The 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 took home the honors as 2016’s Event of the Year from the 2017 Sports Business Awards, presented by SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily, in New York last week.
“The 100th Running was both a fitting tribute to our remarkable history and a bold move toward an even brighter future for both the Indy 500 and the Verizon IndyCar Series,” said Hulman & Company President and CEO Mark Miles. “It is an honor to accept this award on behalf of the Hulman-George family, our entire team and the many corporate and community partners who fueled such a tremendous effort last year.”
Other nominees included the 2016 World Series, 2016 Ryder Cup, 2016 Copa America Centenario Knockout Round, World Cup of Hockey 2016 and Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol.
The 100th Indianapolis 500 took place Sunday, May 29, 2016, broadcast live on ABC, as Andretti Herta Autosport’s rookie driver Alexander Rossi employed a a daring fuel strategy to score a surprise victory. Among many firsts, the 100th Running of the race achieved the only sellout in Indianapolis Motor Speedway history, meaning that the race was broadcast live on local television for the first time in more than 50 years.
Launched in 2008, the Sports Business Awards were established by SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily to celebrate and recognize the leaders, visionaries and day-to-day practitioners who personify excellence in the business of sports.
