13 INDIANAPOLIS REGIONAL CENTER PLAN 2020 PLANNING DOWNTOWN�fS FUTURE TODAY ENJOYING DOWNTOWN INTRODUCTION The Enjoying Downtown Committee met six times beginning in December 2002.  Members discussed the arts, tourism, conventions, convention facilities, hotels, recreation, shopping, dining and spectator sports. The Regional Center has always been an important destination for conventions, tourism, entertainment, recreation, shopping, dining, arts, culture and sporting events.  Since the last Regional Center Plan was completed in 1990, there have been many noteworthy additions to facilities that attract visitors and central Indiana residents to the Downtown.  According to the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, in the 10-year period from 1990 to 2000, the number of Indianapolis convention visitors showed a 44 percent increase from 573,235 to 822,914 people. Downtown added a significant number of new restaurants, especially in and around Circle Centre mall.  There was a 50 percent increase in hotel rooms in the Downtown with 1,857 rooms being added to the existing 3,705 rooms based on Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association and Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. data. The Indiana Convention Center underwent two major expansions in 1993 and 2001, with a total added investment of nearly $90 million.   The expansion brings the center into the top 25 convention facilities in the nation.  Union Station received a $7.8 million renovation for a conference facility connected with the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  White River Gardens was constructed in 1999 at a cost of $14.5 million on 3.3-acres adjacent to the Indianapolis Zoo.  The Zoo had its first major addition since its opening in 1988, in the construction of the $3.3 million Polly Horton Hix Animal Care Complex. The RCA Dome received a $20 million upgrade with new entrances, elevators and additional box and suite seats.  Conseco Fieldhouse was constructed in 1998 to replace Market Square Arena.  The $183 million facility is home to the City's basketball (Indiana Pacers and Fever) and arena football (Firebirds) teams and serves as a venue for other indoor events.  Victory Field was constructed in 1996.  This 13,500-seat baseball stadium is home to the Indianapolis Indians. In 1997 Indianapolis was selected over 52 other cities as the location for the new National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) headquarters.  The Indiana Sports Corporation (ISC) was instrumental in the process which resulted in the NCAA's decision.  The $50 million NCAA headquarters was completed in 1999 in White River State Park.  In a recent study prepared for the ISC, it was found that this important facility has an estimated annual impact of $63.3 million on the local and state economy. Circle Centre mall, a $320 million public-private development, opened in 1995 in the heart of Downtown.  Coupled with above and below ground parking garages, Circle Centre contains Parisian and Nordstrom department stores and more than 100 specialty shops, restaurants and entertainment clubs. The historic Central Canal west extension was completed at a cost of $20 million.  This link connects the existing Canal alignment south and west through White River State Park to the White River.  In 2001, the renovation of the historic Central Canal was completed with the north extension from St. Clair Street to 11^th Street at a cost of $9.3 million.  Other recent additions to the Indy Parks Greenways that impact the Regional Center include: an extension of the White River Wapahani Trail from the Indianapolis Water Company Canal Towpath at 30^th and White River to the IUPUI area with a new $500,000 pedestrian bridge at the confluence of White River and Fall Creek and a $1.8 million extension of the Monon Trail from Fall Creek Parkway to 10^th Street on the northeast corner of the Regional Center. The Athenaeum, built in 1898, completed a $5 million renovation.  The Athenaeum is home to the American Cabaret Theatre, YMCA and Rathskeller restaurant.  The historic Murat Shrine Temple received an $11 million conversion to become the Murat Centre, a venue for concerts, Broadway shows and other public events.  The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Foundation renovated the former Washington Place as a new headquarters at a cost of $3.6 million.  In 1999 the Indiana Historical Society opened the new $35.7 million Indiana History Center, which is a classical facility that includes historical exhibits, resources, a shop and cafe along Downtown's historic Central Canal.   The Indianapolis Artsgarden was completed in 1995 at a cost of $12 million.  It is an eight-story glass atrium that hovers above the intersection of Washington and Illinois streets and provides a striking hub for Downtown's artistic venues and community.  The Scottish Rite Cathedral undertook the first phases of a $10 million renovation campaign. There have been three significant museum openings in the Regional Center recently.  The NCAA headquarters contains the 35,000 square foot Hall of Champions which includes the Great ENJOYING DOWNTOWN South Illinois Street and Circle Centre mall