- Get IN. Newsletter
- Posts
- 🏟️ Let's Get Ready to (Royal) Rumble!
🏟️ Let's Get Ready to (Royal) Rumble!
Plus - Dive into the Rich History of St. Elmo Steak House
Austin Sellers & Nate Spangle
January 30, 2025
Thursday, January 30th
Looking for the next big thing in tech? It's happening right here in Indianapolis, and it's not what you'd expect.
Sports Tech HQ has quietly built something remarkable - a launch pad for companies shaping the future of sports. They're giving entrepreneurs everything they need to succeed: funding, facilities, and direct access to professional teams.
If you've been waiting for the right moment to enter the sports technology space, this is it. Their program offers the kind of support that usually only exists in Silicon Valley, but with the added advantage of Indiana's deep sports infrastructure.
Want to learn more? Visit sthq.org
đź“ś This Week in Indiana History đź“ś
On this week in Indiana History, the state experienced one of the worst blizzards on record. In 1978, parts of the state recorded 15 inches of snow in just 24 hours. Muskegon, a town in Michigan, recorded 33.5 inches of snow in total during this blizzard!
Not only did the area experience a record amount of snowfall (a record still held today), but wind gusts of checks notes, hold on... 111 MPH created snow drifts of up to 20 to 30 feet?!?! Enough to almost bury some homes, apparently. When my parents talk about this blizzard, I really thought they were exaggerating, but turns out they weren’t lying!
The blizzard was so severe, that for two months, areas had at least an inch (typically much more) of snow stemming from the blizzard. Schools were closed for three weeks, and the famed IHSAA Basketball tournament was postponed for 17 days.
Snow happens every year in Indiana. Sometimes we get a lot, but most of the time, we always just accept it as the norm around wintertime. However, this is proof that if you get enough, it will always be remembered as historic.
Cars and homes in the Great Lakes region were buried by the Blizzard of 1978. (Photo courtesy of South Bend Tribune)
⚡ Hoosier Headlines ⚡
Indianapolis to Host First Major Wrestling Event in 30-Plus Years
Who’s had this weekend circled on their calendar for months? ✋ The legendary WWE Royal Rumble is set for Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, marking the first time in the event’s 37-year history that it will take place in Indy! This is just the beginning, too, as Indianapolis is set to become a key destination for major WWE events, including future WrestleMania and SummerSlam shows.
Royal Rumble is one of WWE’s most iconic events, where 30 superstars battle it out for a shot at WrestleMania glory. This year’s event at LOS is expected to welcome up to 65,000 fans, making it the largest Royal Rumble ever.
There are plenty of action-packed activities leading up to Royal Rumble on Saturday night. Today through Sunday, shop the WWE Superstore and enjoy meet-and-greets with entertainers at the Indiana Convention Center. On Friday at 7:30 p.m., WWE Smackdown will take place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and Indy-based WCWO Wrestling will host its own show featuring ex-WWE stars at the Edison School of the Arts. Starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, the Top Rope Tailgate at The Hangar features food and drink, rap battles, live music, games and a watch party for just a $30 entry fee.
WWE’s Royal Rumble is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Photo courtesy of WWE)
Dave Matthews Band 2025 Tour Includes Stop at Ruoff Music Center
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024, Dave Matthews Band is set to return to Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville as part of its 2025 tour. The shows will take place on July 11-12. Tickets to the general public go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 21. Dave Matthews Band is no stranger to central Indiana — the band first performed at the Noblesville venue in June 1996!
“Troubles, they may come and go, but good times, they’re the gold.” Chalk up mid-July as one of those good times at Ruoff Music Center.
Dave Matthews Band has played more than 50 shows at Ruoff Music Center since 1996. (Photo courtesy of Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Cancer Pathways Midwest is bringing its Bourbon & BBQ fundraising event back to the Old National Events Plaza in Evansville on Saturday, Feb. 22. Funds will support local individuals impacted by cancer with essential services, all at no cost.
The night promises a blend of flavor and fun, with local chefs teaming up for BBQ masterpieces, premium bourbons from top distilleries like Hard Truth, Indiana Whiskey, and Moon Drop Distillery, and a lively atmosphere featuring both a silent and live auction. To top it all off, attendees can enjoy a performance from talented Nashville artist Kenna Elpers.
When it comes to pizza in Indiana, there's history, and then there's Greek's. Since 1969, they've been hand-crafting pizzas that have become a Hoosier tradition. Fresh dough made every morning, that signature sauce everyone tries to copy (but can't), and toppings that actually taste like they should.
Tired of chain pizza that tastes like it came from nowhere? Greek's has been doing it right for over 50 years, and you can taste the difference.
Find your nearest Greek's at greekspizzeria.com
đź’Ž Hidden Gems đź’Ž
Last week we highlighted Badlands Off Road Park in Attica as one of the best ATV and 4×4 off-roading parks in the Midwest. This week we’re highlighting Stone Eater Bike Park in Lebanon, where only non-motorized bikes may be used. With five miles of all-weather, cross-country trails filled with berms and flowing terrain, Stone Eater Bike Park is a great track for riders of all ages, skills, and experience.
Indiana is well-known for its incredible gymnasiums with decades of history. In Knightstown, you can visit one of the most historic gyms of them all — the Hoosier Gym where the movie “Hoosiers” was filmed. Hoosier Gym is home to the Hickory Huskers and hosts dozens of high school basketball games annually as a neutral site. If you loved “Hoosiers” or have a special memory of the Hoosier Gym, commemorative bricks for a sidewalk entry to the gym are available for purchase.
What’s your Hidden Gem? Reply to this email to get it featured!
đź‘Ź 1 Big wIN đź‘Ź
Hoosier fourth graders are reading at record levels! The Indiana Department of Education shared that fourth grade reading in Indiana improved to sixth in the nation, according to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress. In 2022, Indiana fourth grade reading was 19th in the country. And that’s not all—fourth grade math in the Hoosier State improved from 11th to ninth, and eighth grade reading skyrocketed from 17th to sixth. The future is bright! 💡📚
🎧 The History of St. Elmo and Future for Huse Culinary 🎧
🎙 I got to sit down with Craig Huse, CEO of Huse Culinary, and we chatted about the history and the ongoing legacy of Indiana’s iconic St. Elmo Steak House.
Craig shares details about the restaurant’s founding and its celebrity connections, including an impromptu Parks and Rec scene with Newt Gingrich.
Then we got into its other popular ventures like Harry and Izzy’s and various retail products.
You are going to learn about:
The storied history of St. Elmo Steak House and its founding in 1902.
How St. Elmo became a key spot for celebrities and influential figures.
Huse Culinary's expansion plans, focusing on new restaurant concepts and retail products.