INDIANAPOLIS -- The best basketball players in the world are going to be in Indianapolis in a month but the NBA All-Star weekend is about so much more than just a game - it's the intersection of art, culture, the history of the sport in Indiana and the fans.
Right now, a downtown Indy building is filled with 24 giant basketballs - each in different phases of a mural depicting Indiana hoops history.
It's called "Hoosier Historia," and it features 24 local artists depicting the best stories, places and championships in state history.
”Just trophies and banners and cut down basketball nets," said Christina Hollering, one of the local artists.
Hollering’s piece for Hoosier Historia is about the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
”There's more to Indianapolis than just sports, we have a thriving, rich artist community," Hollering said.
That is what will be on display Feb. 15-17 as thousands from around the world come to Indianapolis for a truly international event.
”This All-Star game will be shown in over 200 countries and in 47 languages," said Pacers Sports and Entertainment CEO Rick Fuson. "There's no international event you can get like that other than this, so we want to make sure they see Indianapolis in the best light."
Fuson said there has never been an All-Star weekend more focused on the fans than Indianapolis in 2024.
Downtown Indy will be transformed into Indy's Home Court.
There will be activation and art on Georgia Street, Monument Circle, the Indiana Convention Center, Gainbridge Field House, Lucas Oil Stadium and more.
”It was truly about feeling like you're at home, knowing you're at basketball's homecoming and knowing that you're part of NBA All-Star and a part of something special," said Ebony Armstrong, the director of Events, Activations and Venues for NBA All-Star 2024.
Everything will get started with the first-ever All-Star Weekend Opening Ceremony at Bicentennial Unity Plaza on Thursday, Feb. 16. It's called "The Tip Off."
The 24 large basketballs are just part of the art that will take over downtown.
In all, there will be 87 unique art installations across downtown curated by more than 100 community members and organizations.
The Indy Arts Council, GANGGANG and the Indiana Humanities have curated light-based public art installations, sculptures celebrating Indiana’s basketball tradition, large-scale storefront murals, graffiti art, interactive pieces and Butter Art Fair.
Julie Goodman, the CEO of the Indy Arts Council, said this will be most concentrated weekend of art activation Indianapolis has ever seen.
”There are hundreds of creative entrepreneurs that are required to put this on and years of work," said Mali Bacon, the co-founder of GANGANG.
Mal and fellow GANGGANG Co-Founder Alan Bacon are also transforming Washington Street into a cultural corridor with art and local brands taking over certain buildings and the Artsgarden for the weekend.
Plaid & Pearls Coffee, a local woman-owned business, will take over the location formerly occupied by Pearings at Washington and Meridian, while the former Rock Bottom site next door will be converted into The Suite featuring the Henderson Bar, food from the International Marketplace, music curated by Chreece Presents: Nap City The Basement, comedy by Made Man Improv, and retail curated by Cargo Streetwear Boutique.
The Indianapolis Arts Garden will be turned into BUTTER at Indy's Home Court. The art fair founded in Indianapolis commits to sell or loan 100 percent of the artwork, giving 100 percent of the proceeds to artists.
”I think it's a matter of amplifying what people love about the game and what we love about basketball is the culture connected to it," Bacon said.
The goal is the most fan-first All-Star Weekend ever, creating Indy memories for the international audience in town and watching from home.
”They're going to walk away and say, 'Wow, Indianapolis is cool and they care about their fans,'" said Armstrong.