Last week, the Indianapolis Colts suffered the loss of owner Jim Irsay, who passed away unexpectedly at just 65 years old. Tributes to the beloved owner poured out from current and past members of Colts nation, along with the rest of the NFL and the Indianapolis community.
Irsay wasn't just the owner of the Colts; he helped mold Indianapolis into the major sports destination it is today. His last ever tweet was one cheering on the Indiana Pacers, showing how much he cared about not just the Colts, but sports in Indianapolis overall.
“He was more than the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, he was a transformative figure in our city and state, a passionate advocate for the community, and someone whose generosity, vision and spirit touched countless lives,” Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon said in a statement. “Jim helped shape our city into the sports capital it is today, and his legacy, both on and off the field, will continue to inspire us and generations to come.”
And at the Indy 500 this past weekend, Irsay was remembered throughout the event.
Irsay's daughter, Casey, was chosen to wave the green flag, signifying the official start of the race. Casey is assumed to retain partial ownership of the Colts, along with her two sisters, Carlie and Kalen. It is also expected that Carlie will take over the operations of the team. But that wasn't the only way they chose to honor Irsay.
According to reporter Eric Graves, they held a moment of silence in his honor - and the track was, indeed, silent, as Indianapolis sports fans remembered Irsay's legacy. "Powerful moment of silence for Colts owner Jim Irsay, who died this week at 65," he wrote. "Rare to hear 350,000 as quiet as they just were for Jim."
The Pacers likewise held a moment of silence in Irsay's honor as they hosted Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks. And there was never any doubt that this major sports weekend in Indianapolis would ignore all that Irsay did for the city.
“As Indianapolis prepares for a special weekend that showcases our city’s unmatched ability to successfully host massive global sporting events, it’s incredibly appropriate and especially meaningful to celebrate Jim’s contributions to our city and state,” Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles said in a statement. “Put simply, the Indianapolis we know and love would not be remotely possible without Jim.”