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 The Dome in 2005 | |
 Interactive map of RCA Dome | |
| Former names | Hoosier Dome (1983–1994) |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 South Capitol Avenue |
| Location | Indianapolis,Indiana |
| Coordinates | 39°45′49″N86°9′48″W / 39.76361°N 86.16333°W /39.76361; -86.16333 |
| Owner | Capital Improvement Board |
| Operator | Capital Improvement Board |
| Executive suites | 104 |
| Capacity | 60,127 (1984–1991) 60,129 (1992–1995) 60,272 (1996–1997) 60,567 (1998) 56,127 (1999–2002) 55,506 (2003–2005) 55,531 (2006–2008) |
| Record attendance | WrestleMania VIII: 62,167 (April 5, 1992) |
| Surface | AstroTurf (1984–2004) FieldTurf (2005–2008) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 27, 1982; 43 years ago (1982-05-27) |
| Opened | August 5, 1984; 41 years ago (1984-08-05) |
| Closed | February 26, 2008; 17 years ago (2008-02-26) |
| Demolished | December 20, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-12-20) |
| Construction cost | US$77.5 million ($235 million in 2024 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | HNTB Browning Day Pollack Mullins Inc. |
| Structural engineer | Geiger Engineers |
| Services engineer | M&E Engineering Service, Inc.[2] |
| General contractor | Huber, Hunt & Nichols[3] |
| Tenants | |
| Indianapolis Colts (1984–2007) | |
TheRCA Dome (originallyHoosier Dome) was adomed stadium inIndianapolis. It was the home of theIndianapolis ColtsNFL franchise for 24 seasons (1984–2007).
It was completed at a cost of $77.5 million, as part of theIndiana Convention Center, with the costs split between private and public money. The largest crowd to attend an event at the Dome was 62,167 forWrestleMania VIII in 1992. It was demolished on December 20, 2008, as part of a project to expand the attached convention center.
TheBirdair-designed dome was made up ofteflon-coatedfiberglass and weighed 257short tons (229long tons; 233 t), which was held up by theair pressure inside the building. The ceiling was 193 feet (59 m) high, though the height varied up to 5 feet (1.5 m) as the materials expanded and contracted with the weather.[citation needed]
Like other domes of this style (theHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome,BC Place, theJMA Wireless Dome, and thePontiac Silverdome) there were warning signs posted cautioning patrons of the high winds at the doors when exiting the facility.[citation needed]
Construction for the Hoosier Dome began in May 1982.[4]
The domed stadium was similar in design and appearance to the Metrodome and the previousBC Place roof, owing in great part to the involvement of engineersDavid Geiger and Walter Bird, pioneers in air-supported roofs.[5]
The stadium was originally named theHoosier Dome until 1994 whenRCA paid $10 million for thenaming rights for 10 years, with two 5-year options to RCA at a cost of $3.5 million if invoked.[6][7] The stadium seated 56,127 forfootball, the smallest in theNFL. Modifications were made to the stadium in 1999 to expand the suites and add club seating. Before that, the maximum seating for a football crowd was 60,272. The stadium was built to lure a National Football League team to Indianapolis, and as the stadium was being completed,the Baltimore Colts relocated to Indianapolis on March 29, 1984.[8][9]
The Dome was officially dedicated on August 11, 1984, as a sellout crowd watched theIndianapolis Colts defeat theNew York Giants in an NFL preseason game. TheBuffalo Bills andChicago Bears played a preseason game at the Hoosier Dome on August 26, 1984,[10] which had been scheduled prior to the Colts moving in.
The football playing surface was originallyAstroTurf, and replaced withFieldTurf in 2005.[11]
The Colts moved into the new, retractable-roof,Lucas Oil Stadium for the2008 NFL season.[12] The RCA Dome was replaced by additional space for the adjacentIndiana Convention Center.[13] The new convention space connects to Lucas Oil Stadium in much the same way that the existing Indiana Convention Center had been connected to the RCA Dome (although the new connecting walkway now passes under a railroad track).
On September 24, 2008, the roof of the Dome was deflated, which took about 35 minutes.[14] The building itself was imploded on December 20, 2008, byControlled Demolition, Inc.,[15] and was featured on the second series premiere of the National Geographic showBlowdown.
An Indianapolis nonprofit, People for Urban Progress, rescued 13 acres (5.3 ha) of the Dome roof.[16] They work with local Indianapolis designers to recycle the material into community shade structures and art installations, as well as wallets, purses and bags.[16]
Although the RCA Dome never hosted anySuper Bowls, it played host to the2006 AFC Championship Game,[17] which saw the Colts erase a 21–3 deficit for a come-from-behind 38–34 win over theNew England Patriots in what would ultimately be the onlyAFC Championship Game hosted at the RCA Dome.[18][17]
The RCA Dome also hosted three AFC Divisional Round games in1999,2005,[19] and2007,[20] with the Colts posting an 0–3 record in those games; the2005 game, which saw the heavily favored Colts lose to thePittsburgh Steelers 21–18 in one of the biggest upsets in NFL history (en route to the Steelers' victory inSuper Bowl XL), is best remembered for Colts cornerbackNick Harper recovering aJerome Bettis fumble only forMike Vanderjagt to miss the game-tying field goal at the end of the game. The RCA Dome also hosted three AFC wild card games in2003,[17]2004, and2006, with the Colts winning all three games. The Colts' 28–24 loss to theSan Diego Chargers in the 2007 Divisional Round proved to be the stadium's final game before the Colts moved on to Lucas Oil Stadium the following season.[21]
In addition to football, the RCA Dome hosted several basketball games. The first was an exhibition game in 1984 between anNBA All-Star team led by home-state heroLarry Bird and the United StatesOlympic Men'sBasketball team, coached byBob Knight, who was at the time the coach ofIndiana University. The Dome hosted the1985 NBA All-Star Game in February, where an NBA-record crowd of 43,146 saw theWestern Conference beat the hostEastern Conference 140–129.[22] TheIndiana High School Athletic Association's 1990 boys and girls basketball finals were held at the stadium; 41,046 attended the boys semifinals and finals, setting the record for the largest crowd at a high school basketball game.[23] Later, it hosted manyNCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship games, including fourFinal Fours (1991, 1997, 2000, 2006).[24] TheNCAA, whose headquarters are in Indianapolis, has committed to holding theFinal Four in the city once every five years. The RCA Dome hosted its onlyWomen's Final Four in2005.[25][26] It served as one of two sites for theFIBAMen's Basketball World Championship in2002,[27] sharing the honors withGainbridge Fieldhouse, the home of theIndiana Pacers.
During the1987 Pan American Games, the RCA Dome hosted theGymnastics andHandball competitions as well as the closing ceremonies.[28]
In 1991, the Dome hosted the1991 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.[29] In 1992, the Dome hostedWrestleMania VIII for theWorld Wrestling Federation.[30]
Monster Jam hosted events at the venue every year, with the last event being held in 2008 a few months before the venue was demolished.[31]
In addition, it hosted theNCAA Men's Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships from 1989 to 1999, and the 1990 General Conference Session ofSeventh-day Adventists. Additionally, the RCA Dome served as the site of theIndiana State School Music Association State Marching Band Competition, theBands of America Grand Nationals, and theDrum Corps InternationalMidwestern Regional, along with theNFL Scouting Combine in February of each year. The 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Wrestling Trials were held in the Dome. It also hosted aPBRBuilt Ford Tough Seriesbull riding event in 2004.
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The Thunder in the Dome was amidget car race held from 1985 to 2001.[32] The Dome also hosted anAMA Supercross Championship round from 1992 to 2008.[33]
Many concerts took place in this venue, such as the 1987Pink Floyd reunion,[34] theRolling Stones, theMonsters of Rock Festival in 1988[35] (Van Halen,Metallica,Scorpions,Dokken, andKingdom Come), andFarm Aid IV in 1990[36] (Elton John,Guns N' Roses,Lou Reed,John Mellencamp,Genesis, CSN&Y,Willie Nelson,Iggy Pop,Don Henley &Bonnie Raitt).[37]
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Home of the Indianapolis Colts 1984–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Finals Venue 1991 1997 2000 2006 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Finals Venue 2005 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Host of Bands of America Grand National Championship 1984–1986 1989–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Host of the NBA All-Star Game 1985 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics Venue 1987 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Host ofWrestleMania VIII 1992 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Host ofAFC Championship Game 2007 | Succeeded by |
39°45′49.17″N86°9′47.95″W / 39.7636583°N 86.1633194°W /39.7636583; -86.1633194
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| Franchise | |
| Stadiums | |
| Culture | |
| Lore | |
| Rivalries | |
| Division championships (16) | |
| Conference championships (7) | |
| League championships (5) | |
| Retired numbers | |
| Media | |
| Current league affiliations |
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Former stadiums of the National Football League | |
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| Early era: 1920–1940 |
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| Post-war and pre-merger era: 1941–1969 |
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| Current era: 1970–present |
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| Stadiums used by NFL teams temporarily |
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†= Team's stadium under construction or refurbishment at time | |
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