By Paul Greeley
817-578-6324, Paul@NewsBlues.com

WXIN, Nexstar’s Fox affiliate in Indianapolis, is airing a new hour-long documentary, “This is Indiana: The Making of a Sports Capital,” on Wednesday, December 17 at 7 p.m.

The film explores how Indianapolis pulled off an extraordinary run of major sporting events between the 2024 NBA All-Star Game and the 2025 WNBA All Star Game, while tracing decades of strategy, civic vision, and collaboration that shaped the city into one of the nation’s premier sports hosts.

The documentary features an exclusive interview with Peyton Manning, who reflected on what makes Indianapolis so special: “Indianapolis has great people that love to volunteer. They have a lot of pride in the city,” Manning said. “Whether it’s the Super Bowl, the Final Four, the Indy 500, there’s just tremendous pride in the city. Hoosier Hospitality is a real thing… Those are the kind of cities you want to live in and play sports in.”

Manning is joined by Carlie Irsay-Gordon, co-owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts, along with more than 30 other voices helping tell the city’s story.

Additional interviewees include athletes Tamika Catchings, Gary Brackett, Marlin Jackson, Alex Palou, Ed Carpenter, and Lilly King, as well as leaders from the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Organizers behind several of the city’s most successful sporting events, including Super Bowl XLVI, also provide key insight.

The documentary highlights pivotal decisions that helped define Indianapolis’ sports trajectory, including establishing the country’s first dedicated sports commission, a community-driven effort to keep the Indiana Pacers in the city, and building a state-of-the-art football stadium before an NFL team was guaranteed

“These stories show how Indianapolis earned its place as a top-tier sports city,” said CJ Hoyt, FOX59 News Director. “This documentary captures the leadership, teamwork, and hometown pride that built a true sports capital.”

“This is Indiana” also revisits defining moments such as the 1987 Pan American Games, the 2012 Super Bowl, and the unprecedented 2021 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, while spotlighting the remarkable slate of events hosted in 2024 and 2025.

“This is Indiana: The Making of a Sports Capital” premieres Wednesday, December 17 at 7 p.m. on FOX59.

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