INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis' Capital Improvement Board wants the Legislature to raise hotel, food and beverage taxes to cover shortfalls in the operation of Lucas Oil Stadium and Conseco Fieldhouse.

With 30,000 people packing restaurants and hotels downtown this weekend, sporting events provide lifeblood to the city's economy many times each year.

Some are concerned that an increase might keep some people from coming to Indianapolis and might prompt convention organizers to move to other cities, 6News' Sarah Cornell reported.

The CIB said the increase would help cover operating costs, provide additional funding for the Convention and Visitors Association and take care of other financial obligations.

The current proposal would raise hotel, food and beverage costs by 1 percent each.

"You spend $100 for a hotel room. Now, you're spending $17 (in taxes)," said Phil Ray, general manager of the Omni Hotel.

Cincinnati and Houston have the nation's highest hotel tax at 17 percent. Columbus, Ohio, and San Antonio's tax is 16.75 percent. Indianapolis' hotel tax is currently fifth, at 16 percent.

"At some point, you hit the tipping point, where as people are looking at coming to our city, the cost to stay at our hotels is maybe going to cause us to lose a convention to another city," Ray said.

Fans in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament told 6News they'd be willing to pay to see their teams.

The CIB proposal will be presented to the Legislature, where lawmakers will decide whether to implement a tax increase.