Heading to Indy for the National Championship? Here’s what you should know

Indianapolis is getting a big boost in Southern charm this weekend, as Alabama and Georgia fans converge on Indiana’s capital for Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

In the past few decades, Indianapolis has grown into one of the busiest and most vibrant cities in the country, and there’s more than enough happening that you’ll never see it all. But CFB Host Committee member Morgan Snyder offered some tips.

“There’s so many things in this city to do,” Snyder said. “It’s a really cool place for visitors.”

If you’re heading to Indy and haven’t yet snagged a hotel, you’re likely out of luck, though.

“Our hotels have been sold out for months in the downtown core, but I would encourage fans to look at anything outside what we call Interstate 465, which is a big loop that goes around the city,” Snyder said. “You’re going to see some of our towns like Noblesville, Greenwood, Franklin, Indiana, that have some hotel availability there.”

The high in Indianapolis Friday is 22. The low? 6 degrees. But the weather isn’t that hard to deal with if you’re downtown, Snyder said.

“We have more climate control skywalks than any city in this country, so if you want to walk indoors from one side of downtown to the other you can do it,” she said. “You can walk into Lucas Oil Stadium from your hotel room if you’re in a downtown hotel or inside the Indiana Convention Center.

The question is, is Indianapolis ready for Alabama and Georgia this weekend?

“I’m a Southerner myself,” Snyder said. “So I’m so excited to bring Southerners to the city. But Southern hospitality is going to meet Hoosier hospitality. It’s in our DNA. It’s in our blood, and I think you guys are going to have a great time.”

The game is happening at Lucas Oil Stadium Monday, and kickoff is at 7 p.m.