The 2015 NCAA men’s basketball Final Four in Indianapolis, Indiana, has been set with the Kentucky Wildcats, Wisconsin Badgers, Michigan State Spartans and the Duke Blue Devils. Last week, in a private ceremony with Republican state legislators, Republican Governor of Indiana Mike Pence signed into law a measure that could allow businesses to turn away gay and lesbian customers in the name of “religious freedom.”
Indiana’s New Anti-Gay Law Will Cause Trouble Now & End Relationship Forever
This new law has sparked calls, from commentators such as former NBA stars Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller, for the NCAA to move the location of the Final Four games this year as well as all future years.
While moving the games in 2015 is likely unpractical, NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement that “[w]e are especially concerned about how this legislation could affect our student-athletes and employees.” Emmert also said the NCAA, which is based in Indianapolis, will “closely examine the implications of this bill and how it might affect future events as well as our workforce.”
In response to NCAA and other organizations’ concerns that that this new law could damage the state’s reputation as a host of major sporting events, Pence doubled-down on the law and said that “[t]his was a measure that frankly, Indiana should have enacted many years ago.”
New Law’s Anti-Business Effect on Indiana
Pence and his Republican colleagues appear unconcerned on the new law’s effect on future business opportunities presented by future sporting events. According to ESPN.com, two Big Ten athletic directors stated that the new law will be discussed at the May 18-20 meetings. One AD said that he or she was “highly disappointed” that the law passed in Indiana.
Michigan State president Lou Anna Simon stated that, “Our commitment to diversity remains unchanged. It’s something for the Big Ten to think about as we (school presidents and chancellors) meet (in June).” The Big Ten holds its championship football game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The NCAA also has its headquarters in Indianapolis.
According to the Chicago Tribune’s Phil Rosenthal, Mark Benioff, the CEO of salesforce.com, which employs nearly 3,000 people in Indiana, said that he has canceled all of his company’s events in the state in response to the law. “We have made significant investments Indiana” and “run major marketing events and conferences there.” said Benioff. “We’re a major source of income and revenue to the state of Indiana, but we cannot support this kind of legislation.” added Benioff.
In addition, Rosenthal reported that Gen Con, a gaming convention with 56,000 attendees in 2014 and a claimed $50 million annual impact on the state, may pull out of Indiana in protest. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), based in Indianapolis, is also threatening to move its 2017 General Assembly, expected to draw 6,000 people to Indianapolis.
NFL Threat to Move Super Bowl
Last year, when Arizona threatened to pass a similar law to the one already passed in Indiana, Apple, Marriott, Verizon, American Airlines and other companies expressed concerns and the NFL threatened to move the Super Bowl from the state. Indiana may not not be able to host another NCAA Final Four or a Super Bowl any time soon.
The loss of business and revenue for the state of Indiana is just beginning. The NCAA must be concerned that realistically they cannot move this year’s tourney Final Four due to logistics, but to due the anti-business actions of Indiana governor Spence and his Republican cohorts, the Final Four may be marred by protests and other negative attention that the NCAA will be forced to endure.
