Lucas Oil Stadium

Lucas Oil Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It replaced the RCA Dome as the home field of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts and opened on August 16, 2008.[11] The stadium was constructed to allow the removal of the RCA Dome and expansion of the Indiana Convention Center on its site. The stadium is on the south side of South Street, a block south of the former site of the RCA Dome. In 2006, prior to the stadium's construction, Lucas Oil Products secured the naming rights for the stadium at a cost of $122 million over 20 years.[12] The venue also serves as the current home for the Drum Corps International Championships since 2009.

Lucas Oil Stadium
The House that Manning Built
Aerial photograph of Lucas Oil Stadium (2016).
Lucas Oil Stadium
Location in Indianapolis
Lucas Oil Stadium
Location in Indiana
Lucas Oil Stadium
Location in the United States
Address500 South Capitol Avenue
LocationIndianapolis, Indiana
Coordinates39°45′36.2″N 86°9′49.7″W
Public transit 24
OwnerIndiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority
(State of Indiana)[1]
OperatorCapital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County, Indiana
Executive suites139
CapacityAmerican football: 67,000 (expandable to 70,000)[2]
Basketball: 70,000 (approx)
SurfaceFieldTurf (2008–2018)
Shaw Sports Momentum Pro (2018–present)
Construction
Broke groundSeptember 20, 2005
OpenedAugust 16, 2008
Construction costUS$720 million[3]
($858 million in 2019 dollars[4])
ArchitectHKS, Inc.
A2so4 Architecture[5]
Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf, Inc.[6]
Project managerJohn Klipsch Consulting LLC[7]
Structural engineerWalter P Moore/Fink Roberts & Petrie[8]
Services engineerMoore Engineers PC[9][10]
General contractorHunt/Smoot/Mezzetta[3]
Tenants
Indianapolis Colts (NFL) (2008–present)
Indy Eleven (USLC) (2018–2020)

The architectural firm HKS, Inc. was responsible for the stadium's design, with Walter P Moore working as the Structural Engineer of Record. The stadium features a retractable roof and a large retractable window on one end, thus allowing the Colts and the Eleven to play both indoors and outdoors. The field surface was originally FieldTurf but was replaced in 2018 with Shaw Sports Momentum Pro.[13] The exterior of the new stadium is faced with a reddish-brown brick trimmed with Indiana limestone, similar to several other sports venues in the area, including Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, and the Fairgrounds Coliseum.[14]

Features
Interior of Lucas Oil Stadium

Lucas Oil Stadium has a seating capacity of 67,000[3] and covers approximately 1.8 million square feet (170,000 m2). The stadium offers 139 suites, two club lounges, two exhibit halls and 12 meeting rooms. There are also 360-degree ribbon boards and two 53-foot (16 m) tall HD video boards.[15] An underground walkway directly connects the stadium to the Indiana Convention Center.[14]

Other features include:

  • 183,000 square feet (17,000 m2) of exhibit space
  • 7 locker rooms
  • 11 indoor truck docks
  • 14 escalators
  • 11 passenger elevators
  • 2 accessible pedestrian ramps

Retractable roof

The stadium's retractable roof can open or close in 9 to 11 minutes. It is composed of two panels that each weigh 2.5 million pounds (1,100,000 kg).[16][3]

NFL rules for roof opening

The home team determines if the roof is to be opened or closed 90 minutes before kickoff.[3]

Retractable window
Visitors can view the Indianapolis skyline through the northeast retractable window.

The retractable north window offers a view of downtown Indianapolis during games, concerts and other events due to the stadium's angled position on the city block.[17][16]

Gate sponsorship

The four gates leading into Lucas Oil Stadium are each named for sponsoring corporation: Lucas Oil, Verizon, and Huntington Bank. The ground-level concourses of their respective gates feature banners and floor coverings with the corporations' logos, advertisements and merchandise displays.[18]

Events
Super Bowl XLVI post-game celebrations in 2012.
Lucas Oil Stadium configured to host the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four.

Annual events include:

Upcoming events include:

Significant past events included:

Football

The first games played at Lucas Oil Stadium occurred on August 22, 2008, and were part of the PeyBack Classic, featuring Indiana high school football games between Noblesville High School and Fishers High School in Game 1, followed by New Palestine High School and Whiteland Community High School in Game 2.[21] On November 26, 2008, Cardinal Ritter High School became the first high school to win a state championship on the field, beating Sheridan High School 34–27 for the class A state title. The Colts faced the Chicago Bears in a rematch of Super Bowl XLI in their first regular season game in the stadium.[22]

Soccer

The stadium hosted its first soccer game on August 1, 2013, when Chelsea played Inter Milan in a first-round game of the International Champions Cup, drawing 41,983 fans.[23]

Date Winning Team Result Losing Team Tournament Spectators
August 1, 2013 Chelsea2–0 Inter Milan2013 International Champions Cup First Round41,983

From 2018-2020, Lucas Oil Stadium served as the home field for the United Soccer League's Indy Eleven, replacing the venue the team used while in the North American Soccer League, Carroll Stadium.[24]

Entertainment

Drum Corps International (DCI) announced on August 9, 2006, that it would move its corporate offices to Indianapolis and that the DCI World Championships would be the inaugural event for the stadium and would be held at Lucas Oil Stadium every year through 2018.[25] In 2015, Drum Corps International and the city of Indianapolis announced a 10-year contract extension, allowing the World Championships to continue through 2028.[26] The competition was held for the first time at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2009.[27]

Other regular events include the Bands of America Grand National Championships[28] and the Indiana Marching Band State Finals,[29] both major events for the city in Marching band competitions.

Concerts
Date Artist Opening Act(s) Tour / Concert Name Attendance Revenue Notes
September 13, 2008Kenny ChesneyKeith Urban
LeAnn Rimes
Gary Allan
Luke Bryan
Sammy Hagar		The Poets and Pirates Tour50,528 / 50,528$3,835,609The stadium's first public concert.[30]
September 19, 2009Kenny ChesneyMiranda Lambert
Sugarland
Montgomery Gentry
Zac Brown Band		Sun City Carnival Tour45,178 / 45,178$3,016,365
July 28, 2012Kenny Chesney
Tim McGraw		Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Jake Owen		Brothers of the Sun Tour41,671 / 43,864$3,509,151
May 9, 2015Kenny Chesney
Eric Church		Brantley Gilbert
Chase Rice
Old Dominion		The Big Revival Tour43,675 / 44,872$4,064,335
July 31, 2015One DirectionIcona PopOn the Road Again Tour42,196 / 42,196$3,426,589
September 10, 2017U2BeckThe Joshua Tree Tour 201751,731 / 51,731$5,970,055
September 15, 2018Taylor SwiftCamila Cabello
Charli XCX		Taylor Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour55,729 / 55,729$6,531,245Highest attended concert at the stadium.[31]

Financing

The total cost of Lucas Oil Stadium was $720 million. The stadium is being financed with funds raised by the State of Indiana and the City of Indianapolis, with the Indianapolis Colts providing $100 million. Marion County has raised taxes for food and beverage sales, auto rental taxes, innkeeper's taxes, and admission taxes for its share of the costs. Meanwhile, there has been an increase in food and beverage taxes in the eight surrounding doughnut counties (with the exception of Morgan County) and the sale of Colts license plates.[3]

The County Commissioners of each county voted whether to levy the 1% food and beverage tax proposed by Marion County. Sweetening the deal for those counties was the fact that half of the revenue from the tax would stay in the respective county. Morgan County was the only county to turn down the offer, yet in a later vote, it levied its own 1% tax – thus keeping all of its additional generated revenue.

Budget shortfall

In August 2006, the Capital Improvement Board, which operates the stadium, estimated that daily operating expenses of the new stadium would be $10 million more per year than the RCA Dome. The board urged the Indiana General Assembly to authorize funding to cover the shortfall.[32] The Indiana Legislature considered a bill to raise sales taxes statewide to cover the shortfall, however this plan faced stiff opposition from legislators outside the Indianapolis metro area.[33]

The assembly ultimately authorized a tax increase in Indianapolis-Marion County. In addition, the CIB trimmed staff and cut $10 million from its budget. Still, the agency anticipated a $20 million operating deficit for Lucas Oil Stadium in 2009. Anticipated expenses are $27.7 million—far outstripping the $7.7 million CIB expects to collect from its share of revenue from stadium events.[34] The Colts organization has been criticized for the favorable lease terms and the high percentage of revenue it can keep under the terms of its agreements with the stadium authorities and there have been calls for the team to cover the shortfalls of the CIB. The Colts responded to these criticisms in an open letter to fans on September 16, 2009.[35]

Complications

On September 8, 2013 after the Colts defeated the Oakland Raiders in the season opener, a rail over the opposing team tunnel collapsed injuring two fans. One fan was transferred to the hospital for evaluation. No serious injuries were reported.

On September 3, 2015, three fans were injured by a bolt that fell from the roof of the stadium as it was being opened during an NFL preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.[36] The stadium was pronounced safe by officials, but the roof remained closed for events until a final investigation was completed as to why the bolt fell.[37]

Construction pictures
  • Early phases of construction
  • Satellite image
  • Mid-stage of construction

References
  1. "About ISCBA". State of Indiana. Archived from the original on December 10, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  2. Chappel, Mike (August 1, 2012). "Indianapolis Colts: Team Will Turn to Single-Game Tickets in Chase for Sellouts". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  3. "Facts and Information". Lucas Oil Stadium. 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  4. Thomas, Ryland; Williamson, Samuel H. (2020). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved September 22, 2020. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the Measuring Worth series.
  5. "Lucas Oil Stadium". A2SO4. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  6. "Lucas Oil Stadium". Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf, Inc. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  7. "Lucas Oil Stadium – Home of the Indianapolis Colts". John Klipsch Consulting LLC. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  8. "Lucas Oil Stadium". Emporis. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  9. "Super Bowl XLVI/Lucas Oil Stadium". ArchDaily. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  10. "Indianapolis International Airport Receives the 2009 Monumental Award". Kibi.org. November 19, 2009. Archived from the original on January 14, 2010. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  11. "Iscba Announces Lucas Oil Stadium Grand Opening Events" (Press release). ISCBA. June 23, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  12. "Lucas Oil Gets Stadium Naming Rights, Colts Confirm". WRTV. wrtv.com. March 1, 2006. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  13. "Indianapolis Colts - Lucas Oil Stadium".
  14. "If You Build It..." (PDF). The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 14, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  15. Ingerson, Meagan (November 26, 2007). "Lucas Oil Stadium Scoreboards: 53 feet high, $11.4M Pricetag". The Indianapolis Star. indystar.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  16. "Lucas Oil Stadium". Uni-Systems. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  17. "Super Bowl XLV Visitor Guide: Stadium". NFL. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  18. "HHGregg Signs On As Lucas Oil Stadium Founding Sponsor". SportsBusiness Daily. sportsbusinessdaily.com. December 11, 2007. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  19. "Montee Ball's Four Touchdowns Spark Wisconsin to Big Ten Title". ESPN. Associated Press. December 3, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  20. Callahan, Rick (July 19, 2012). "Indianapolis to make bid for 2018 Super Bowl". Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  21. "Lucas Oil Stadium Preparing For Grand Opening Events". Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority (Press release). Inside Indiana Business. June 24, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  22. Milz, Mary (March 31, 2008). "Colts Season Opener Puts New Stadium in National Spotlight". WTHR. wthr.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  23. "Guinness International Champion Cup Teams, Venues, and Bracket Announced". internationalchampionscup.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  24. Mack, Justin (January 29, 2018). "'We can't wait to see you at our new venue.' Indy Eleven headed to Lucas Oil Stadium".
  25. "Drum Corps International Moving Headquarters, Bringing World Championships to Indianapolis" (Press release). Drum Corps International. August 9, 2006. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  26. http://www.dci.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=33500&ATCLID=210253294&SPID=166025&SPSID=965782
  27. "2008 Drum Corps International World Championships Relocated to Indiana University" (Press release). DCI. April 4, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  28. "2011 Grand National Championships Review" (Press release). Music For All. November 12, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  29. Bradner, Eric. "Bands Take the Field at Lucas Oil Stadium for Annual Competition". Evansville Courier & Press. courierpress.com. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  30. "Chesney Concert Will Be First at Lucas Oil Stadium". WTHR. wthr.com. September 16, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  31. "4 ways Taylor Swift aced her stadium challenge in Indianapolis". IndyStar. indystar.com. September 16, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  32. Eschbacher, Karen (August 27, 2006). "Operating in the Red Zone: Stadium Plan Faces Shortfall on Day-to-Day Costs". The Indianapolis Star. Pacer Digest. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  33. "CIB President: Stadium Could Close If Deal Isn't Reached". WRTV. April 3, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  34. Olson, Scott (September 15, 2009). "More Layoffs, Furloughs Possible for Cash-Strapped Indianapolis CIB". Indianapolis Business Journal. Indiana Economic Digest. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  35. "Colts Letter to Fans on Lucas Oil Stadium". WTHR. wthr.com. September 16, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  36. Bonesteel, Matt (September 4, 2015). "Three fans injured during Colts game after bolt falls from Lucas Oil Stadium roof". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  37. "Officials: Lucas Oil Stadium safe for events with roof closed, bolt investigation continues". Fox 59. fox59.com. September 18, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
Events and tenants
Preceded by
RCA Dome		 Home of the
Indianapolis Colts
2008–present		 Succeeded by
current
Preceded by
Carroll Stadium		 Home of the
Indy Eleven
2018–present		 Succeeded by
current
Preceded by
Cowboys Stadium		 Host of
Super Bowl XLVI
2012		 Succeeded by
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Preceded by


Ford Field
AT&T Stadium
U.S. Bank Stadium 2019
Alamodome		 NCAA Men's Division I
Basketball Tournament
Finals Venue
2010
2015
2021
2026		 Succeeded by


Reliant Stadium
NRG Stadium
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
TBD
Preceded by

Amalie Arena		 NCAA Women's Division I
Basketball Tournament
Finals Venue
2016		 Succeeded by

American Airlines Center
Preceded by
first stadium		 Host of the
Big Ten Championship Game
2011–present		 Succeeded by
current
Preceded by
RCA Dome		 Home of
Bands of America
Grand National Championship
2008–present		 Succeeded by
current
Preceded by

Memorial Stadium, Bloomington		 Home of the
Drum Corps International
World Championship
2009–2028		 Succeeded by

current
Preceded by
RCA Dome		 Home of the
NFL Scouting Combine
2009–present		 Succeeded by
current
Preceded by
Heinz Field		 Host of
AFC Championship Game
2010		 Succeeded by
Heinz Field
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