun, and to help you decide when to attend, there are different themes every night. See the programming schedule. There are several ticketing options from all sessions to single-day to single session tickets.
USA Swimming Live
Following the Starting Block Party, there will be continued activities on Georgia Street daily from 1 to 7 p.m. The OneAmerica Financial Stage will showcase live musical performances and programming from 2 to 7 p.m. The headlining acts include lovelytheband, John Driskell Hopkins, The Motet, and more. The concert lineup, which is free and open to the public, was curated by Forty5 Presents.
Swim Up Bar
In the center of Georgia Street, you’ll find a Swim Up Bar — no swimsuit necessary. The bar will feature pool party + swim lane decor, and be a place to relax and hang out in between trials sessions. There will be drinks and local food, and the downtown business community is encouraged to move their meetings to this space to connect with colleagues and friends.
Toyota Aqua Zone
This interactive Fan Fest will be located inside the Indiana Convention Center and will be free to explore daily from 1 to 7 p.m. There will be athlete appearances, activities, and a retail store that opens at 9 a.m. daily.
All Lanes Lead to Indy Art Project
Five new works of art will be installed around the Georgia Street corridor. Through the All Lanes Lead to Indy Art Project, the Indy Arts Council selected five central Indiana artists from more than 70 applicants for the project, which highlights water, swimming, and Olympic themes.
SPARK on the Circle
SPARK on the Circle is back for its second season on Monument Circle, and the popular collaboration between Downtown Indy Inc. and Big Car Collaborative will incorporate swimming, water, and Parisian themes into its programming.