USA Swimming has confirmed that the 2024 US Olympic Swimming Trials will return to Indianapolis, Indiana, with the sport’s national governing body making the official announcement Tuesday morning.
The IndyStar first reported that the city would be awarded the Trials contract a few days ago.
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Indianapolis.
#SwimTrials24.
To be there.
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| | pic.twitter.com/ebHJa8woJ2— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) March 29, 2022
For the first time ever, the event will be held on a football field, Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
The stadium director of Lucas Oil Stadium is Eric Neuburgerwho is the son of the FINA Treasurer, former US Water Sports President and former US Swimming President Dal Neuburger. Dale Neuburger has been promoting the Indianapolis offering on his personal social media accounts.
The last four meetings of the Olympic Trials were held at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska; Indianapolis last hosted the competition in 2000. In 2004 the meeting took place in Long Beach, California.
“From day one, I firmly believed that there is no greater, more exciting, stake-all Olympic event in this country than the Swimming Trials, and envisioned the heights we could reach with it,” President and CEO of USA Swimming Tim Hinchey called.
“Given their track record, we are incredibly confident and excited about Indianapolis’ ability to conduct a technically flawless competition and host a world-class event. We are also proud of Indiana Sports Corp’s commitment to work with us to give back to the local community and leave a legacy well beyond our nine-day gathering.”
2024 also marks the 100th anniversary of Indianapolis, the site of the US Olympic Trials for the 1924 Olympics, which were also held in Paris (as they will be in two years’ time).
“We are honored to be selected to host the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials – Swimming,” said Indiana Sports Corp President Ryan Vaughn called. “The sports strategy in Indianapolis was built on the foundation of Olympic sport and we look forward to strengthening the sport of swimming and Indy’s reputation as the city where champions are crowned through this event.
“This is a great opportunity to engage our community beyond the venue and we look forward to delivering a premium experience for all involved.”
Three temporary pools, two 50-meter pools and one 25-meter pool, will be installed above the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose sports and entertainment stadium that has hosted major events such as the Super Bowl. NCAA men’s basketball championship games and the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Stadium concept:
Photo: United States Swimming
USA Swimming’s Aqua Zone takes place at the Indiana Convention Center, which is attached to the stadium.
While USA Swimming’s press release did not state a specific spectator capacity/target, the IndyStar report indicated that the offering would accommodate 30,000 to 35,000 spectators. Lucas Oil Stadium is listed with a seating capacity of up to 70,000, although as you can see in the photo above, some of the stadium seating will be closed off for the warm-up area.
In Omaha, the CHI Health Center had a 14,500-seat venue, and in 2016 all 15 sessions of the gathering sold out.
Specific dates for the competition have yet to be confirmed as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has reportedly not yet determined when the Olympic qualifying period will end.