For something where it?s a leisure draw, where there's no organization working collectively, like one of our races, then it's the free market. The hotels will set those rates based on what the market will permit, and that is pure supply and demand.

The trend for leisure fares has been upward all summer (averaging 16% more than a year ago), and it's continuing through the fall.

That's not including the cost of attending events or cost of getting to and from Indianapolis. And it's incredibly conservative. It doesn't take into consideration the premium on hotel rates and the additional fans who came without a ticket.

We want the fans and teams and officials — when they land in Indianapolis — to know that all attention is on the Final Four.

We are often asked by event planners and visiting media why Indianapolis is continually selected to host so many national and international events. Each time, the answer remains the same: our local volunteers. Fortunately, Indianapolis has the quality venues to stage events, but it's our volunteers who turn those events into memorable experiences.

It is a very significant spring conference, especially squeezing it in right before the Final Four.