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A few months back I purchased (4) tickets to the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Hall of Champions in Indianapolis, Indiana from Groupon for only $1.
That’s right! I received a coupon code for $10 off and used it to purchase a set of tickets that were discounted down to $11. Whoohoo!
So, this past Sunday was the perfect day to redeem the voucher from Groupon and have a nice Sunday day trip.
NCAA Hall of Champions
NCAA Hall of Champions is a museum, exhibition center, and conference center which is located downtown Indianapolis at 700 W. Washington Street. Since we couldn’t find parking on the street, we opted for the underground parking which was $8 for up to three hours.
Yes, the parking cost me more than the tickets. But, that’s okay. We stayed in the area quite a while doing other things afterward.
However, if paying for parking is not your thing, you could always call an Uber – if you live in Indy.
What Does the NCAA Hall of Champions Provide?
According to The NCAA Hall of Champions, it seeks to provide a greater understanding of the NCAA, including its membership of more than 1,000 colleges and universities and over 400,000 student-athletes.” So, if you or your children are sports lovers and/or college sports lovers, this is definitely the place for you!
In addition, it includes “two-levels of interactive exhibits to engage visitors and create a true-to-life understanding of what it takes to make the grade” and excel at your education and sports combined.
Tip #1
Encourage your children to choose a college that they are interested in and scout them out during your visit. By reading through various displays, you and your children can check out what that particular college has achieved or see what athletic opportunities are available to an incoming freshman.
Scavenger Hunt
Upon checking in the boys picked up their scavenger hunt forms. I love when a museum offers a scavenger hunt because it keeps the children engaged and on the prowl during the duration of the visit.
You can read more about how much I value scavenger hunts with our visit to the John Dillinger Museum and Neon Museum.
Tip #2
If you are on a tight budget, avoid buying a souvenir, instead, have your child(ren) complete the scavenger hunt. At the end of the scavenger hunt, your child will be able to select a prize which can easily be substituted for purchasing a souvenir.
Level 1
In the Arena, all 23 NCAA sports are represented and include a novice to historian trivial challenge, current team rankings, video highlights, and artifacts donated from colleges around the nation. With March being Women’s History Month, it was nice to see video highlights that focused on the achievements of women.
In addition to navigating the 23 NCAA sports on Level 1, the boys enjoyed the “It All Begins With A Dream” mural and exhibit where they were able to write their personal dream and post it on the wall with the others.
Level 2
After we concluded Level 1, we headed upstairs to Level 2 (Play). This is where the fun really took off!
Level 2 is a fully interactive area where you are able to engage in activities that are both virtual and hands-on. The boys loved being able to play virtual football, soccer, and baseball, as well as play basketball in their 1930’s retro basketball gymnasium.
Yes, you can literally play basketball in the museum! However, no dunking or scrimmaging is allowed. It is a museum, after all.
Tip #3
Wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
But, that’s not it. There is also Trivia Blitz, other interesting hands-on activities to do, as well as amazing facts to learn about.
Trivia Blitz is an interactive and competitive, yet friendly game for all ages. Participants will have to be quick as they are presented questions that could include video, an image, or a few clues.
Speaking of facts, however, here’s an interesting one for you.
Interesting Fact
The building was designed by architect Michael Graves. Graves is a notable American architect who designed several buildings for The Walt Disney Company. And, we all know, I am all about Disney right now with our Dimes to Disney project and vacation underway.
Anywho, Graves was able to adapt to change with his postmodern buildings, very similar to Paul Revere Williams who designed the LaConcha Lobby at the Neon Museum. Proving his ability to change and adapt, Graves was recognized as a major influence in three different architectural movements.
Tip #4
Bring a camera and capture the memories.
Well, there you have it!
Visiting the museum is the perfect opportunity to experience NCAA sports first-hand.
If you haven’t already created an account on Groupon, go ahead and use my referral link and create one now. Doing so will help us continue exploring the United States affordably by providing us with a few extra Groupon bucks. But, it will also allow me to continue to provide you with tips as you make your own travels.
This post originally appeared on March 13, 2018 and was checked using Grammarly.
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