Architectural firmHKS, Inc. was responsible for the stadium's design, withWalter P Moore working as the Structural Engineer of Record. The field surface was originallyFieldTurf; it was replaced with Shaw Sports Momentum Pro in 2018.[16] In 2024, it became the first indoor NFL venue to use geofill when Hellas Matrix Turf was installed.[17] The exterior of the stadium is faced with a reddish-brownbrick trimmed withIndiana limestone, similar to several other sports venues in the area, includingGainbridge Fieldhouse,Hinkle Fieldhouse andCorteva Coliseum.[18]
The home field of the Indianapolis Colts for their first 24 seasons in the city (1984–2007) was theRCA Dome (formerly the Hoosier Dome), which was part of theIndiana Convention Center. In 2006, prior to the new stadium's construction,Lucas Oil, a manufacturer and distributor ofautomotive oil,additives andlubricants headquartered in Indianapolis, secured thenaming rights for the stadium at a cost of $122 million over the next 20 years.[15]
Lucas Oil Stadium has a seating capacity of 63,000,[5] 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) tallHD video boards.[19] An underground walkway directly connects the stadium to the Indiana Convention Center.[18]
The stadium's retractable roof can open or close in about 11 minutes. It is composed of two panels that each weigh 2.5 million pounds (1,100,000 kg).[20][6] The home team determines if the roof is to be opened or closed 90 minutes before kickoff.[6]
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.[21][20]
The four gates leading into Lucas Oil Stadium are each named for a sponsoring corporation, with the exception of the South Gate, which is named after the team:
The ground-level concourses of their respective gates feature banners and floor coverings with the corporations' logos, advertisements and merchandise displays.[26]
The first Colts game at the stadium was a preseason game against theBuffalo Bills on August 24, 2008, which ended in a 20–7 loss.[60] The Colts faced theChicago Bears in a rematch ofSuper Bowl XLI in their first regular season game in the stadium on September 7, 2008, which ended in a 29–13 defeat.[61][62]
In March 2021, various rounds of the2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament were moved to Lucas Oil Stadium as part of the NCAA's decision to consolidate the tournament into sites in Indiana as it could not be held across the United States due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. Lucas Oil Stadium hosted games in all rounds (except the "First Four"), including the Final Four and championship game.[66] Lucas Oil Stadium will host the men's Final Four again in2026.[67]
In 2024, Lucas Oil Stadium hosted theUSA SwimmingOlympic trials. The crowd of 20,689 was the largest gathering ever for an indoor swim meet.[69] The success of the event led USA Swimming to announce a return to the stadium for the2028 trials.[70]
On August 9, 2006,Drum Corps International (DCI) announced that it would move its corporate offices to Indianapolis and that the DCI World Championships would be held at Lucas Oil Stadium every year through 2018, beginning in 2008 as the stadium's inaugural event.[74] However, due to construction delays, DCI was forced to move its 2008 World Championships toMemorial Stadium, in Bloomington for that year. The competition was held for the first time at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2009, and has been hosted there every year since, with the exception of 2020 and 2021, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. (DCI used Lucas Oil Stadium for a non-judged "DCI Celebration" in 2021.)[75] In 2015, Drum Corps International and the city of Indianapolis announced a 10-year contract extension, allowing the World Championships to continue through 2028.[76]
New high attendance record set at every show. Swift is the first act to perform three shows at the stadium on a single tour. November 3 was also the final Eras Tour show in the United States.
The total cost of Lucas Oil Stadium was $720 million.[91] 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 surroundingdoughnut counties (with the exception ofMorgan County) and the sale of Colts license plates.[6]
The County Commissioners of each county voted whether to levy the 1% food and beverage tax proposed by Marion County. Under the agreement, 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 keepingall of its additional generated revenue.
In August 2006, the Capital Improvement Board, which operates the stadium, estimated that operating expenses of the new stadium would be $10 million more per year than the RCA Dome. The board urged theIndiana General Assembly to authorize funding to cover the shortfall.[92] 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.[93]
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 were $27.7 million—far outstripping the $7.7 million CIB expected to collect from its share of revenue from stadium events.[94] 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.[95]
On September 8, 2013, after the Colts defeated theOakland 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.[96][97]
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 theCincinnati Bengals.[98] 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.[99]
^"#NAYC25 FAQs".North American Youth Congress. UPCI Youth Ministries. November 30, 2022.Archived from the original on February 4, 2025. RetrievedFebruary 4, 2025.
^"Release: Colts at Bills". Indianapolis Colts. August 16, 2010. RetrievedApril 4, 2023.The last renewal of the preseason series came on August 24, 2008, as the Colts christened Lucas Oil Stadium. Buffalo took a 20-7 victory.
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