Indy's successful Super Bowl could bring more conventions to town

From the Zipline to the NFL Experience, attendance numbers from Super Bowl 46 are staggering. Records were shattered in 2012, 1.1 million people took in the Super Bowl Village, and more than 265,000 people packed the Indiana Convention Center

"Just an incredible ten day run," said Chris Gahl, Convention & Visitors Association.

Gahl said those numbers are proving to be a super selling point for future sales.

"Once everything is cleaned up, the ripple effect, the positive ripple effect will continue to be felt from an economic impact and certainly a tourism perspective," said Gahl.

For more than a year leading up to Super Bowl week, the ICVA targeted corporate decision-makers worldwide and invited them to Indianapolis.

"Many of the 29 corporate decision makers we hosted had never been to Indianapolis," said Gahl. "This was their first take and we were able to hook them and invite them to come see us, because we were hosting their Super Bowl."

Gahl said their pitch was simple, "if we can host the Super Bowl, we can host your convention."

"Having them here, in the backdrop of the Super Bowl was the best sales tool you can have when you are in the business of marketing a destination as a place to hold your convention," said Gahl.

It certainly worked for Chris Paulsen.

"We bring people in from all over the world," said the International Motorsports Industry Show Co-Founder. "This testament to Indianapolis will bode very well for our show. It really highlights how good Indy is at hosting events like this."

Indy is such a good fit, the internationally based trade show signed a lifetime contract to have their show at the Convention Center.

"There is no reason for us to go anywhere else with our show, that is for sure," said Paulsen. "Indy is the place."

Gahl said they will continue to work out deals with the other 28 corporate decision-makers that were invited to visit Indianapolis during the Super Bowl. Gahl said each convention is worth between $25 million and $35 million-dollars. If all 29 sign deals, it would be worth an estimated $1.5 billion.