Hotels for Super Bowl 2012 Mostly Booked

Lining up a place to stay for the Super Bowl could be a chore for many of the roughly 150,000 visitors expected in Indianapolis for the big game on Feb. 5. Hotel and travel websites are listing only a few rooms for sale, and many of them are far from downtown and far from four-star and still carry asking prices of $400 per night or more. Fortunately, there are a few options. Among them:

• Rent a house or apartment. Dozens of Hoosiers are looking to share some hospitality and make a few bucks by renting out houses or condos near downtown. How do you find them? A new local website has compiled a list of homes and event venues for rent during Super Bowl week. The site offers free listings for property owners and takes a cut of any successful rentals. Of course, you could also check Craigslist for rental homes or, if you're feeling particularly adventurous, set up an account on CouchSurfing.org. 
• Opt for a package deal. This may be the best option for folks who haven't bought tickets yet. Most ticket outfits offer package deals that include hotel accommodations near Lucas Oil Stadium. Attending the Super Bowl is never cheap, but ordering a package can save you a few bucks and ensure you're close to the action.
• Play the waiting game. The NFL has contracted with more than 140 hotels across the state to reserve rooms for fans and is releasing the rooms in waves. Most of the hotels will have a four-night minimum stay. No rooms are available at the moment, but check back at Indy2012.com for updates on the availability of rooms.

Super Bowl 2012 News Roundup

A Super hideaway for VIPs
The NFL is working on plans to transform a portion of Union Station into an ultra-exclusive hangout for corporate sponsors, team owners and former players. The league is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to build the ski-lodge themed NFL House, the first time it has put together such a venue. More

Super Bowl advertising lineup takes shape
TV ads during the NBC broadcast of the big game are going for as much as $3.5 million for a 30-second spot. Of course, the usual suspects Anheuser-Busch Inbev, Coca-Cola, General Motors and Doritos will be well represented. Spots also are expected from Century 21, Best Buy, Cars.com and GoDaddy.com. More

Game time for food-truck owners
Indianapolis food truck owners are gearing up to serve football fans during the Super Bowl week. Among the top attractions are Mable on the Move, Edward's Dashboard Diner and West Coast Tacos. Fun fact: Americans consume more food on Super Bowl Sunday than every other day except Thanksgiving. More 

Colts honor Marvin Harrison
The Colts won't be playing in the Super Bowl Feb. 5, but one of the team's legends soon will have a permanent place in the host stadium. The team plans to add Harrison to the Lucas Oil Stadium Ring of Honor during halftime of the Carolina Panthers game Nov. 27. He'll be only the eighth member of a group that includes Robert Irsay, Jim Harbaugh and Tony Dungy. More

Super Bowl 2012 for Indianapolis Locals: Get Involved

The Super Bowl 2012 Host Committee is offering several ways for Indianapolis residents to get involved in February's big game even if they can't afford tickets. Among the highlights: 

Knit a Super Bowl 2012 Scarf
Hundreds of volunteers have been knitting blue and white scarves to be worn by 2012 Super Bowl volunteers. The goal was to distribute 8,000 scarves with the official Super Bowl XLVI patch, but volunteers already have knitted about 10,000. The last day to submit a scarf is Nov. 30. More info

Plant one of (more than) 2,012 trees
The Host Committee has partnered with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and the John H. Boner Community Center to plant trees on the Near Eastside as part of the 2012 Super Bowl legacy initiatives. The groups already have planted more than 2,400 trees. More info

Have your child write a welcome letter
Thousands of guests in Indianapolis hotel rooms will receive a personalized welcome card from a child in one of the state’s 92 counties. The Host Committee hopes to collect 18,000 of the cards by Dec. 31. Children should illustrate their favorite things about Indiana. More info


Take a free Super Service training class
Hospitality workers and Super Bowl volunteers are taking a free online course to help the city roll out the red carpet for Super Bowl visitors. The course is focused on general principals of hospitality, Indiana history and specific plans for the big game. More info

Indianapolis Bars, Bowling Alleys and Hotels Could Go Smoke-Free Before 2012 Super Bowl

Indianapolis bars, bowling alleys and hotel rooms could go smoke-free before Super Bowl festivities begin early next year. The Republican president of the City-County Council has proposed extending an existing smoking ban to the now-excluded establishments. The ban still would exempt cigar and hookah bars, retail tobacco stores and nonprofit fraternal clubs. Mayor Greg Ballard has told reporters he supports the proposal.

Democrats, set to take control of the Council on Jan. 1, had been planning their own expansion of the Marion County smoking ban. They're expected to push for a tougher ban. A group of more than 1,000 Indianapolis-area bar owners also is supporting a tougher ban, in large measure so competitors don't gain an upper hand by allowing smoking.

Council President Ryan Vaughn said the measure needs to be passed by late December so it can be advertised in time to take effect before 2012 Super Bowl festivities begin.

Tips on Choosing a 2012 Super Bowl Package

Attending a Super Bowl is as much about the atmosphere and experience as the game itself. The parties. The pep rallies. The NFL Experience. But planning a Super Bowl trip is a lot more complicated than your typical vacation. Hotel rooms are scarce, traffic can be a nightmare and surprise expenses add up fast. That's why plenty of savvy Super Bowl veterans book a package deal for the big game. Credible ticket marketplaces already are offering 2012 Super Bowl Packages that let fans focus more on atmosphere and experience and less on logistics. Here are a few tips for choosing the right Super Bowl package:

• Super Bowl package basics.
  Every Super Bowl ticket package at a minimum should include game tickets, hotel accommodations and transportation to and from the game. Packages generally are sold at a per-person rate, so you can save money if you're willing to share a hotel room with friends.
• Choose your level.
  Super Bowl ticket packages are priced based on where you'd like to sit for the big game. The base price will get you an upper-level seat but you're welcome to upgrade based on your budget. Make sure the hotel included in the package is well located, and review the rankings on Trip Advisor. In some cases, you can actually choose your hotel. 
• Look for experience and a guarantee.
  Make sure the marketplace has Super Bowl experience and a guarantee on your package. For an event like the Super Bowl, credible sellers will offer on-site customer service so you can immediately address any concerns about your tickets or accommodations.
• Extras are everything.
  Tickets to the big game, hotel accommodations and ground transportation are a given with most Super Bowl ticket packages. Before you seal the deal, look for extras like VIP party passes, tickets to the NFL Experience and even complimentary souvenirs.

Oddsmakers Call 2012 Super Bowl Matchup: Green Bay Packers v. New England Patriots

At the half-way mark for the NFL season, oddsmakers say the most likely pairing for Super Bowl 2012 in Indianapolis is the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots. (That's exactly the matchup they were predicting as the season began.)

A Super Bowl between such high-profile teams with enthusiastic fan bases likely to travel would be a boon to Indianapolis, drawing even more visitors to the city in early February.

The Packers are the favorites (4/1) to win the big game, followed closely by the Patriots (7/1), according to BetVega.com. Next in line are the Pittsburgh Steelers (10/1), Philadelphia Eagles (13/1), New Orleans Saints (13/1), Baltimore Ravens (13/1) and the San Francisco 49ers (16/1). The longest of the long shots are the winless Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins (Both 1000/1).