Indy’s Big Vision, Butler’s Big Role
INDIANAPOLIS– The city is making a bold play to become the world’s sports and entertainment capital. Butler University is stepping up to the plate with the launch of the Butler Institute for Sports & Entertainment (BISE). This new institute brings together top-tier academics, industry innovation, and hands-on learning to help lead the city’s next big chapter on the global stage.
BISE is designed to amplify Butler’s long-standing strengths in athletics, media, business, and education. It will act as a major catalyst for developing the talent, research, and partnerships needed to fuel the region’s growing influence in these exciting industries.
Through cutting-edge academic programs and truly immersive, real-world experiences, BISE isn’t just benefiting Butler. It’s also aligning with the Indiana Sports Corp’s 2050 strategy. This powerful combination positions both Butler University and Indianapolis as driving forces in shaping the future of global sports and entertainment.
The idea for BISE grew from collaboration between leaders in Butler’s College of Communication and Lacy School of Business. They saw a clear opportunity to connect the university’s academic strengths with the rapidly evolving local sports and entertainment scene. When the Indiana Sports Corp (ISC) introduced its 2050 Vision, it became clear that Butler’s focus on experiential learning, media production, business analytics, and fan engagement perfectly aligned with ISC’s goals.
Butler recognized strong synergies within the “Sports Academia” pillar of ISC’s 2050 Vision. BISE was then specifically designed to complement this by offering flexible, customized partnerships that meet the needs of industry leaders while providing incredible educational experiences for Butler students. This cross-disciplinary approach makes Butler a responsive and collaborative partner, ready to co-create solutions and build a sustainable talent pipeline for the future.
Johnette Cruz spoke with Bob Schultz, who is spearheading this new initiative, you can find the interview HERE.
