When Mark Miles strolls around downtown Indianapolis, he sees Jim Irsay's influence everywhere.
From the trademark sports facilities to the towering J.W. Marriott hotel to the Pan Am Plaza currently under construction, he's not sure any of it could have happened without the assistance of the longtime Colts owner who helped this small Midwestern town shed its image as Indiana No Place and emerge as Indiana Some Place.
So as Indy steps into a new role, the mega center of a jam-packed Memorial Day sports weekend, the longtime local sports executive is saddened Irsay won't be here to enjoy the results of his efforts. Irsay died Wednesday in his sleep at age 65 .
"It's incredibly sad, it's a big ache in my heart," Miles said Thursday. " He had such a huge heart. He cared so, so much about the people in this community. I don't care what day it was, it was going to be a horrible loss but this weekend is sort of emblematic of what he helped build and I'm sorry he missed it."
His daughter, Casey Irsay Foyt, will be at the Indianapolis 500, though. Track officials announced she will be Sunday's honorary starter, representing the next generation of Colts ownership along with her sisters - Carlie Irsay-Gordon- and Kalen Jackson.