The 500 Festival announced today that 2012 WNBA Champion Indiana Fever have been named Grand Marshal of the 2013 IPL 500 Festival Parade. The 56th IPL 500 Festival Parade is May 25 and will celebrate the 2013 500 Festival theme: Turbocharging Indy.
A WNBA playoff participant in eight straight seasons and nine times since 2002, the Indiana Fever became the champion of women’s professional basketball after defeating the Minnesota Lynx for the 2012 WNBA Championship. The Fever is the only team in WNBA history to record seven 20-win seasons during an 8-year span, a current streak that dates to 2005. During that time, the Fever has reached at least the Eastern Conference Finals five times while appearing in the WNBA Finals in 2009 and 2012.
“This is certainly and honor and a thrill for our team to be asked to serve as Grand Marshal. This is a time-honored tradition to kick off one of the most spectacular sporting events in the world. I am so happy our players and coaches have the opportunity to be a part of it and to be recognized for winning the 2012 WNBA championship,” said Kelly Krauskopf, President and General Manager, Indiana Fever.
“The 500 Festival’s focus on community involvement makes the Indiana Fever a great choice for this honor, given their commitment to this community both on and off the court,” said Terry Powers, Vice President of Operations of the 500 Festival. “We are honored to have the Indiana Fever serve as Grand Marshal of the IPL 500 Festival.”
More than 300,000 spectators are expected to line the two-mile parade route to see the 33 starting drivers of the 2013 Indianapolis 500®, more than 70 specialty units, floats, marching bands and giant inflatable balloons.
This year’s parade is a true representation of the power and pageantry of the month of May with a television package that will bolster the Parade’s national presence, airing on May 25 at 5 p.m. on NBC Sports Network and 8 p.m. locally on WISH-TV. Tickets to the IPL 500 Festival Parade are available at the 500 Festival Ticket Office weekdays from 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased by calling (317) 614-6400. Reserved bleacher seats start at just $14.50; reserved chair seats $19 and reserved VIP/TV Zone seats are $32.
For more information, visit 500festival.com.
