JANUARY 29, 2024
For Immediate Release

Rally the Valley: Terre Haute Gears Up for Epic Pregame Celebration Before Saturday Showdown

Terre Haute, Ind. - The City of Terre Haute, Downtown Terre Haute, and Indiana State University are teaming up to "Rally the Valley" with a community-wide pregame rally and tailgate before the Missouri Valley Conference showdown between the ISU Sycamores and the Drake Bulldogs on Saturday, February 3. Rally the Valley will begin at 3:00 PM on the corner of Wabash and 9th streets. The event will include family-friendly activities and a beer garden at The Terminal for ages 21+ before the 6:00 PM tipoff in the Hulman Center.

Indiana State's men's basketball team is playing at a dominant level, getting national attention as a dominant force in the Missouri Valley Conference. In Terre Haute, Sycamore Nation is rallying behind ISU and recently set the largest attendance at the Hulman Center since 2019. The collaboration between Indiana State University and the Terre Haute community is proving to be a winning combination, fostering a sense of pride and unity beyond the court.

"The success of our men's basketball team isn't just a win for Indiana State University, but for the greater Terre Haute community and beyond," said Dr. Deborah Curtis, President of Indiana State University. "Sycamores continue to be one of the country's most loyal and dedicated fan bases that have helped create an electric atmosphere inside the Hulman Center. Indiana State University looks forward to seeing everyone on Saturday. Go Sycamores!"

"We're excited to partner with our community to celebrate the success of our basketball team heading into this weekend's game. We thank all our fans, season ticket holders, and the community for their part in creating an incredible home atmosphere inside the Hulman Center. We look forward to seeing everyone at both the rally and the game!" shared Angie Lansing, Interim Athletic Director of Sycamore Athletics.

Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun expressed his enthusiasm about the positive impact being brought to the city. "Indiana State University is a valued community partner. This event allows us to showcase the athletic department, alumni association, and the city. Each sporting event is an opportunity to showcase our downtown restaurants, the Children's Museum, Indiana State, and Terredise at large. Let's rally around our Sycamores and the community this Saturday!"

The surge in community support has turned the Hulman Center into an unforgettable atmosphere and provided a significant economic boost to downtown businesses. Downtown Terre Haute business owners feel the ripple effect of the fans flocking to Hulman Center on game days.

What better way to bring people in Indiana together than basketball? Something special is happening at Indiana State University, and the Terre Haute community is buying into the momentum. This collaboration fosters the sense of community you can only find in the Wabash Valley," said Josh Alsip, Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce Director of Community Engagement. "Rally the Valley is a great opportunity to support local businesses vital to the success of downtown Terre Haute."

Rally the Valley is sponsored by the Indiana State University Alumni Association, Sycamore Athletics, Downtown Terre Haute, the City of Terre Haute, The Terminal Public House, and the Terre Haute Children's Museum.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Martha Thomson
Director, University Communication
Indiana State University
[email protected]
812.237.3837

Zeke Torres
Associate Director, University Communication
Indiana State University
[email protected]
812.237.8764

Austen Leake
Director of Communications
Terre Haute Chamber
[email protected]
812.232.2391

Eve Friedman-Dekro
Citizen Engagement & Communication Administrator
The City of Terre Haute
[email protected]
812.244.2306